Saving thermal energy in everyday life. How to save heat in the house and save the family budget. Other ways to save heat

Careful, rational use of energy resources is an indicator of a person's high culture, and by no means, not his greed or inability to live "on a grand scale."
Being economical does not mean giving up comfortable conditions; on the contrary, it is an indicator of prudence and rationalism, which in turn is a guarantee of well-being. Unfortunately, the socialist period in the history of our country, with a clearly underestimated cost of resources, left a negative imprint on the culture of their consumption.
The situation can be changed only by carrying out directed educational work: saving resources should be an integral part of our mentality.

Where to begin
You should start with the installation of metering devices. Each consumer should know how much he used various resources for his needs, and imagine how much he will have to pay for it. The accounting process should be simple and transparent, understandable without additional training and elaboration of voluminous instructions.
It should be noted that the installation of metering devices in our country is carried out in accordance with the federal law "On Energy Saving and on Increasing Energy Efficiency and on Amending Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation." By the beginning of 2013, all consumers must receive hot and cold water, electricity and gas from metering devices installed separately for each apartment or private house. Heat energy consumption should be accounted for by meters common to each house.
These measures will make it possible to pay only for utility resources actually received by the consumer.

Rules for saving heat energy by consumers
During the energy audit, it was found that, on average, in apartment buildings, up to 50% of thermal energy is lost through window and door openings, and another 40% of thermal energy escapes into the atmosphere through the walls of the house.
Each consumer can influence the reduction of heat losses. To do this, it is necessary to replace old windows with modern ones, with double and, if possible, triple-glazed windows, because half of the heat loss goes through their surface.
If it is not possible to replace the windows, they must be repaired using sealing materials that prevent the formation of drafts. For the winter, they should certainly be pasted over with strips of paper. This primitive measure is quite effective and allows you to save home heat by reducing its loss through windows. The inner surface of the glass can be pasted over with a low-emission thermal reflective film. This measure reduces heat loss through the window surface by 30%.
Window openings must be decorated with thick curtains, the length of which should be such as to leave the heaters free.
The surface of the radiators must be absolutely free. It must not be covered with screens, gratings or decorative elements. The heated air from their surface should freely and unhindered rise upwards, providing convective heat transfer.
The heat transfer of radiators covered with screens having holes for air movement reduces their efficiency by 10%. Heat loss when closing radiators with solid screens or pieces of furniture can reach 70%.
Even a simple painting of the heater surface can reduce its efficiency by 3%. To increase the thermal efficiency of heating devices, reflective metal foil screens placed directly behind the radiators will help.
Doorways also need to be insulated. For this, a double vestibule is made, sealing materials are glued around the perimeter of the door, and the door leaf itself is insulated.
All this can and should be done by the residents of the apartments, but the management company is responsible for the condition of the heating system as a whole. It is she who, at the end of each heating season, should thoroughly flush the entire heating system in order to remove scale from the pipes.
The event must be reported in advance so that the residents open all the shut-off valves on the heating devices and ensure the free flow of cleaning solutions through them.
Scale on the inner surface of radiators is formed in three heating seasons, which means that without their proper maintenance, it makes no sense to count on good heating: heat simply cannot get through to the consumer through a dense layer of calcium salts with high thermal resistance.

Saving electrical energy
The growth in the well-being of the population is invariably accompanied by an increase in the number of household appliances that require a huge amount of electrical energy. You can reduce energy consumption with its reasonable use, following simple rules:
Do not leave equipment in standby mode
Fully load the washing machine and dishwasher
Disconnect the heated boiler from the network
Use thermal inertia in the operation of the refrigerator, loading it completely with products.
Putting food in a cold oven without preheating it
Use layered lighting
Turn off everything that can be turned off

In this case, you just need to develop a style of behavior in which it should be natural to reduce energy consumption. This allows you to reduce the cost of electrical energy by 30, and sometimes 40% per year. Everyone can calculate their own energy savings in terms of money.

To date, the cost of one cubic meter of cold water is not high. On average, a family of four pays 200 rubles for water per month. As a result, many citizens have the erroneous impression that it makes no sense to save water, but we are talking about drinking water, the reserves of which are limited on the planet.
Already today, its deficiency is felt in some regions of our country, and on a planetary scale it is a real problem that requires an immediate solution. Therefore, the rational use of water should be considered as decent behavior in relation to natural resources and should not be allowed to leak through loosely closed and faulty taps.
As you can see, the rules for saving resources are simple, and the effect of their implementation will allow you to pay much less for the consumption of heat, electricity and water.

It used to be thought that it was possible to save electricity, heat and water resources only by giving up a comfortable existence, but in reality everything is not so pessimistic. Saving thermal energy in everyday life is, first of all, the rational use of the gas, water, electricity we consume. Therefore, the correct calculation of the benefits offered comes to the fore.

What does the state offer?

For these purposes, the use of special metering devices is provided. Saving heat becomes achievable thanks to apartment and general building heat meters. Similar mechanisms are applicable for accounting for the supply and consumption of cold water and gas.

For several years now, a law has been in force that regulates the increase in energy efficiency and energy saving. According to this normative act, the owners of living space in apartment buildings must install meters and put them into operation.

In addition to apartment metering devices, it is necessary to install a common house heat meter, the presence of which allows you to count on the following positive aspects:

Payment only for the used volume of communal resources;
Effective savings.

Maintenance of heat meters falls on the shoulders of utilities, which are responsible for the timely verification and replacement of the device in case of malfunction or expiration of its service life.

Simultaneously with such an event, the ventilation system must be adjusted. We are talking about the installation of hermetic heat-saving plastic windows and the use of a forced ventilation mechanism, thanks to which in winter it is not necessary to open windows to ventilate the room, releasing heat.

Consumer Rules

So, the heat meter is already installed. How about in other ways? The aforementioned replacement of windows with a choice of double or triple glazing or repair of existing window frames with the installation of additional seals, gluing the internal glass with a thermoreflective low-emissive film that reduces heat loss by 30% helps to realize the task.

Also, be sure to leave the surface of the radiators open, on which it does not hurt to fix a metal foil screen with reflective properties. It is highly undesirable to close heating appliances with furniture or install grilles on them due to an increase in heat losses of up to 70%.

Additionally, together with the neighbors in the stairwell, you can install a vestibule with a dense insulated door.

Saving thermal energy through modern heating systems

In order for the installation of a heat meter to be justified, it is important to make the apartment as "warm" as possible, excluding excessive consumption of resources. Such measures are especially relevant if heating is decentralized and payment is made only for natural gas. Modernized heaters that can be attached to various surfaces, including walls and ceilings, can help in solving this problem.

This option is also acceptable in the case when, in order to reduce the readings of the general house heat meter, the heat supply at the input is reduced. The convenience of mobile heaters lies in their easy operation and the ability to turn off if necessary, so power surges are excluded.

Modern man is well aware that utility bills have recently skyrocketed. Therefore, saving heat, gas, water and other resources is very relevant today. When there is a will, there is always a way. Therefore, it is worth exploring how you can save heat in the house as profitably as possible and save the family budget.
You can save money by not only buying something for this purpose. There are free heat saving technologies that are implemented with the help of human hands. The main thing is to treat heating devices thoughtfully and carefully and not to waste natural gifts.

Saving heat in the house can be carried out if you follow some rules:

If the heating is controlled by a gas boiler, then it is worth heating it only to the required temperature. A room thermometer or a special gas saving panel will help with this, in which you can set the automatic shutdown function when the space warms up to the required temperature. This will help to significantly save the family budget.
It is worth insulating the facade of a house or apartment so that for a normal temperature in the space it is not necessary to use additional heating systems. Special layers of insulating material will help retain heat and keep cold from entering the apartment through the walls of the building.
A reflective surface placed behind the battery can significantly increase the air temperature in space.
Anyone who cares about saving heat and electricity must definitely pay attention to the rational use of heating appliances. That is, if it is not possible not to use the radiator due to the low temperature in the room, then you should turn it on only until the room warms up to a certain temperature, then turn off the device so as not to waste electricity.

Underfloor heating will also help to be used to heat the space of the room. Of course, such a device also requires electricity, but it can be turned on for a certain period, and then the heated floor surface maintains its temperature for quite a long time.
It is worth checking if there are any cracks in the window frames and walls. If such are found, they must be closed. Even the most seemingly insignificant crack can significantly lower the air temperature in the room. Depending on the nature of the flaw, you can repair it either with foam or glue it with paper.
In rooms with a sunny side, curtains should be opened during the daytime. Such manipulation will help to raise the temperature of the air in the room by several degrees.
Thick curtains will help protect the space of the room from drafts. And also, securely closed curtains will help maintain a constant temperature in the room.
Carpeting for the floor or carpet will also help to significantly warm the room. Thanks to such products, the surface of the lower part of the room space will always be warm. The layer of air formed between the villi makes the air temperature in the rooms higher.
There is another tricky method. After taking water procedures, you should leave the bathroom door open. This will help to make the air temperature in adjacent rooms higher.
Residents of private houses should ensure that the chimney from the stove or fireplace is closed. When the device is not working, but the chimney is open, cold air enters the room.
Attention should be paid to such a method of additional heating as the insulation of walls, floors and ceilings from the inside of the room. To do this, panel blocks are installed over the entire surface and material is placed in them to help retain heat. Then, drywall or other coating is installed on top.

What appliances will help save heat

There are heat-saving products that you can buy in stores. This includes automated equipment and devices that help keep heat at no additional cost. Each of them, despite the cost, is sure to pay off. To decide which option to choose, you should understand the prices of fixtures and how effective certain methods are. To save heat use:

Radiator automated thermostats;
Windows to help keep warm;
Ventilation systems instead of open windows;
Warm wallpaper.

Each of these devices is worthy of attention. The most important thing is to calculate the efficiency personally for each consumer. This is easy to do, just familiarize yourself with the principle of operation of each of their options.

Radiator automated thermostats

Often, to save heat in the house, special thermostatic equipment is installed. Thanks to this, saving heat in an apartment or house will be reduced to setting the necessary functional indicators.

Operating principle

A thermostat is an equipment that looks like a wall panel, the system of which has a number of functions that allow you to adjust the degrees in the room. To do this, you need to set the parameters in the program by setting the air temperature, upon reaching which the gas boiler for heating the space automatically turns off. Thanks to this, the use of a gas boiler will be rational and the payment for heat supply will be much lower than it was without a thermostat. As a rule, the functions set to turn off the heating during the absence of the owners of the apartment at home. And also at night, a lower temperature is set than during the day. It is good for health and helps to save money.

The service life of such an installation is approximately twenty-five years. That is, a fairly long period. The equipment costs about 1500 rubles, and the services of the master who will carry out the installation varies from 800 to 1300 rubles. Using such an installation, you can save approximately 35% of the amount that came for payment during the absence of a thermostat in an apartment or house. Consequently, energy is significantly reduced in terms of money. Thanks to such equipment, you can save about 2 thousand rubles a year. With the right settings, the cost of the thermostat system will pay off within a year - one and a half.

Advantages

Helps to significantly reduce heating costs;
Easy to use;
Affordable, and given the payback of the equipment, we can say that it is quite inexpensive;
Releases a person from controlling the air temperature and turning off the gas or electric boiler for heating. The role of a person is reduced to setting the necessary parameters. The device will do the rest.

disadvantages

Requires installation by a wizard. However, this can hardly be called a disadvantage. After all, installation by a professional will allow the device to work without interruption.

In any case, if you use the thermostat for its intended purpose, it will give significant savings to the family budget. Already in the first month it will be noticeable that the savings in electricity and gas with such a device are significant.

Heat saving windows

Plastic (PVC) windows will help to keep the heat in the apartment significantly. Thanks to the installation of such windows, the savings in electricity, water, gas and, of course, heat, are significantly increased. The heat meter will indicate significant savings.

Operating principle

A special technology for the production of plastic windows helps to significantly save heat in the apartment. Saving resources of heat and water, gas and electricity is possible due to the design of windows thought out to the smallest detail. Plastic windows are assembled from several plastic glasses. Their close distance from each other forms air spaces that do not allow cold air to enter the apartment. Special rubber membranes are placed between the double-glazed windows, which provide protection against drafts and blowing. And high-quality fasteners will help maintain the strength and durability of the structure.

Pricing policy and payback

The cost of plastic windows and installation may vary depending on the manufacturer and the company in which the order is made. On average, windows will cost ten thousand rubles. But this money is justified, because the service life of such windows exceeds fifty years. The difference in utility bills will decrease significantly already in the first month after the installation of windows. The difference in payment will be approximately 30%. The cost of installing windows pays off in about 10 years, depending on the size of the apartment and the availability of other appliances that save electricity and gas.

2 Saving electrical and thermal energy in everyday life

The results of inspections carried out by employees of energy supervision found that due to the negligence and negligence of consumers, the excess consumption of electricity used for domestic needs is approximately 15 - 20%.

Where is the most noticeable way to save electrical energy in everyday life?

When using an electric stove. Electric stove burners have several heating elements (switching ranges). When you turn on the electric stove, you must first turn on all the heating elements (the entire power of the burner), and then, after heating, when the water boils, reduce the power, since excess heat will not speed up cooking and the water temperature will not rise by more than 100 degrees. Savings are achieved if you cook several dishes in a preheated oven. Utensils for cooking or heating food should be made of aluminum or enameled with a flat thick bottom and closed with a lid.

Foods that take a long time to cook are best cooked in pressure cookers. The amount of water for cooking should be minimal so that after boiling it does not drain into the sewer. The included oven does not need to be opened unnecessarily, this reduces the temperature inside the chamber.

It is advisable to turn off the electric stove before the kettle boils: due to thermal inertia, the kettle will still boil, and this will save up to 20% of energy.

The use of an electric kettle is preferable (efficiency 90%) than stove burners (efficiency 50 - 60%). The record holder for efficiency is a conventional boiler - efficiency up to 92%.

The use of cooling electric hotplates for heating water before boiling it in the kettle allows you to save 10 - 30% of electricity. In addition, the water will settle and the elements used for disinfection (chlorine) will leave it, which is important for health.

After soaking the cereal overnight with water, you can cook porridge from it 2-4 times faster, depending on the temperature of the water.

When using a refrigerator, 30 - 40% of the electricity consumed in the house comes from the refrigerator. Since the refrigerator is connected to the mains around the clock, despite its low power, it consumes no less electricity than an electric stove. The population uses electric refrigerators of two types: compressor (with an electric motor and compressor) and absorption (with a heater). Compressor refrigerators are 3-4 times more economical than absorption refrigerators. Recently, the industry has been producing deep-freezing electric refrigerators. Compared to compressors, they consume 2 times more electricity. The installation location of the refrigerator and the ambient temperature are of great importance for its normal operation and economical energy consumption. The refrigerator should not be installed near the stove and radiators, on the sunny side of the room. There must be air space around the refrigerator for air circulation. Food is placed in the refrigerator, cooled to room temperature and in a sealed container. Products in the refrigerator are placed in such a way that they have access to cold air. The temperature controller must be installed so that the temperature in the cooling chamber is maintained at the temperature necessary to preserve the products, and not too low. When ice forms on the walls of the refrigerating chamber with a thickness of 5 - 10 mm, the refrigerator must be defrosted. Cooling the compartment below the temperature required to preserve food, as well as increasing the temperature of the air surrounding the refrigerator, leads to an excess of energy consumption.

Regular defrosting gives 3 - 5% savings. You can not install a refrigerator in a niche, this blocks the ventilation of the lower neighbors and worsens the cooling conditions of the condenser coil, which is cooled by room air, and in an enclosed space it cools much worse, energy consumption increases by 20% (frequent switching on).

When using a TV, radio, tape recorder, sewing and washing machines, vacuum cleaner, iron and other household appliances. Through the correct use of these devices, you can get significant energy savings. Household appliances should not be allowed to idle, it is necessary to turn them off if they are no longer used. Many household electrical appliances are equipped with automatic temperature controllers or timers. This allows you to maintain an automatically set temperature or turn on the device after a set operating time. So, for example, when using an electric iron with a temperature controller, power consumption is reduced by 10 - 15%.

When illuminated. With electric lighting, first of all, you need to pay attention to the correct choice of the power of electric lamps. High-power electric lamps not only waste electricity unnecessarily, but also harm eyesight.

When connected to an electrical network, the light bulb shines equally brightly in all directions and does not provide the necessary illumination, and when we work, we need light focused on a specific surface or part. To do this, an electric light bulb is placed in a lamp.

The illumination of a room or workplace, as well as the efficiency of lighting fixtures, largely depends on the correctly selected lamp.

Rational lighting of the room is achieved with the help of semi-reflected or direct lighting. It should be noted that direct lighting is more economical than semi-reflected, since in the first case the lamp has a reflector located at the bottom of the lamp.

Energy savings are facilitated by the use of local lighting: table lamps when working at the table. The work table should be installed near the window, this will reduce the burning time of electric lamps with sufficient daylight. Ceilings and walls, as well as light-colored wallpapers, can reduce the power of lamps by one and a half times.

Incandescent lamps continue to be the most common and main sources of light in our apartments. The reason for this is the simplicity of design, compactness, ease of use, low cost, a large selection of their power. However, incandescent lamps have a number of disadvantages. They have a low efficiency (1.8 - 2.2%); with a 2% increase in mains voltage, the service life is reduced by 15%, frequent switching on, disconnection and shock also affect the service life, which is 1000 hours.

More economical light sources are fluorescent lamps. They have auspicious light radiation. Fluorescent lighting creates favorable conditions for relaxation, reduces fatigue, and increases productivity.

According to the color of the radiation, fluorescent lamps are divided into:

1) white light lamps (LB);

2) fluorescent lamps (LD);

3) fluorescent lamps with corrected color (CLC);

4) lamps of cold white light (LHB);

5) warm white light (LTB) lamps, which have a pronounced pink tint.

The most economical and versatile are white light lamps (LB). They provide significantly better color reproduction than incandescent lamps and reproduce approximately the color of sunlight reflected by clouds. The use of LB lamps is advisable in children's rooms for the preparation of school assignments and for drawing work.

The most important characteristics of fluorescent lamps include the fact that their luminous flux is greater than that of incandescent lamps. The luminous efficacy of fluorescent lamps is on average 42 - 62 lm / W, while incandescent lamps - only 10 - 20 lm / W. The service life of fluorescent lamps is 5000 hours.

Timely and systematic cleaning of fixtures, lamps and chandeliers can save up to 30% of electricity consumed for lighting.

Energy savings are also facilitated by the installation of double switches in the rooms. This allows, if necessary, to turn on the chandeliers in whole or in part.

A table lamp with a 30 W bulb allows you to achieve better illumination on the table than a chandelier with 3 - 5 bulbs with a power of 180 - 300 W. Double win - vision and energy. From the point of view of energy saving, a device for smoothly switching on light is good. CFL lamps (compact fluorescent lamps) consume 6 to 7 times less electricity than incandescent lamps with the same illumination. But they are more expensive than the existing ones, although it is beneficial for the state to reduce their price.

The Brest Electric Lamp Plant, the only one of its kind in the republic, produces compact fluorescent lamps that consume six times less electricity and continuously burn eight times longer (8000 hours) than conventional ones.

Currently, an important section of the nomenclature list of products manufactured by BelOMO is the production of lamps designed for local and general lighting of premises of the most diverse profile - housing, offices, workshops, shops. The use of compact fluorescent and halogen lamps in fixtures imparts energy-saving properties to these electrical appliances. Thus, due to the use of halogen lamps with a power of 20 W, characterized by an intense luminous flux, it is possible to reduce electricity consumption by 2–2.5 times.

When lighting landings and corridors. In houses, time relays or automatic switches with a time delay are installed. From the control over the proper operation of these devices by the building management and residents will largely depend on the economical consumption of electricity in public places.

Saving heat in the apartment, and with it, saving heat energy is a simple matter and does not require large expenses. It is estimated that the insulation of windows and doors saves up to 40% of the heat in the apartment. Thorough insulation of the apartment creates comfort, reduces the cost of its heating three times, which saves fuel.

Thermal energy savings are obtained with the rational use of hot water, since its losses in everyday life are 23%. In order to wash your face, hands, brush your teeth, a small jet or a few glasses of water is enough instead of many liters.

A great contribution to the saving of thermal energy is made by house management, which in a timely manner, before the onset of cold weather, repair the doors in the entrances and glaze the windows, conduct explanatory work with residents.

One of the most promising and fast-payback areas of the republican energy saving program is the equipment of buildings and structures with devices for individual and group accounting and control of energy consumption. Since 1997, meters for hot and cold water, heat and gas have been installed without fail in all newly built residential buildings. In addition, work is underway to equip the rest of the housing stock with such devices. According to the calculations of the committee's specialists, already in 2002 such meters should be installed in every Belarusian house.

However, it should be noted that while the majority of the population is wary of this innovation: residents are encouraged to purchase the necessary equipment at their own expense. And in the public mind, the idea is firmly rooted that after the installation of meters, you will have to pay more for utilities than now.

At present, we pay for consumed energy resources on the basis of an average indicator equal to approximately 35% of the real consumption per capita in the country.

When calculating the current universal tariffs, the overestimated consumption of energy resources was taken as a basis. The committee's experiment showed unexpected results. It turns out that potentially our compatriots are quite able to spend heat and water much more economically than now. Residents of apartments in which meters were installed paid less than usual for water and heat. This means that today the absolute majority of the population overpays for energy resources by at least 3-4 times.

What does the implementation of the program for the introduction of individual and group metering and control of energy consumption give to the state? According to the Committee's experts, the mass installation of meters will save heat by 1.5 times, cold water - by 2 times, hot - by 2.5 times. On a national scale, this is a huge amount of money, which, of course, is not superfluous for our budget.

Today, the meter installed in the apartment pays off in 4 years. By 2002 - the moment of completion of the program for the mass introduction of individual energy consumption metering and control devices - this figure will decrease to 1.5 years. The higher the energy prices, the faster the ideas of energy conservation will take root in the mass consciousness.

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Energy saving in everyday life (version 1)

energy saving at home:

38 ways

Heat saving

Our country is not southern and it is normal to insulate your home. There are several simple ways to insulate:

1. Sealing gaps in window frames and doorways. For this, mounting foams, self-expanding sealing tapes, silicone and acrylic sealants, etc. are used. The result is an increase in the air temperature in the room by 1-2 degrees.

2. Seal the porch of windows and doors. Various self-adhesive seals and gaskets are used. Windows are sealed not only around the perimeter, but also between the frames. The result is an increase in the temperature inside the room by 1-3 degrees.

3. Installation of new plastic or wooden windows with multi-chamber double-glazed windows. It is better if the glass is with a heat-reflecting film, and ventilators are provided in the window design. Then the temperature in the room will be more stable both in winter and summer, the air will be fresh and there will be no need to periodically open the window, throwing out a large amount of thermal air. The result is an increase in the temperature in the room by 2-5 degrees and a decrease in the level of street noise.

4. Installation of a second door at the entrance to the apartment (house). The result is an increase in the temperature in the room by 1-2 degrees, a decrease in the level of external noise and gas pollution.

5. Installation of a heat-reflecting screen (or aluminum foil) on the wall behind the heating radiator. The result is an increase in the temperature in the room by 1 degree.

6. Try not to close the radiators with thick curtains, screens, furniture - the heat will be more efficiently distributed in the room.

7. Close curtains at night. This helps keep the heat in the house.

8. Replace cast iron radiators with aluminum ones. The heat transfer of these radiators is 40-50% higher. If the radiators are installed taking into account convenient removal, it is possible to wash them regularly, which also contributes to an increase in heat transfer.

9. Glazing a balcony or loggia is equivalent to installing an additional window. This creates a thermal buffer with an intermediate temperature 10 degrees higher than outside in severe frost.

Saving electrical energy

1. Replace conventional incandescent lamps with energy-saving fluorescent lamps. Their service life is 6 times longer than incandescent lamps, consumption is 5 times lower. During operation, the light bulb pays for itself 8-10 times.

2. Use local lights when there is no need for general lighting.

3. Make it a rule to turn off the lights when leaving the room.

4. Turn off devices that are in standby mode for a long time. TVs, VCRs, music centers in standby mode consume energy from 3 to 10 watts. During the year, 4 such devices, chargers left in sockets will give an additional energy consumption of 300-400 kWh.

5. Use appliances with an energy efficiency class of at least A. Additional energy consumption for household appliances of outdated designs is approximately 50%. Such household appliances will not pay off immediately, but given the increase in energy prices, the impact of savings will be even greater. In addition, such equipment, as a rule, is more modern and better in terms of characteristics.

6. Do not install the refrigerator near a gas stove or a heating radiator. This increases the energy consumption of the refrigerator by 20-30%.

7. The refrigerator seal must be clean and fit snugly against the body and door. Even a small gap in the seal increases energy consumption by 20-30%.

8. Cool food to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator.

9. Do not forget to defrost the refrigerator more often.

10. Do not cover the refrigerator radiator, leave a gap between the wall of the room and the back wall of the refrigerator so that it can cool freely.

11. If you have an electric stove in your kitchen, make sure that its burners are not deformed and fit snugly against the bottom of the heated dishes. This will eliminate unnecessary consumption of heat and electricity. Do not turn on the stove in advance and turn off the stove a little earlier than necessary for the complete cooking of the dish.

12. Boil as much water in an electric kettle as you want to use.

13. Use light colors when decorating the walls of the apartment. Light walls, light curtains, clean windows, a reasonable amount of colors reduce lighting costs by 10-15%.

14. Record electricity meter readings and analyze how you can reduce consumption.

15. In some homes, the computer is kept on all the time. Turn it off or put it into sleep mode if you don't need it to run all the time. With continuous round-the-clock operation, the computer consumes 70-120 kWh per month per month. If continuous work is needed, then it is more efficient to use a laptop or computer with low power consumption (Atom family processors) for such purposes.

In general, it is quite realistic to reduce energy consumption by 40-50% without compromising the quality of life and compromising habits.

Water saving

1. Install water meters. This will motivate to reduce water consumption.

2. Install toggle switches on faucets instead of rotary taps. Water savings of 10-15% plus convenience in temperature selection.

3. Do not turn on the water at full jet. In 90% of cases, a small jet is enough. Saving 4-5 times.

4. When washing and showering, turn off the water when it is not needed.

5. Taking a shower takes 10-20 times less water than taking a bath.

6. Significant water savings are obtained when using two-button drain cisterns.

7. It is necessary to carefully check for water leakage from the drain tank, which occurs due to old fittings in the tank. Replacing fittings is a penny business, and the water savings are impressive. Through a trickle of leakage, you can lose several cubic meters of water per month.

8. Check how the "return" works on the hot water supply. If there is no circulation at the time of supply, then you will be forced to pump water through the risers of your neighbors until you get it hot in your apartment. Of course, while expensive "hot" water is simply drained into the sewer.

In general, reducing water consumption by 4 times is a quite feasible and low-cost task.