Saving energy at Christmas

Energy saving has become a highly relevant issue today due to the economic and environmental impacts it generates. In this sense, saving energy helps to combat the effects of global warming and climate change, in addition to reducing the amount of kilowatt-hours (kWh) consumed.

However, during the Christmas season there are significant increases in electricity consumption in most households, which affects the planet and the family budget. For this reason, this post presents some of the main measures to reduce expenses for this type of consumption, avoid accidents and celebrate Christmas responsibly and safely.

What is energy saving?

Firstly, it is important to clarify that energy saving is not synonymous with energy efficiency, although they are two related concepts. The latter refers to the ability to obtain the best results in an activity using the least possible amount of energy resources. In contrast, energy saving emphasizes the reduction of expenditure, promoting limited energy consumption. Therefore, it is possible to define energy saving as the set of practices aimed at reducing energy consumption.

Examples of energy saving at Christmas

Christmas is a time full of color, magic and fun, where family gatherings, parties and decorations are in the first place. All this leads to a considerable increase in energy consumption. In fact, you only have to take a walk to see light figures in the gardens and on the facades of most of the houses.

However, it is possible to enjoy a brilliant Christmas season while contributing to environmental care. You just have to change certain habits and consider some key aspects, such as energy management, which allows you to optimize the consumption of electrical energy. In this way, it is possible to reduce costs and rationalize electricity consumption without prejudice to users.

The following sections show some recommendations for improving energy saving in the middle of December.

In the home and office

In homes, offices, meeting rooms, workshops or laboratories it is possible to implement Christmas policies or programs to contribute to energy saving:

• Form different ways of saving electricity in electronic devices. That is, activate the shutdown function so that, in times of inactivity, the equipment automatically suspends after a few minutes.

• Use timers to set up Christmas lights and prevent them from staying on all night.

• Implement and maintain shutdown policies. Labels are placed as reminders at critical points in offices or laboratories so that each employee turns off the light when leaving and checks that all equipment is turned off at the end of the day.

• Choose non-electric or low energy consumption decorations to keep the Christmas spirit alive without increasing electricity consumption.

• Use efficient appliances, such as low-consumption microwaves or refrigerators. This reduces consumption and promotes energy saving.

Heating

Taking advantage of the sunlight during the day to naturally heat rooms and living spaces helps to prevent heat loss. In addition, the following actions can be of great help:

• Keep curtains or blinds open during the day and closed at night.
• Reinforcing the insulation of homes in the walls, ceiling and floor helps to improve the internal temperature. The use of thermal curtains also reduces heat loss.
• Maintain a comfortable temperature by setting the thermostat between 20 and 21ºC, as each degree less can represent a 7% saving on the bill.
• Purchase space heaters with automatic controls. It is also advisable to seal doors and windows to keep the heat inside the home and not overuse the heating.

Lighting

The easiest and quickest thing to do is to use LED strips instead of conventional spotlights; they consume 88.6% less energy than incandescent strips and have a longer lifespan. It is also recommended to disconnect the strips when leaving the house and when going to sleep.

Other tips are:

• Make sure that outdoor decorative lights are adequate and in optimal condition, otherwise they will consume more energy and become a fire or short-circuit hazard.

• When going on vacation, only the necessary switches should be left on and all non-essential equipment should be disconnected. This avoids the consumption of so-called “vampire” electricity.

• Install directional lighting, as it is not always necessary to light an entire space. You can also opt for table lamps, bedside lamps or recessed wall lights for specific areas.

• Install motion sensors. They are ideal for corridors, passageways or rooms where permanent lighting is not required. They detect movement and turn on and off automatically.

Household appliances

Some ways of saving energy can be done with household appliances that consume energy even when they are on standby. In these cases, the use of a power strip allows them to be completely disconnected when they are not in use. It is also possible to save energy with the following actions:

• Take advantage of the sun and air to dry clothes instead of using dryers.

• When replacing an appliance, choose those with a high energy rating, as they use less energy and do the same tasks. This scale ranges from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the most energy-consuming.

Why is energy saving important?

When an energy saving plan is put into practice, mainly during the Christmas season, the following effects are achieved:

• Preserving natural resources: this is essential in today’s world, as natural resources are finite. Reducing their use for energy generation helps to ensure their availability.

• Protecting the environment: conserving natural resources and consuming less energy helps to reduce the carbon footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change.

• Well-being and comfort: energy saving in the home makes the use of energy more efficient without reducing the lifestyle or comfort of the home.

• Financial savings: another important aspect is that, by reducing energy consumption, the amount of the monthly energy bill will decrease, as efficient consumption avoids waste and reduces expenses.

What equipment supports energy efficiency?

To achieve greater energy efficiency, equipment is needed that optimizes energy use. This factor becomes paramount in the contemporary world as concern about climate change and the environment grows. There are many cutting-edge technologies that can help improve energy efficiency and thus promote the reduction of energy consumption and savings on bills.

Energy monitor

This is a digital device that connects to the electrical circuit and allows you to monitor your electricity consumption at all times. This equipment helps to analyse total consumption in order to establish specific habits and strategies that favour the reduction of energy expenditure. Some models are compatible with mobile phone connections, which makes it much easier to monitor consumption.

Solar panel

Solar panels are more efficient and cost-effective than ever. They use photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity to power homes and businesses. State-of-the-art solar panels reduce energy costs and carbon emissions, making them a viable option for those seeking to improve energy efficiency and reduce their environmental impact.

There are different types of solar panels, from traditional silicon-based panels to the newest thin-film ones. They can be installed on the ground or on the roof of a house or building, depending on the location and the space available. Another advantage is that they can work with battery storage systems to store energy and use it when needed.

Energy storage system

These systems are a fundamental pillar for the decarbonization of the electrical system and the energy transition. They function as collectors of, reservoirs for and distributors of renewable energy when nature decides to take a break. The energy can then be released and used. Currently, there are different energy storage systems, each with specific characteristics and uses:

• Batteries.
• Supercapacitors.
• Thermal energy storage systems.
• Reversible water pumping stations.
• Solar thermal with storage.
• Compressed air.

December is a month full of light and high energy consumption, so it is important to enjoy this brightness responsibly and encourage energy saving. It is an irrefutable fact that there is no energy cheaper and cleaner than energy that is not consumed. That is why every action counts and simple steps benefit both the family budget and the environment.

Contact Industronic to find tailor-made solutions or receive the advice you need. Energy saving is a matter of today for the future.