Katharina Regenthal

July 25, 2023, 12:46 pm | Read time: 4 minutes

When electricity costs rise, you should try to save energy. It’s also important to identify which electrical appliances in the home consume a lot of electricity or are simply always plugged in. Even when you’re not at home, some devices consume power: The router is on, the TV is in standby mode, and the refrigerator is, of course, plugged in. Find out here which devices can be energy guzzlers and what to watch out for.

Especially old and inefficient devices consume a lot of electricity

Determining which household appliance is the ultimate energy guzzler is no longer straightforward. “Many still believe it’s the refrigerator or freezer. But if I have a device that’s less than 15 years old, it’s not an energy guzzler–those days are over. The devices have become much more efficient,” says Gerhild Loer, energy expert at the Consumer Center NRW to myHOMEBOOK.

According to this, especially old and inefficient devices can become energy guzzlers, driving up costs. However, you can no longer generally say that a device that’s 25 years old is an energy guzzler. Therefore, the energy expert recommends using an electricity meter. You can borrow one for free from consumer centers and connect it to the respective electrical device.

Real energy guzzlers in the household

Tendentially, there are devices that consume more electricity than others. According to the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries, these devices consumed the most energy in 2021:

• 28 percent: Information and communication technology (cell phones, laptops, game consoles, etc.)
• 14 percent: Washing and drying
• 13 percent: Lighting
• 11 percent: Refrigeration and freezing appliances
• 9 percent: Cooking
• 8 percent: Dishwashing

According to energy expert Loer, most energy is now consumed by entertainment and communication electronics–the consumption is now almost 30 percent. However, you can’t generally label these devices as energy guzzlers. “Each device in itself is totally efficient,” says Loer.

More on this (via TECHBOOK): How much electricity do smartphones, TVs, and laptops consume

More on the topic

0

Modernizing Heating Systems Replace outdated circulation pumps and save up to 90 percent on electricity

Stiftung Warentest (a German consumer organization) Power Meters Tested – Even Affordable Models Can Impress

Where can you save on electricity costs?

Turn off instead of standby mode

Showering, cooking, baking, working on a laptop–you can’t do without these. Still, there’s potential for savings. The advice the consumer center has been giving for years, namely to turn off devices completely when possible, still applies. Over the course of a year, several devices that are constantly in standby mode can become energy guzzlers.

More on this: These 4 energy guzzlers should be turned off at night

Energy-saving lighting

There’s also a lot to save on lighting. Those who opt for LED lights instead of halogen lamps consume 80 percent less electricity in comparison. The clear appeal from energy expert Loer is: “Even if the halogen lamp still works, throw it away and replace it with LED lamps.”

Heating water

According to Loer, warm water in the household has always been a cost driver for electricity. Heating it consumes a lot of energy. “You can save money here,” the expert explains. She generally recommends a water-saving showerhead, which can save up to 50 percent of water. However, if the pressure is too low, this saving tip won’t work. But you can also save real money by adjusting the temperature and duration of showers–lowering the temperature slightly and showering a bit shorter reduces costs. The Consumer Center NRW provides a shower calculator that provides clarity on consumption and costs.

Also interesting: Why energy cost meters can be worthwhile

By the way, energy savings should not only be made by consumers whose water is heated by a gas boiler. Even if the heating is oil-operated, costs are currently rising.

Saving electricity in the household–example calculation

Energy expert Loer shows in an example calculation how much electricity can be saved annually through certain measures in the household. This example is based on a 4-person household with a consumption of 4,000 kWh per year without electric water heating. The costs amount to 7 cents/kWh and around 1,500 euros per year. The following measures can save 146 euros: