Home and household

Small choices, big difference

Cooking

Don’t waste heat – you can use after-heat for baking. You can easily cook stews and casseroles in the oven even for a big family. When using the oven, remember to take advantage of the pre-heat and the after-heat.

Laundry

A half-empty washing machine wastes energy. A washing machine or dishwasher normally uses the same amount of electricity and water regardless of how full it is. Wash full machine loads to take full advantage of the electricity you use.

Dry your laundry out in your garden or balcony when the weather permits it. It will acquire a nice fresh smell and get dry without using energy. You should avoid tumble drying if possible because the tumble dryer consumes a lot of energy. A drying rack or clothes line is a good solution for indoors.

Washing dishes

The energy consumption related to dishwashing comprises the consumption and heating of water as well as electricity.  A hot water connection shortens the washing time, significantly reducing electricity consumption.

• Wash full machine loads to use energy and water more efficiently.
• You don’t need to rinse dishes under running water before washing them. It’s enough to remove the biggest food scraps.
• Regularly check the filter in your machine and remove any debris that may have accumulated in it.
• Also remember to check the spray arms. If the holes are blocked by debris, it makes the dishwasher work less efficiently.
• A clean machine cleans the dishes more efficiently.
• If you wash dishes by hand, don’t use running water. Wash and rinse the dishes in the sink.

Refrigeration equipment

Winter is a good time to defrost your freezer. You can place the frozen food outside or on your balcony in the meantime. You’ll save electricity at the same time. If the freezer has a thick layer of ice, it will consume considerably more electricity.

Set the temperature in your refrigeration equipment correctly: adjust the freezer temperature to -18°C. Cool the product to freeze before placing them in the freezer. Don’t leave the maximum freezing on by accident. It increases the freezer’s energy consumption by 30–55%.

It’s a good idea to replace your old fridge. For example, a 15-year-old fridge consumes roughly twice the amount of electricity compared to a new one.

Sauna

The sauna stove is the one electrical apparatus in your home that consumes more energy than the rest. If your sauna has an electric stove, head in straight away when the temperature is high enough. More than half of the stove’s electricity consumption is spent on preheating the sauna; the rest is used on maintaining the correct temperature. Enjoy a mild heat by setting the stove temperature to 70–80°C. You’ll save energy while at it.

Water consumption

A quick shower saves energy. A 15-minute shower consumes the same amount of energy as one sauna session. Don’t splash around unnecessarily.

Don't keep the tap running when brushing your teeth. Brushing your teeth for 3 minutes with the tap running can use up to 30 litres of water.