Energy efficiency tips
It is time to consciously change our habits to improve the environment
How to save electricity on lighting?
Change of light bulbs
Lighting accounts for almost a quarter of a home’s electricity bill. The most efficient solution to reduce energy consumption for lighting is to use LED bulbs. By choosing LED bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs, you can reduce the energy costs of luminaires by up to 80%.
Adjusting of lighting
In addition to using LED bulbs and switching off the lights when you leave a room, a range of devices that help you control the lighting in your home will also contribute to its energy efficiency.
Why choose LED lighting?
Traditional incandescent bulbs convert only 10-15% of electricity into light. That is why
the most efficient choice is the light-emitting diode or LED bulb.
In addition, LED bulbs:
- consume 80-90% less energy
- last up to 25 times longer
How to choose LED bulbs?
Size of the bulb
In order to choose a bulb that fits the luminaire, the first step is to check the size of the bulb and the bulb base.
Brightness of light
When choosing LED bulbs, their brightness should be measured in lumens.
The temperature of light
The light from a LED bulb can have different temperatures, which determine the colour of the light emitted.
The temperature of light is measured in kelvin and is denoted by the letter K. The lower the kelvin on the packaging, the warmer and yellower the light will be, the higher the kelvin, the bluer and cooler the light will be.
Additional choice factors
You can then check the other parameters that determine the quality and suitability of the bulb for your needs:
- what is its duration in hours;
- what is its energy efficiency (energy efficiency class and energy consumption (watts,W);
- whether the brightness of the bulb can be adjusted with the light switch/dimmer.
How does the LED bulb warranty works?
Like electrical products, LED bulbs have a manufacturer’s warranty. Keep the receipt
and packaging when buying an LED bulb. If the bulb burns out before the
specified
warranty period, you can exchange it for a new one or get your
money back.
What is an energy label?
Is a coloured sticker on electrical appliances that indicates the appliance's energy efficiency class (how efficiently the appliance uses electricity) and other key features such as sound level, capacity, etc.
It is a European Union instrument that helps consumers across Europe to buy more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly household appliances and promotes the production and development of innovative, efficient products.
It is important to note that devices must be labelled, regardless of whether the product is bought in a store or online.
Which electrical products have the energy label?
The groups of electrical products that have the energy label are:
- bulbs
- heaters
- fridges and freezers
- washing machines and dryers
- electronic visual displays, including televisions
- kitchen appliances
What does the energy label indicates?
A new energy label is gradually being introduced.
This is currently the case for product groups such as fridges and freezers, washing machines/dryers, TVs and electronic visual displays, dishwashers, light sources. However, it is planned to be gradually introduced for all product groups.
The new label has a different scale of energy efficiency classes, with products being sorted into G-A classes (eliminating A+, A++ and A+++ classes).
Existing products will be downgraded to lower classes, but this does not mean that their energy efficiency will be lower. The energy consumption of the product remains the same – only the efficiency rating, i.e. the letter on the label, changes.
How to keep track of electricity consumption?
You can find out your home's hourly consumption on the Enefit Latvia app or on the My Enefit self-service portal.
The data can help to assess what reduces and what increases electricity consumption. Longer periods (weeks, months and years) can also be compared for a more detailed analysis.
The analysis will help to identify, for example, how electricity consumption is affected by different electrical products and the changes in daily habits.
Hourly electricity consumption data is only available for homes with a smart meter.
How to adjust consumption to fluctuations in stock exchange prices?
The Enefit Latvia app shows current and the next day's electricity prices at the energy exchange. If you are on a Dynamic tariff, being flexible to adapt your daily routine to changes in electricity prices can help you save.
What is renewable or green energy?
All types of energy – electricity, heat, fuels, etc. – come from different types of raw materials or energy sources. They can be called the sources from which energy is produced.
Energy resources can be divided into two groups – renewable and non-renewable. The division indicates that renewable energy sources are those that are able to renew themselves through natural processes and are relatively inexhaustible.
Traditionally, renewable energy sources include:
Sun
Water
Wind
Geothermal
Gravitational energy
Renewable or green energy is produced from 100% renewable energy sources.
Why is renewable energy an important part of sustainability?
The existence of society is closely linked to the production and consumption of energy. Even though an increasing amount of new energy-efficient technologies are invented, the world’s overall energy consumption is rising.
Most of the energy sources used are fossil or non-renewable (natural gas, coal, oil, etc.), but their use both depletes the planet's resources and is not good for the environment.
Fossil fuels emit more CO2 than renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, renewable energy sources are not only better for the environment but also an economically viable.
How to reduce heat loss?
The most significant heat loss occurs when the home is not properly insulated. Data shows that up to 50% of heat can be saved by properly insulating the walls, roof, attic, basement, etc., in other words, the whole house (including replacing doors and windows).
Enhance heat transfer
It is not advisable to place furniture in front of radiators, as a sofa or fridge placed close to the radiator will absorb the heat used to heat the room.
What if no renovations are planned?
How to reduce heating costs?
While a general temperature reduction of 1-2 °C will result in small savings, the most efficient use of heat will be if the temperature is lowered significantly, by several degrees, at night or when you are out of the house for several hours. This can reduce energy costs by up to 10% per month.
Temperature control
To easily control the room temperature, you can buy and install a thermostat.