A thrifty Christmas

A thrifty Christmas.

Electricity has been very expensive in recent weeks. It is likely that prices will remain high throughout the winter. This week the state decided to support consumers with electricity bills. Even so, winter will be financially difficult for many people because consumer prices have risen with the energy crisis.

Despite state electricity support, it is important that households take part in demand flexibility when consumption threatens to exceed availability. A good first step is to download an app that follows hourly spot-price electricity, if you do not already have one. With HattiWatt you can see the spot price at a glance and know when it makes sense to use electricity. I wrote down a few household tips for saving electricity and money.

The kitchen has many appliances used every day. Appliances can consume a lot of electricity, especially devices that produce cold. Check that temperatures are set correctly and that seals do not leak. A suitable refrigerator temperature is about +5 degrees and a freezer should be -18 degrees. Cook a larger amount of food at once in the oven or on the stove. You can leave the oven door open after turning the heat off so the remaining warmth enters the home. Also consider whether using the toaster every day is necessary. For the dishwasher, choose low-energy programs according to the washing need.

Every home now has plenty of entertainment electronics. A single device may feel like it uses little electricity, but together they can take almost 10 percent of household electricity use. Turn off all entertainment devices after use. Remember that standby mode still uses electricity. Content production, data centers and data transfer also consume a lot of energy. Use a fixed network connection for large data transfers, such as watching videos, when possible. It is also worth checking device energy efficiency and keeping equipment up to date. For example, a laptop can use up to 80 percent less electricity than an older desktop computer, and an old plasma television can be a real electricity eater.

Laundry is part of everyday life. If possible, choose eco programs and lower temperatures. Wash textiles only when they are truly dirty and wash full loads. Some materials, such as wool, can simply be aired outdoors in cold weather if they are not stained. Follow the washing temperature recommendations on the textile. Consider carefully when to use a tumble dryer. Older condensing dryers can use a lot of electricity, especially at high temperatures. Laundry dries nicely on a rack in front of a fireplace if you have one. When buying a new washing machine or dryer after Christmas sales, choose a model that saves electricity and water. Newer tumble dryers are heat-pump based and energy efficient.

Turn off power-hungry location services and apps on mobile devices when you are not actively using them, as they drain the battery quickly. A general rule is to turn off all electrical devices when they are not in use. Unnecessary charging cables should be unplugged. If possible, use smart controls for electrical devices and make use of power-saving features on phones and other devices.

Even though sales are just around the corner, buy new devices only when you truly need them. If you do buy electrical devices, choose models that suit your needs and consume as little as possible. For example, as screen size grows, electricity use grows too, so think carefully about the size of any monitor or television you buy. It is important to compare energy labels.

Hopefully these tips are at least a little help in a difficult situation. Despite the energy crisis, HattiWatt wishes all readers a warm and bright Christmas.

Christmas greetings from Maria and @hattiwattapp