Energy efficiency
According to Law no. 121/2014 on energy efficiency, improving energy efficiency is a strategic objective of national energy policy, due to its major contribution to achieving security of energy supply, sustainable development and competitiveness, saving primary energy resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The national energy efficiency policy defines the objectives regarding the improvement of energy efficiency, the indicative energy saving targets, the related energy efficiency improvement measures, in all sectors of the national economy, with special references regarding:
- the introduction of high energy efficiency technologies, modern measurement and control systems, as well as energy management systems, for monitoring, continuous evaluation of energy efficiency and forecasting of energy consumption;
- promoting the use of energy-efficient equipment and appliances by end-users, as well as renewable energy sources;
- reducing the environmental impact of industrial activities and the production, transport, distribution and consumption of all forms of energy;
- the application of modern principles of energy management;
- granting financial and fiscal incentives, in accordance with the law;
- market development for energy services.
To better understand the importance of energy efficiency, please visit the website: http://www.anre.ro/ro/eficienta-energetica/informatii-de-interes-public, where you will find informative materials on measures to improve energy efficiency, contact details of energy service companies and other information of public interest.
Below are some saving tips:
Save power:
Replace incandescent or halogen bulbs with economical fluorescent or LED bulbs that consume up to 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs;
Internet-connected smart devices (smart TVs, game consoles, printers) produced before 2016 can consume up to 80 watts in standby mode. Connect them to an extension cord with multiple switches and sockets, to easily turn off the power;
Smart gas and electricity metering systems can help you consume 3% less energy;
Most energy suppliers offer “green” electricity prices to support the development of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy. If your home has its own roof, consider installing solar panels. This way you can generate some of the electricity you consume;
In the EU, many everyday products such as refrigerators, washing machines and ovens carry the EU energy label, which helps you choose a model that consumes less. Energy efficiency is evaluated by classes, from A +++ (most efficient) to G (least efficient). For example, a class A +++ dishwasher can consume only half the energy that a class D machine consumes.
- fill the washing machine. Don’t turn it on for just a few clothes. Wait until enough laundry has been collected to use it at full capacity, but not exceeding the permitted weight;
- choose the lowest temperature suitable for the material. Nowadays, detergents are so effective that they can clean most clothes at low temperatures;
- do not use the prewash functionif the laundry is not very dirty.
- Avoid using the tumble dryer as much as possible.A drying cycle can use twice as much energy as a washing cycle.
Modern dishwashers consume less water and energy and most have an “Eco” mode. But beware, the advantage is only felt if you fill the washing machine!
If the water has been in the kettle for a few minutes, you do not need to boil it again.
Save natural gas:
For heating:
Set the thermostat 1 ° C lower to save between 5% and 10% per year. You won’t even feel the temperature difference, instead you’ll see how much the bill goes down;
Did you know that your home will not heat up faster if you set the thermostat to a temperature higher than the one you want? The set temperature only influences the maximum temperature in the house;
Check the proper operation of the boiler (during periodic inspections or technical inspections) to avoid excessive consumption of natural gas;
Replace the old boiler with forced draft and sealed combustion chamber (efficiency of approx. 90%) or with a condensing boiler (efficiency of approx. 102%), in order to obtain an energy saving of up to 20%;
Use a room thermostat that controls the operation of the boiler taking into account the temperature in the room in which it is installed and which determines a reduction of up to 25% in heating costs:
You can save up to 30% on heating costs by thermal rehabilitation of the outside of the house. In addition to saving on heating costs, the refurbishment also offers improved comfort.
For water heating:
Shorten the daily shower time by just 3 minutes to save up to 115 RON per person per year. Hot water is expensive, so don’t waste it;
Set the boiler to a maximum water heating temperature of 45 ° C, to ensure efficient and hygienic operation of the hot water so that it does not require combination with cold water. It should be mentioned that at an apartment plant that prepares both thermal agent and domestic hot water, the consumption of natural gas is maximum when preparing hot water;
Turning off the hot water tap during breaks in your morning routine will significantly reduce energy consumption. Use cold water whenever possible, for even greater savings;
Installing an economical shower head and flow regulator can reduce the consumption of a family of three by up to one cubic meter of hot water each month. This simple upgrade will reduce the cost of your gas bills by about $ 5 a month;
Use solar panels to reduce the costs of preparing hot water, as these installations can cover up to 80% of a household’s domestic hot water needs.
