Energy saving myth 1: A full refrigerator uses more electricity than an empty one
Every time you open the refrigerator, cold air escapes. The refrigerator then works at full speed to lower the temperature again. “In a well-filled refrigerator, less cold air escapes because the stored food serves as a kind of ice pack. “As a result, a full refrigerator uses less electricity in the long term,” says Joshua Jahn from the Brandenburg Consumer Center. However, the contents of the refrigerator only have a small influence on the overall consumption of the device. The age, size and energy efficiency of the model are more important. “Consumers should therefore best replace a very old and oversized refrigerator with a smaller and more efficient device,” says Jahn.
Energy saving myth 2: Combination devices save energy
Combinations of washing machine and dryer impress with their space savings: one device contains the functions of two devices. Nevertheless, washer-dryers tend to be space-saving power guzzlers. “Many of these combination devices use more electricity and water than washing machines and dryers separately,” says the energy expert. While newer tumble dryers usually rely on more economical heat pump technology, combination devices often have special condenser dryers installed that not only use more electricity, but also additional water to cool the water vapor.
Energy saving myth 3: Only washing your hands with warm water is hygienic
Washing your hands with warm water is not absolutely necessary to kill all germs. Much more important than the temperature is the duration of washing and thorough soaping of the hands. You should soap and clean your hands for at least 20 to 30 seconds to remove dirt and germs. Even more energy savings when washing hands can be achieved by installing flow restrictors, which can easily be installed on the tap. The small inserts are available in hardware stores for just a few euros and save up to 30 percent water.
Energy saving myth 4: Turning off the lights briefly uses more electricity than leaving the lights on
LED lamps have almost no increased power consumption when switched on and off again. Therefore, you save electricity if you turn off the lights when you leave the room for just a short time. The best tip for saving energy in lighting is still: “Replace old light bulbs. These have a much higher consumption than LED lamps, so replacing them saves 80 to 90 percent of energy,” says Jahn.
Energy saving myth 5: Hand washing is more energy efficient than using the dishwasher
Good news for those who don't like washing up: Modern dishwashers are very energy efficient and generally use less water and significantly less energy than washing dishes by hand. How high the savings potential is depends largely on individual use. The majority of electricity costs are caused by heating the water. Consumers should therefore always use the eco program, as it runs longer and the water does not have to be heated to as high a temperature. “If possible, you should only turn on the dishwasher when it is completely full, and when buying a new one, pay attention to the lowest possible consumption values,” explains Jahn.
Energy crisis: The consumer advice center helps
The consumer advice center is there for citizens if they have any questions about saving energy, the use of renewable energies or complaints about the energy crisis. Independent and qualified energy consultants can help you personally, by telephone or via video chat. If you are interested, call 0331 – 98 22 999 5 (Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) to make a free appointment for a consultation. Further information is available at www.verbraucherzentrale-brandenburg.de/energie/energiesparberatung-15772 .
Source:
Brandenburg Consumer Center
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