22 tips for saving electricity and reducing electricity consumption

How to best use electricity without wasting it. Below are a few tips on how to save electricity, reduce electricity consumption, save money, and make your home even more energy efficient.

1. If you find out what you use electricity for, it will be easier to save. For example, you can measure your energy use with various basic electricity meters for domestic use. Or you can ask your electricity company to provide you with hourly values so you can see when the electricity is being used. If you also keep a diary of your family’s electricity use, it will be easier to link the consumption values to different activities. If you need help, you are welcome to contact us, or you can get in touch with your municipal energy advisor.
   
   
2. Use the timer on your engine heater correctly. When it is warmer than +10 °C, it is not needed at all, at 0 °C you can use it for a maximum of 1 hour, and at -15 °C you can use it for about 1.5 hours.
   
   
3. If you have decorative lighting with older light bulbs, it is good to use a timer. However, if the lighting has LED lights, the timer itself may consume more electricity.
   
   
4. If you have older electronic devices, there is a risk that they consume a lot of electricity in standby mode. Then it is better to completely turn off the power switch. Power strips with switches allow you to turn off several devices at once.
   
   
5. A plasma TV can draw 2-3 times more power than other flat-screen TVs. Of course, the larger the television, the more electricity it consumes.
   
   
6. Turn off lights in empty rooms and switch to LED bulbs. An LED bulb consumes 80 percent less electricity and lasts 10-20 times longer than an ordinary incandescent bulb. Calculate for yourself how much electricity you can save (konsumentguiden.se)
   
   
7. Avoid running half-full washing machines. Select the lowest temperature possible and use energy-saving washing programs.
   
   
8. If possible, dry your laundry on a washing line or a drying rack. Otherwise, it is better to tumble dry your clothes instead of using drying cabinets. If you use a drying cabinet, first spin your laundry in the washing machine as much as possible.
   
   
9. Check the energy label when buying new appliances and electronics. It usually pays off in the long run to invest in energy-efficient alternatives.
   
   
10. Maintain the correct temperature in the refrigerator (+6°) and freezer (-18°). Remember to place them so that air can circulate all around, and make sure to vacuum at the back regularly. Defrost the freezer at least once a year, making sure that the doors and lids close tightly.
    
    
11. When defrosting frozen food, do so in the fridge to make use of the cold temperature of the food. Also, allow hot food to cool before putting it in the fridge.
    
    
12. When cooking on the stove, use lids on your pots and pans. And make sure that your pots and pans are not uneven at the bottom so that they make good contact with the hob. This will ensure that cooking is both faster and uses less electricity. To boil water, the kettle is an energy-saving option.
    
    
13. Run the dishwasher when it is full and use the energy-saving program. Also keep in mind that you don’t need to rinse the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher – just scrape any food residues into your compost bin.
    
    
14. Hot summers have led many to buy air conditioning. You can reduce your cooling needs by keeping windows open at night and closed during the day. Awnings on sunny windows can also reduce the need for cooling.
    
    
15. You can save energy with underfloor heating, but only if you have good insulation under the heating coils. Even then, you only save electricity if the warmer floors mean you can lower the indoor temperature. Underfloor heating in bathrooms should be seen as comfort that costs extra. You should not place carpets on underfloor heating, as they prevent heat from entering the room.

And if your home is heated by electricity:

1. The easiest way to save electricity is to lower the indoor temperature. For each degree you lower the temperature by, you will save around 5% of the electricity used for heating.
   
   
2.  Lower the temperature in spaces that do not need to be as war as the living areas, such as the garage, basement, laundry room, or storage room. If you are able to control the time your heating is on, lower the indoor temperature while you are asleep, at work, or away.
   
   
3. If your home is heated by direct heating, you can save a great deal of electricity by switching to a ground source heat pump, for example. An air source heat pump can also provide great savings at a significantly lower investment cost, and does not require a water-borne heating system.
   
   
4. If you have an older heat pump, you can benefit from switching to a new one with higher efficiency. Heat pumps with variable speed control are the most energy efficient.
   
   
5. Reduce the electricity used for hot water by taking shorter showers. Also, switch to energy-efficient taps and shower heads. Showering is more energy efficient than bathing.
   
   
6. Old and worn sealing strips around windows and doors can create drafts. Reduce electricity consumption and improve comfort by replacing these strips. When opening your windows for airing, you should do so for a short period with cross-draft, so that the air is replaced quickly without an unnecessary amount of heat leaking out.
   
   
7. If you put large furniture or heavy curtains in front of the radiators, the heat will not be able to spread throughout the room. Keep the area around your radiators free and airy and you will have a more comfortable indoor climate.