Status: 07/02/2022 08:12 a.m
Economics Minister Habeck has asked Germans to take shorter showers – to save energy. But does that really save a lot? Where can energy costs be reduced most effectively? An overview.
Almost two thirds of Germans shower at least once a day. The average daily shower time is eight to twelve minutes. About 20 percent of our energy consumption for heat is used for hot water, the consumer center NRW has calculated.
The cost is around 100 euros per person per year, says the head of the energy efficiency group, Reinhard Loch. “If I take a shorter shower, I use less energy accordingly, for example five instead of seven minutes use about 30 percent less energy,” says Loch.
You can also save money by turning the shower temperature down a few degrees. Reinhard Loch calculates: “We shower with a water temperature of around 40 degrees; to do this, we first have to heat the cold water from ten degrees to 40 degrees, i.e. by 30 degrees. If I’m satisfied with 37 degrees, i.e. three degrees less, I save about ten percent of the energy for hot water.” The expert from the consumer advice center recommends washing hands with cold water and using economical shower heads. This saves a lot of energy.
Experiment with “smart shower heads”
A research project by the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the University of Bonn together with the Center for Advanced Internet Studies has investigated how “smart shower heads” can reduce consumption. In the field experiment, a group received so-called real-time feedback on their water consumption while showering using a technically specially equipped shower head. The shower head changed color depending on the water consumed. In this way, the consumer could see how many liters had already been used.
This information prompted the subjects to take shorter showers. 29 percent of the energy could be saved. “Our study shows that the use of behavioral economics interventions can be an opportunity for the sustainable use of scarce resources,” says Mark Andor, head of the RWI research group.
A quarter of the power consumption for TV and computer
On average, we use 14 percent of the energy in the home for hot water and 14.5 percent for electricity. Electricity can be saved in different areas of the household. More than a quarter of electricity consumption is due to information technology such as televisions and laptops, closely followed by refrigerators and freezers, which are generally known to be big power guzzlers.
Light consumes around five to ten percent of our electricity, says Reinhard Loch from the consumer center. “If I switch off consistently, you will be able to save a few percent,” says Loch. The consumer advice center advises using LED lamps for workplace lighting, as these only consume one sixth to one fifth as much electricity as incandescent or halogen lamps.
Wash better without drying
It is also worth thinking about purchasing new electrical appliances. “Especially with refrigerators that are more than 20 years old, it will usually pay off. However, televisions are usually bought larger; this often eats up the savings again,” says the energy expert.
Washing machines are no longer so critical: “We now use little energy for washing. Saving less is worthwhile here. But you should set the washing temperature low (30 or 40 degrees) and do without the dryer,” says Reinhard Loch. The famous standby button on the TV is also not a big factor. “With modern devices, the standby consumption is very low, less than one watt. It’s hardly worth switching off.”
Greatest savings potential when heating
There is the greatest potential for savings when it comes to heating. On average, we use around 70 percent of the energy consumption for this. Even with small changes in behavior and small investments, it is possible to save heating energy and costs, according to the consumer center. On the Verbraucherzentrale-energieberatung.de website, she writes: “Turn your heating down at night, for example, or when you are not at home. Digital systems such as ‘Smart Home’ support you in this. Modern technology and good insulation allow the savings stocking to grow even more “.
It is important to ventilate properly. Brief cross-ventilation with opposite windows and interior doors wide open is the most effective method of air exchange. Tilted windows should be closed again after a while to avoid heating out the window.
But sometimes it is also easy to save energy: If you consistently use a pot lid when cooking, you can save up to 20 euros in electricity costs a year; so the calculation of the consumer center.