Saving energy is good for the planet, but also for your wallet!
In France, access to electricity is so easy that we almost forget it is not limitless. According to ADEME, the Agency for the Environment and Energy Management, electricity consumption has increased over the years (40% since 1990).
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Reducing energy consumption is a double challenge: economic and environmental. On one hand, 2 out of 3 French people believe that their energy bills overshadow the family budget. On the other hand, climate and environmental issues require a re-evaluation of our relationship with energy. This applies both to energy production through the conversion of renewable energies, and to the trend towards energy sobriety (reducing our consumption).
We all have bad habits that heavily impact the overall energy bill.
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Good news! It is easy to save energy at home!
We will give you tips little by little! Since small gestures are free and easy to implement, small purchases can also, why not, be the subject of significant investments.
Summary
- Save energy in the kitchen
- save energy in the luggage compartment
- good reflexes for saving heating
- full spotlight on lighting
- multimedia and electronics
- walking
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Saving energy in the
kitchen
Refrigerator & freezer
- It is estimated that a layer of frost of 3 mm has a yield that is 30% lower. Thus, regular defrosting of the refrigerator and freezer avoids
- It is better to let dishes cool before placing them in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Preferably, these appliances are disconnected from another heat source
- , the refrigerator also prevents loss of efficiency;
consumption.
pots and cooking plates
- offering energy savings of about 20% compared to ceramic surfaces and 25% compared to conventional plates. So, if you want to change the case or change your model: better induction!
oven
- It is better to not open the oven door to check while cooking.
- After cooking with pyrolytic cleaning, you can take advantage of the already hot oven
Energy savings in the laundry room
In the “laundry room” in particular, there is a washing machine and for some, a dryer… According to ADEME, washing your laundry at 30°C requires three times less energy than washing at 90°C! It allows you to see the machines you create running in a new light. But often, there is also the hot water production system. With simple tips, it is also possible to save energy in the laundry room!
Washer and dryer
- We enter the right amount of laundry to avoid contaminating the machine, which will consume more and shorten its lifespan.
- For the washing machine – it also applies to the dishwasher in the kitchen – prefer
- spin the laundry as much as possible before drying;
- And of course, we dry the clothes as much as possible outdoors, rather than in the dryer. This remains the most economical gesture! Indeed, ADEME estimates that “using a class A dryer will cost €34 per year and €110 per year for a class B dryer”;
ECO programs and low temperatures or even cold: they save electricity by about 45% compared to intensive cycles (which need to provide a very significant amount of energy to heat quickly);
But don’t heat the water too much
Energy savings can be achieved by monitoring the heating temperature of your hot water production device. You don’t need to heat it too much. Between 55 and 60° is the necessary temperature to destroy bacteria of all kinds without consuming too much! In fact, little or no hot water is consumed during the day. However, the tank remains under tension to maintain the required temperature. Optimize!
Good reflexes for saving heating
For several years, the share of the heating budget has decreased, particularly following efforts to restructure the energy regeneration of apartments. However, this item, which represents 66% of the energy budget, still weighs heavily on the budget. On average, the annual heating bill is €1661, while 2 out of 3 people feel cold during heating! This is mainly due to the fact that the housing is poorly insulated: we will give you some tips to save on the heating station!
Stay cool while heating
reducing heating by 1°C can reduce consumption by 7% or between €70 and €150/year If you do!
Even if you dream of summer, running shorts and short-sleeved t-shirts in the middle of winter is not really seasonal 😉 So we put on a sweater, slippers, and the heating. Temperatures should be adjusted according to the component
- 17°C in bedrooms (to snuggle under the duvet)
- 22°C in the bathroom when in use
- 19-20°C in living rooms (living room, dining room…)
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In addition to these tips, you can:
- close shutters and curtains at night;
- Avoid placing curtains in front of radiators
Insulating work
If you live in an apartment built between 1945-1975, there is a high probability that insulation is either absent or ineffective unless it has been previously renovated. It is worth noting that 25% to 30% of heat loss in this type of apartment is caused by the roof, 20% to 25% by the walls, 10% to 15% by the windows, and 20% to 25% in new air leaks and various air leaks. In fact, renewing your habitat in these areas requires an initial investment, but in the end, it offers better comfort, energy savings on the bill, and better resale value for your property!
Good news! Today, there are networks to help you financially with your work:
- The national network www.faire.gouv.fr is the public service to guide you throughout your energy rehabilitation work (also available at 0 808 800 700). “To help you carry out the most appropriate work or to estimate the budget and necessary financial support, you can benefit from a FARE consultant.
- Contact a FARE consultant to assist you with your project”; At the territorial level, there are 24 Info Energy Spaces in Occitanie and 40 consultants spread across the territory to advise you for free and independently on saving energy;
Switch to 100% Renewable
Full spotlight on lighting
On the lighting side, there are obvious tips – like turning off the light when you leave the room – but there are other less obvious tricks we discovered while writing this article! We will share them with you!
Turn off when you leave the room
We all agree that it’s easier said than done. Inattention, forgetfulness, it is not uncommon to return to a room an hour later and realize that we forgot to turn off the light!
So we take the habit to turn off all lights as soon as we leave the room. Tip: If you are absent-minded, it is possible to install in certain rooms where the absence of detectors (for example, in the garage) or light switches (for outdoor use…) can be expanded.
Dusting bulbs
This is a trick we discovered before! Regular cleaning of bulbs and lighting fixtures maximizes their efficiency: at the same power, a dusty fixture can produce a luminous flux that is 40% lower than that of a clean fixture! Dust away!
Replace
the price of LED lamps has dropped dramatically, we now find them at €5! They consume little and provide lighting for about 40,000 hours (to be nuanced according to the model and manufacturer). Therefore, they are much more cost-effective than their counterparts: for the price of two halogens (production was halted in 2018), they consume 6 times less and last at least 5 times longer!
Multimedia and electronic devices
Watches have progressed and consume less individually than in the past: a European directive in effect since January 2017 limits their power. According to ADEME, turning off the clock will allow savings of 10% as soon as possible. 15 to 50 devices per household remain unnecessarily on standby, which represents a cost of €80 per year. A light box running 24/7 consumes as much in a year as a fridge. Here are some tips to save energy with simple gestures and/or small investments.
Disconnect chargers
When the charger is plugged into an electrical outlet, power is routed through a cable to the copper coil it contains, leading to energy consumption. It is therefore advisable to disconnect the charger once the device is charged (computer, phone, camera…). Another tip: charge it during the day to prevent the charger from consuming all night once the device is charged!
Small accessories for big savings
- Using switching plugs allows multiple devices to be plugged in together and all turned off at the same time (after they are turned off individually). If you invest €5 to €10, this accessory allows you to save up to 10% on your electricity bill! In case of prolonged absence, it is best to disconnect all devices.
- This timer plug allows you to automate the turning on and off of your electrical equipment with a weekly and/or daily programming system. For a budget of around ten euros, the lifespan of devices can be determined, allowing for energy savings: we use them, for example, for the internet box or for children’s nightlights;
- It is also possible to invest about €20 in a power meter. This system is connected to an electrical outlet and allows you to check the consumption of electrical devices. You can then set recording habits based on your devices.
Turn off the Wi-Fi at night
The “box” is increasingly common equipment, often remaining 24 hours a day, producing a consumption of over 200 kWh per year, which is as much as a washing machine. Its total consumption over a year is between 150 and 300 kWh: that’s as much as a large refrigerator! To save energy: we disconnect it at night!
To go further
Join the positive energy families challenge
Across France, more than 45,000 families have already formed teams to jointly establish “Positive Energy Families”. The idea? Act effectively for the environment by reducing energy costs while involving the whole family in a fun way!
These families have managed to reduce their energy consumption by an average of 12% and save nearly €200 on their bills. To participate: Visit the Positive Energy Families website!
Change energy supplier
Since 2007, the energy market has been opened to competition, which means that, with a few exceptions, every consumer can choose their electricity and gas supplier. However, for a large majority of French people, this possibility is still very unclear, if not unknown. As ADEME indicates, subscribing to a green offer is a first step of commitment that is concrete and accessible to most people, sending a signal to the electricity supply market.
We are the Ilek Ambassador
ilek is a store in Toulouse. This supplier offers green electricity and organic gas from independent French energy producers.
If you go to ilek, the electricity unit you send is equivalent to a unit produced and purchased from a renewable solar, wind, and hydroelectric energy source on the grid.
ilek has offered to be part of their ambassadors. We provide our sponsors with 100 kWh or about €15 on their first electricity bill.
We said YES because:
- You are in Toulouse and we are happy to support the local economy
- That, according to Ademe, you are among the “premium” suppliers and you are at the top of the Greenpeace ranking
- .
Do you know these tips for saving energy?
Don’t hesitate to share yours!
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ADEME// To find all this information (and many more!) on energy savings: individuals and eco-citizens/Housing/Manage my habitat
To// The public service that supports you in energy regeneration!
Challenge// Join families with positive energy to save energy
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