Tips on saving energy

Cracks in walls or gaps in window frames that don’t close properly can significantly reduce the temperature in your home, which results in you turning up the heating. Even the smallest opening can cause a continuous cold airflow. This is not only a waste of energy, it is also not very healthy or comfortable. 

Therefore, seal off cracks in walls immediately and regularly check the integrity of your windows insulation. This can save you up to ten percent on your heating costs! Double glazing and appropriate thermal insulation measures also contribute to reducing heating costs.

A room temperature of 21° is pleasant, but not always necessary; for example rooms such as the guest room or the hall do not need to be as warm as a living room. By properly regulating your heat demand, you can save energy and therefore money.

Recommended temperature levels:

 Living room: 21°
 Bathroom: 23°
 Bedrooms: 18°
 Kitchen: 18°
 Dining room: 20°
 

As a rule of thumb, if you heat your rooms one degree lower, you will soon save 7% on your heating costs!

Use radiators only when necessary, particularly in spring and autumn. Do not heat rooms not in use. However, avoid freezing or excessive cooling by slightly heating the ancillary rooms in the event of extremely cold weather conditions.

If you have thermostatic radiator valves, adjust them incrementally if you want the room to be a little warmer or cooler. Turning them all the way open alternated by entirely closed will result in too much fluctuation.

Good ventilation is vital to remove the daily moisture production from your home. Heating a humid area requires more energy than heating a dry area.

Please note: if you have thermostatic radiator valves, do not opt for 'continuous ventilation' (e.g. open a window all day long). If cold air is constantly flowing over the thermostat, the valve 'opens' and the radiator will start heating up, which results in 'unwanted' heat release.

Do not encase your radiators or allow curtains to drape over. This traps the heat behind the curtains. Heavy furniture in front of your radiators also traps heat.

If you will be absent from your residence for a longer period, you don’t need to heat your home. Your walls and furniture will easily keep your apartment at the right temperature for a few weeks. Our suggestion: If you will be away for two to three weeks during the winter months, turn the heating down. The so-called 'anti-freeze mode' (ice sign on the thermostat) is ideal; it protects your radiators and apartment against frost, without wasting precious energy.

It is tempting to dry laundry on the radiator, as it will dry faster. However, it is actually a waste of heat, making it more difficult to warm the room properly. This also applies to curtains draping over your radiators, as this will trap the heat behind them. You will then need more energy to raise the warmth in your living room to the desired temperature.

If it is too hot in your home, do not immediately open the windows, but lower the heating thermostat first.

Make sure you have good draught excluders. It is a real waste when precious heat disappears to the outside through cracks and crevices. Good draught excluders will prevent this.

Turn the heating on to the night mode half an hour before you go to bed (± 15° C). Your home will stay warm for a little while longer. Do not turn the heating below 15° C, as it will take a lot of energy to return your home to a sufficient temperature. And remember, moisture precipitates (condensation) on the walls and furniture surfaces of a cold dwelling.

You can read off your own water use on the water meter. Keeping track of how much water you consume every month can help you save water. If you have a radio readable water meter, it is possible to monitor your meter reading every week on the ista Webportal and via the ista App using the Monitoring for Residents service. Ask your property manager for details.

Don’t run a tap unnecessarily, e.g. when brushing teeth, shaving or washing hands. Always repair a leaking tap; all these drips together can quickly add up to 1500 litres of water per year.

Use a half-flush button on the toilet cistern and use a water-saving shower head.
By using water-saving appliances, you can reduce your water consumption by 30%, from an average of 126 litres per person per day to less than 90 litres per day.

Only run your washing machine fully loaded. Washing machines are major water and energy users. By being aware of the use of this type of equipment, you will save on both water and energy.

An ‘eco’ washing machine or dishwasher will significantly reduce your annual energy and water use. A-labelled machines use the least energy.

When washing your car you can save three quarters of the water if you use buckets rather than a garden hose. This is one way to save more than 100 litres of water per wash.

Reducing the amounts of hot water you use also means reducing the energy needed to produce hot water. Only use hot water when really needed. Many household chores can be completed with cold water.

Taking a bath is expensive: the water and energy use for a full bath is equivalent to 18 minutes in the shower. The average duration of a shower is about six minutes, so three times cheaper than taking a bath. You will quickly save € 80 per year.