Reducing our hot water bills quickly and cheaply
In addition to more conscious heating habits and investments, we should not forget about hot water, which consumes the second most energy after heating, and can account for up to 10-15% of the household energy needs. Each person consumes 30-50 litres of water per day, roughly half of which is used for bathing, a quarter for the kitchen and cleaning, and the rest for the bathroom. These practices are not new, and you have certainly heard a lot about them, but in the midst of your hectic days it is good to have a quick reminder of how we can save on hot water and reduce our bills.
Solutions that require a change in behaviour
A bath uses 2-3 times as much energy as a shower. On average, a shower uses 40-70 litres of water (depending on the user, of course), while a bathtub requires about 150 litres of water.
We hear it a lot, but to this day, many people still do not adhere to the rule of not running water when brushing their teeth. In a 3-minute brushing session, up to 20 litres of water can be wasted.
After a long, tiring day, a hot bath or shower is a real refreshing experience for many. However, hot water can not only significantly increase your hot water bills, but it may not be the best thing for your health either. While hot water can help relieve tension and improve circulation, it can also strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dry, itchy skin and eventually eczema. Its antihypertensive effect can also be dangerous, as fainting can occur during a hot shower. Cold showers have similar benefits as hot water (increasing blood flow, speeding up metabolism), but the downside is that many people find them unpleasant, and the excessively cold water can cause shock. Experts say that the best solution is lukewarm water followed by a cold-water rinse at the end of the shower, which is not only good for your body and skin, but also has a pleasant effect on your end-of-month bill.
Steps requiring smaller or larger investments
As with heating, proper maintenance is essential to reduce bills and eliminate waste. Many people don't realise that a single dripping tap or toilet tank can waste up to 170 litres of water a month. This proves that many little things (water droplets) can make a big difference. And most of the time the problem can be solved by replacing the seal or the ring, which is not a big investment.
If you're about to buy a household appliance, it's always worth investing in energy-efficient equipment and using it in ECO mode whenever possible, so that it only uses as much water as it really needs. Washing and dishwashing should only be started when the machines are full.
While replacing the instantaneous water heater with a modern boiler is more expensive, it will pay for itself in the long run, with saving up to 35% energy. Make sure the water heater has the right temperature! As mentioned earlier, hot water production accounts for 10-15% of a family's total energy consumption, so it makes a big difference how hot you heat the water in your boiler. If you set it too low, while using the water more slowly, it can cause legionella bacteria to grow in the lukewarm water. However, if you set the temperature of the water in the boiler too high, you can end up with higher electricity bills due to more frequent heating and limescale can build up more quickly, which can lead to higher maintenance costs.
For example, for a family of four, 40°C water may be enough, because it will lower your energy costs, and because the water in the boiler changes quickly, you can avoid the risk of legionella from water stagnation.
Of course, as we have stressed with other equipment, regular maintenance of the boiler is also necessary. If the equipment is not cleaned regularly, limescale will will build up in the boiler, resulting in more electricity usage to heat the water.
For hot summer days, there is an even more adventurous, idyllic and really cost-effective way to enjoy a shower, if you have a garden. Here too, the choice is endless, from retro barrels and portable bags to mobile stand-up showers and designer luxury showers. They all work on the same basic principle. The sun’s energy heats the water in your garden shower barrel in 1-2 hours and you can enjoy a refreshing outdoor shower. The cheapest and cleanest energy is unused energy, and this method uses free, clean solar energy.
The steps outlined in this and our previous article can save you significant amounts of money on your monthly bills, but it is important to stress that the biggest and most lasting change can be achieved through a comprehensive, deep renovation. Deep renovation is defined as a comprehensive energy retrofit where the positive effects of successive renovation elements are combined to maximise the energy efficiency potential of a building. The three most important pillars are the replacement of windows and doors, thermal insulation and modernisation of the heating system. Such a complex project can save up to 50% of energy consumption, according to conservative estimates, but savings of up to 80% are possible. However, this requires careful planning and a major financial investment. In the meantime, it is worth starting with lower-cost solutions, following the principle of “little goes a long way”.
Emese Nyitrai
Clean Air Action Group volunteer
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Disclaimer: This document has been produced in the framework of the project “Towards a climate neutral EU: efficient allocation of EU funds” funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI). EUKI is a project financing instrument by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The EUKI competition for project ideas is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. It is the overarching goal of the EUKI to foster climate cooperation within the European Union (EU) in order to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
The opinions put forward in this document are the sole responsibility of Clean Air Action Group and do not necessarily reflect the views of BMWK or the other project partners.
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