Home - Climate · Energy - Energy Efficiency - Household

As at: November 2007

Flag of Germany

Questions and Answers: Energy Efficiency Tips for Domestic and Electrical Appliances

(from the BMU Brochure Energy Efficiency - Tips to Protect the Climate and Save Money)


Electricity, gas and oil are more expensive than ever, so intelligent energy management has never been as worthwhile as it is today. But what does energy efficiency actually mean? What are the benefits – for the environment and our own pockets? Must we accept drastic limitations in order to consume less energy? And what is the German Government doing to boost energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption? The Federal Environment Ministry answers some frequently asked questions.

Where can energy efficiency be improved to the greatest extent?

90 percent of domestic energy consumption in Germany goes on heating and water, not including gas or diesel for cars. Space heating accounts for the major share by far – i.e. around three-quarters of domestic energy consumption, with much of this being lost through walls, windows, the roof, doors or floors. Old boilers and oversized, incorrectly set and inefficient circulating pumps also send electricity and heat consumption soaring. The power used to drive electric motors, for example in washing machines and dishwashers, fridges and freezers, circulating pumps and fans, accounts for around 5.5 percent of domestic energy consumption, while lighting and lamps total 1.5 percent of consumption.

So better insulation for existing buildings and innovative concepts for new builds offer the greatest potential for energy saving – after all, who wants to heat the street instead of the home? In existing buildings, there is scope to reduce the energy requirement by as much as 90 percent in some cases, with the average saving amounting to around 50 percent. When it comes to electricity consumption, the greatest savings can be made with more energy-efficient appliances – fridges, freezers, washers and dryers. Together, these appliances account for around 55 percent of domestic electricity consumption but are often old and inefficient. Modern washing machines use 50 percent less electricity than washing machines twenty years ago – and a high-efficiency appliance uses even less.

Back to start

How much money can a household save?

According to studies by the European Commission, better energy efficiency can result in yearly savings of up to €1000 for an average household in the European Union (EU). At current electricity prices, every kilowatt hour of consumption avoided – roughly as much power as is required to wash a machine full of laundry, or for seven hours of television viewing – means an average of 18 cents more for the household budget. Idling losses alone cost the average household around €85 per year – and this figure is likely to increase as energy prices rise further.

Idling losses occur if an appliance is consuming electricity without performing its actual function. This is the case with the stand-by mode, for example, or if the device is assumed to be, but is not actually switched off – as is the case with some halogen lamps whose transformers stay connected to the grid and still draw power even when the lights are off. Indeed, some appliances cannot be turned off at all, but are simply powered down. Even while not in use, they still consume electricity unseen around the clock. These idling losses cost private households and offices around €4 billion a year. This is equivalent to roughly 22 billion kilowatt hours – more than the total consumption of Berlin and Hamburg or the annual output of two major power stations such as Brokdorf and Biblis-A.

Back to start

What can I do with one kilowatt hour of electricity?

  • Make 70 cups of coffee
  • Watch seven hours of TV
  • Iron 15 shirts
  • Listen to CDs for 40 hours
  • Power a 300-litre fridge for two days
  • Bake one yeast cake
  • Wash a machine full of laundry

Back to start

Must we accept drastic limitations in order to increase energy efficiency?

No, on the contrary. Usage remains the same but can be achieved with less energy. This does not mean sacrificing comfort or convenience. For example, efficient storage of food in a fridge does not depend on whether the appliance uses a large or a small amount of energy. Stereo systems, CD players, computers and TVs all work whether or not they continue to draw power when switched off.

Back to start

Is it worth buying new energy-efficient appliances?

Yes. Unlike the one-off cost of purchasing a new appliance, electricity costs are a constant drain on household funds. Electricity guzzlers may be cheaper to buy, but they are expensive to run. In particular older and very low-price appliances often consume a disproportionately large amount of power, which makes them inefficient. Over its lifetime, an energy-wasting appliance is more expensive than an efficient one – and an energy-efficient appliance does not necessarily cost more to buy. The energy consumption of individual appliances often varies very widely: the most energy-efficient fridges and freezers are two to three times more efficient than energy-wasting ones. Carefully comparing the various options when buying a new appliance can help consumers make substantial savings.

Back to start

How can I identify energy-efficient appliances?

In particular large domestic appliances must display a label showing their energy consumption. This is stipulated in the Energy Consumption Labelling Act (EnVKG). Appliances are rated according to consumption classes: from A++ (the most efficient) to G (least efficient). By law, the label must be displayed on all fridges, freezers, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers as well as on domestic light bulbs, air conditioning devices and electric ovens.

The current energy labelling scheme of consumption classes A to G is more than ten years old, however, and has not been adapted to technological process. Only more efficient fridges and freezers are labelled with the new categories A++ and A+, more efficient washing machines with A+. The German Government is therefore pressing for the scheme to be updated by the European Union. So at present, it is advisable not to rely solely on the rating but to also compare the energy consumption in kilowatt hour (kWh) indicated for the individual appliances. Some types of appliance may also bear the "Blue Angel" environmental quality mark, the GEEA symbol, the EU Eco-Label, the Energy Star or TCO label, which generally provide electricity consumption information as well.

Back to start

I'd like to buy an energy-efficient appliance: where can I get more information?

Energy-efficient appliances tend not to be advertised very aggressively. For that reason, it is best to gather as much information as possible before buying and ask the sales consultant specific questions. The German Energy Agency (dena), for example, offers comprehensive information on energy efficiency, also for purchases of electrical appliances, as part of its Energy Efficiency Initiative ( www.initiative-energieeffizienz.de (in German), www.stromeffizienz.de (in German)).

A comparison of various appliances can also be found on the following Internet sites:

Further information on the energy efficiency of individual appliances can be found on the manufacturers' websites, as well as in current test reports produced by organisations such as the German Consumer Foundation (Stiftung Warentest) ( www.stiftung-warentest.de (in German)) or "Ökotest" ( www.oekotest.de (in German)) and on the following Internet sites:

Back to start

A few energy-saving light bulbs more or less – do they really make a difference?

Yes. Energy-saving light bulbs consume about 80 percent less electricity than conventional light bulbs. The light output of an 11-watt energy-saving bulb, for example, is about equivalent to that of a conventional 60-watt filament bulb. High-quality energy-saving light bulbs last 8,000-12,000 hours, compared with just 1,000 for most conventional light bulbs. Energy-saving bulbs are best suited for usage where light is not just needed for a short time. In these settings, every energy-saving bulb saves energy and money – the higher purchase costs are recouped during the product's life time. Should an energy-saving light bulb break, it should not be disposed of with domestic waste because of its mercury content. The collection points of municipalities and districts and even some shops take back broken lamps free of charge.

Back to start

What else can I do to reduce my electricity bill?

It is important to identify the electricity guzzlers, avoid standby losses and buy the correct products. Many small appliances, such as set-top boxes for TVs, drive up electricity consumption considerably. They consume energy without the user noticing. This is often due to transformers which still draw power from the grid even though the appliance is supposedly switched off – this is the case with halogen lamps and battery chargers, for example. This is generally apparent from the heat being generated by the transformer or a constant humming sound produced by the device. There is a straightforward remedy: attach a simple plug or a multiple socket with a switch.

This also helps with appliances which have no on/off switch at all. The best option is to check the product carefully when purchasing, to make sure that it has an easily accessible, visible and clearly labelled on/off switch which separates the device completely from the grid. Otherwise, choose an appliance that uses one watt of power or less during stand-by; there are already appliances available whose stand-by mode uses just 0.1 watts. And another feature to look out for when purchasing an appliance: station selection buttons on a radio or video recorder, for example, should stay programmed even when no electricity is being supplied to the device for longer periods. This ensures that the user does not have to keep the device on permanent stand-by mode when it is not in use.

Back to start

Can't energy-efficient appliances simply be prescribed by law in Germany?

No, it's not quite that simple in the European internal market. For example, EU law prohibits the adoption of national regulations that could become obstacles to intra-EU trade. However, when it comes to product design, the Directive on the eco-design of energy-using products has now established a European legal framework which provides for such regulations. This allows binding uniform standards of energy efficiency to be introduced into the European internal market.

The German Government is therefore pressing for the Eco-Design Directive to be implemented swiftly in the EU. This means binding requirements for specific product groups – including provisions on standby losses – as well as standards on energy consumption in accordance with a European top runner approach.

Back to start

What are the benefits of a top runner approach?

This is how the approach developed in Japan works: the energy consumption of the most efficient products in the current market (top runner) is declared the minimum standard which all similar products must meet by a specified date, for example in five year's time. Producers who do not achieve this standard first receive a public warning and subsequently have to take their product off the market. The Eco-Design Directive will adapt suitable elements of the programme to the situation in Europe, for example, adjusting energy consumption classes to technological progress. This can mean energy savings of up to 80 percent in some areas such as computer usage. The top runner approach creates a strong incentive for competition regarding innovations, secures the producers of the most energy-efficient appliances important competitive advantages and reduces the energy consumption of the entire national economy.

Back to start

Summary

Using energy more efficiently has never paid off more – and it is gentle on the environment and our wallets. There are many possibilities for every household to save energy, some of which are very simple and cost-effective. Many more practical tips are available on the website of the Federal Environment Ministry.





BMU

Topics

Service


Themenportale