Myths about energy saving
We have long been hearing about how to save electricity in our homes or businesses. The economic value of energy bills is increasing and we must try to reduce it as much as possible. Earlier this year we tell you 10 tips for saving energy in 2015. You can read the article here if you’re interested (only in Spanish for the moment, sorry). We continue to expand the list of tips to help you understand that the final user has a great capacity for saving with simple gestures of everyday, but today we prefer tell you myths about energy saving. Ideas that might have been heard in our homes for a long time and that some of them, even though with good intentions, are not right. Take a look:
- Leave the heat all day burning at low temperature spends less than turning it on and off.
False: It is not true. Leaving the heater on, even at low temperature throughout the day, spends more than turn it on only when it is really necessary. The best solution to keep the house warm when necessary is installing programmable thermostats to turn on the heating when we need it.
- Some electrical appliances such as television, computer, mobile phone chargers, etc. do not consume electricity when they are plugged in but they aren’t being used.
False: some electrical appliances that remain plugged in without being used, consume electricity, as they are in standby. In some of them it is easy to identify as they tend to keep a light turned on, a sign that even when they are off, still consume. In others it is not visible, as in the case of some mobile chargers. This is solved with the simple gesture of completely unplug when we stopped using them because these consumptions can be up to 7% of annual electricity costs in a home.
- It is cheaper to put the washing machine or dishwasher at night.
False: This is only true if the consumer has an hourly discrimination fee in which the use of electrical appliances is in the “peak hours” (when electricity is cheaper) is more economical.
- The ceramic glass hob consumes less than a gas cooker.
False: despite what many people believe, the reality is that a gas cooker consumes 4 times less than a ceramic glass hob.
- Leaving a computer on consumes less than turn it off and on again.
False: If we are going to be several hours without using it, it is best to turn it off and back on again because the continuous consumption that takes place during this long period of time is not compensated by the consumption that makes the computer during startup and shutdown.
- Leaving the light of a fluorescent turned on for a short period of time consumes less than turn it on and turn it off again when needed.
False: another major widespread myths. The truth is that if the time interval is less than 20 minutes, it is best to leave the light on, for fluorescent tubes shorten their lives with each start, but this is only compensated if it is turned on again in a short period of time.
- Change of energy supplier is complex and expensive
False: switching suppliers involves no cost or have to do work of any kind. The new company be in charge of all the arrangements.
Did you know about these myths? Did you know they were false? Share it with us.