30 ways to save energy in an energy crisis

The costs of living is rising, and especially power is becoming incredibly expensive due to several factors. Furthermore, it’s not just the bill that is a motivational factor here, the environment also benefits from energy efficient habits. Here are a couple of measures to take to reduce energy consumption, both for the sake of the planet and the wallet.

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Switch your energy supplier: often it requires nothing more than an email or a phone call to change your energy supplier from a fossil fuel-based source to renewable energy, and with the uncertain landscape of gas and oil at the moment, that’s not a bad idea
Avoid products on standby mode: many devices that are switched off but still plugged in require resources. Actually, between 10-15% of the electricity consumption in an average household is accounted for by standby products. These products are typically TVs, radios, gaming consoles, etc.
Use smart power strips: if walking around and unplugging all your appliances constantly seems daunting, you can use smart power strips to basically do that for you.
Wash full loads only: according to a Danish study, Danes only wash 3,2 kg of clothes per load, even though most washing machines are designed for 5-6 kg or 7-8 kg. But the energy consumption is the same if the load is lighter, and with smaller loads of laundry, you’ll have to wash more frequently, leading to more resource use.
Wash full loads only (part 2): that’s also true for dishwashers. Using a dishwasher actually requires less energy, on average, than washing dishes by hand, but that’s only true if you load the dishwasher completely.
Wash colder: If you wash in colder temperatures, you can also save a great deal. Switch to 30°C instead of 60°C. And by washing at 20°C instead of 40°C you can save 55% of the electricity.
Avoid the dryer: Instead, let your clothes air dry.
Turn off the water when you’re shaving, soaping your hands, or brushing your teeth: no need to let the water run when it’s not being used.
Simply remember to switch off lights: especially lights you don’t use. This is quite simple, but a good reminder to get this habit under your skin. Turn off the lights when no one is using the room, or turn off unnecessary lights whenever possible.
Cover your pots and pans when cooking: that way you’re using the energy more efficiently.
Use less water when cooking: most often, you don’t need to fill your pot all the way up with water when cooking (let’s say potatoes), instead use just enough to cover them, this trick reduced the energy consumption by 30%.
Skip the dry heat setting on the dishwasher: it’s just a dryer for your dishes, let them air dry, like your clothes, instead.
Switch off electronic devices that are specialized or unessential: like towel dryers, or terrace heaters.
Fridge and freezer: these are some products that we really can’t turn off, but you can make sure that they are not consuming more energy than necessary. Having the freezer or fridge set for lower temperatures than necessary results in more electricity use. The freezer should be set at – 18°C and the fridge at 5°C.
Preheat the oven: many recipes often call for an oven to be preheated before using it, but most often it isn’t actually essential for the outcome of the dish. As such, you can use the preheating time in the oven as well, so that power isn’t wasted.
Use your microwave instead of your oven: for heating small portions etc, the microwave uses a lot less energy and is quite versatile.
Cut down on the air-con: air conditioning is extremely energy intensive, using a ceiling fan instead or simply cutting down on the use whenever possible saves a lot of energy.
Dress accordingly before changing the temperature in your home: it is way more energy efficient to layer up when it’s cold, or take layers off when it’s too warm rather than using resources on adjusting the temperature, and even if you need to, dress accordingly will mean that you will need to heat or cool your home less.
When buying new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label: products with that label are more energy efficient, for instance, washing machines with the ENERGY STAR label consume 25% less energy and 45% less water than conventional ones.
LED bulbs: whenever possible switch to LED light bulbs, they are more energy efficient. They actually use 75-80% less energy.
Install a programmable or smart thermostat: which can be adjusted or turned off when not in use. Using a smart thermostat eliminates wasteful energy use, and will over time save you resources and money.
Energy-saving insulation: according to energy.gov, 20% of the energy consumed in a home during winter results in energy loss through the attic, so looking at proper insulation is a really good investment, as it not only keeps the heat in during winter but also keeps you cool during summer.
Insulate your water heater: if you have a water heater, insulating it can save you up to 10% of your water heating costs.
Be mindful when replacing your water heater: it should reflect your needs, an energy-efficient water heater can be anywhere between 8% and 300% more energy efficient than a conventional option.
Swap baths for showers: while baths are amazing, swap as many baths for showers as you can, a shower requires less water and less energy, so leave those baths for really special occasions.
Defrost your freezer more often: over time you’ll often see ice build-up in your freezer and it actually uses more energy to preserve all this ice, so once a month, defrosting the freezer reduces the energy consumption. Actually, if the freezer has 2 millimeters of ice in it, it uses 20% more energy.
Avoid mini-fridges: and stick to one large fridge, that requires less energy overall
Energy efficient windows: windows are often a big source of energy waste, they add between 10% and 25% to your heating bill, so if you are looking to replace your windows, have in mind that there are options that insulate your home and save you energy.
Weatherizing: a great and low-impact way to save energy is by sealing leaks around your home. For instance, apply caulk between windows and doors to maintain a more stable indoor climate.
Leaky faucets: if you have water leaks in your home, fix those as well, to keep energy costs down.