Electricity costs down: the best tips from Habeck's savings campaign

"80 million together for the energy change": This is the motto of a campaign to save energy.

Electricity costs down: the best tips from Habeck's savings campaign

"80 million together for the energy change": This is the motto of a campaign to save energy. Most tips can be easily implemented in everyday life - and without investment.

Energy prices are exploding, the supply of fossil raw materials from Russia is uncertain - so we should all work together to save as much energy as possible. This is an appeal from Federal Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck and a broad alliance of associations. The name of the campaign: "80 million together for the energy transition".

These are the best tips for saving electricity from the "energiewechsel.de" campaign portal. The good thing is that you don't have to invest a lot of money in new heating systems and you can easily implement every tip in everyday life.

Here are a few examples. According to "energiewechsel.de", the information on possible savings is based on our own calculations from 2018. The information from Co2online is based on the annual average values ​​of the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) for electricity and gas for 2021. The current savings potential can therefore actually be even bigger.

60 euros per year: switch off electronic devices completely

Is the TV always on standby? Is the charging cable always plugged into the socket, even if the smartphone is not connected? Many do. It doesn't bother us to press the off button on the device or to pull the cable completely.

In concrete terms, this means that no small, glowing light should remain on on electronic devices. Because that signals the stand-by or sleep mode. It is also best not to leave all other devices without a light plugged in when you are not using them. Socket strips with a switch are practical here, with which you can quickly disconnect several devices from the mains overnight.

It is true that older devices in particular have a potentially high stand-by consumption. According to EU specifications, newer devices may only have a maximum power consumption of 0.5 watts, according to the consumer advice centers. But: The specification does not apply to devices that are connected to a network, such as smart TVs and game consoles.

By the way: Also think about devices that you don't always have in view, such as the WLAN router hidden behind a cupboard. Some devices can be deactivated at night with a timer. That makes another 12 euros per year. And if you put the computer to sleep instead of just activating the screensaver during a break from work or play, you save a further 17 euros per year with a two-hour PC break per day.

27 euros per year: lid on saucepan

Saving electricity can be so easy: If a suitable lid is placed on the saucepan, heat cannot escape from it unused. You can save even more if you use cookware that fits the size of the stovetop. The non-profit consultancy Co2online even recommends that the diameter of the cookware can be slightly larger than the diameter of the stovetop.

24 euros per year: cooking with a minimum of water

Speaking of cooking: If you only fill the pot or kettle with as much water as is actually required, you can also save a good amount on electricity costs. Because you not only have to heat less water, but it also heats up faster.

The campaign advises cooking eggs and vegetables in a pot with only a two-centimetre layer of water - not even covering them completely. Saving: 10 euros per year.

And if you only heat as much water in the kettle as you really need, you can save 14 euros (with one liter too much boiled water per day).

You can find more tips on saving with ovens at www.energiewechsel.de.

25 euros per year: fill the washing machine completely

If you collect your dirty laundry and only run the machine when the drum is full, you can save 25 euros a year by washing twice a week. The latest premium devices are an exception here: They have automatic load detection.

But according to Co2online, there is even more: By using the eco or eco programs of the washing machine instead of the quick and normal washing programs, you can save up to 33 euros per year. However, there is one small disadvantage: The programs require more time, so the machine runs longer. Most of the time you can also do without a pre-wash, which is another around 7 euros per year and a faster wash cycle.

Up to 17 more euros a year can be saved if you wash at 30 instead of 60 degrees (assuming two wash cycles per week). And that doesn't even bother the laundry in most cases: The detergents and appliances have long been so good that they get rid of the usual dirt even at low temperatures.

You should only set 60 or 90 degrees to eliminate germs adhering to the laundry in the event of contagious diseases and to clean the machine yourself once a month.

By the way: Many dishwashers also have economy programs. According to calculations by Co2online, anyone who flushes with it once a day instead of in the usual program can save around 83 euros per year. There are more tips for dishwashers at www.energiewechsel.de.

Up to 175 euros per year: drying laundry outside

This tip can do something: If you have the opportunity to dry your laundry on a stand or line and thus do without a tumble dryer, you can save up to 175 euros per year. Everyone else should at least turn on the spin speed on the washing machine as high as possible - which pre-dries the laundry a little.