How to save in each space of the house?
• In your office or place enabled for teleworking: it is recommended to avoid
the use of unnecessary paper for taking notes, using digital tools instead. Another
good practice is to print only what is strictly necessary and use recycled paper.
Although the trend is to use Google as a search engine on the Internet, it is a
good time to try Ecosia, a search engine that allocates part of its benefits to tree
planting and environmental and social improvement. When your teleworking day
ends, do not forget to turn off the computer and the rest of the devices, in addition
to disconnecting them so that they do not continue consuming energy.
• In the kitchen: household appliances also represent an important use of energy.
Creating good cooking habits to reduce your consumption is key, especially now
that you are spending so much time at home and you’re suddenly cooking more
than ever.
o The oven is one of the appliances which uses the most energy, while the
microwave oven uses between 60-70% less. In addition, when cooking in
the oven, it is recommended not to open it because it loses about 20
degrees each time and therefore consumes more to reheat.
o It is also recommended to take advantage of the residual heat from the
hob and the fire, turning it off a few minutes before the food is ready.
o As for the refrigerator, it is advisable to keep 5º for refrigeration and -18º
for freezing. Also, having a list of what to eat each day allows you not to
open the fridge too many times and save with that little gesture.
o Washing dishes by hand, due to the continuous consumption that it
entails, also involves 40% more expense.
o Plastics: reduce the consumption of plastic by using your own reusable
bags when shopping and kitchen utensils.
o If you order take-away food, ask them not to bring plastic cutlery, so you
can your own instead.
• In the bathroom: hot water accounts for 26% of consumption in homes. The
shower is one of the main moments that triggers domestic consumption, so it is
recommended to install aerators or flow reducers on the taps to spend less water
and energy. It is also recommended to take showers rather than baths.
Other sustainability and savings guidelines in other areas of our homes:
• Heating: use only if it is necessary, instead of turning it on by default. The ideal
home temperature is around 20º degrees and for each additional degree,
spending increases between 5% and 10%. On the other hand, at night, it is better
to set it at around 15º rather than turning it off. It is very important not to dress as
if it were summer nor to cover the radiators. It is also a good time to investigate
possible public subsidies to replace coal and diesel boilers with other alternative
energy options and to consider a home renovation setting up a floor radiant
heating system, once the quarantine passes.
• Having good insulation: when spending more time at home, it is important to
check the good condition of the home’s insulation and make sure that the inside
is not affected by the outside temperature. A house with good windows and
insulation systems saves up to 30%.
To contribute to the energy efficiency of homes, UCI has recently launched
Creditos.com, offering property renovation loans from € 2,000 to € 50,000 and for
homeowners’ communities of up to € 500,000. In addition, we offer our SUMA
mortgage for the purchase + home renovation adding sustainability to the
property purchased.
• Electric devices: Avoid using standby mode, replace normal screens with LCDs
to save up to 37% of energy, full battery charge in airplane mode to charge faster.
These are some of the tricks to save in the use of electronic devices, which has
skyrocketed during confinement.
• Wash clothes: it is recommended to use short washing cycles and cold or warm
water with full loads to save energy, however now as a measure to fight the
coronavirus it is recommended to wash everything at more than 60º. In addition,
avoiding the use of the dryer and drying clothes outdoors instead will also save
money, now an option since the spring weather is approaching.
• Natural light: take advantage all the hours of light possible by opening curtains
and blinds so that natural light enters. Turn off the light in areas of the house not
being used. It is also recommended to use low consumption LED light bulbs.
• Recycling: now that more garbage is generated at home, it’s the moment to
separate the waste correctly for its correct recycling. Always keep in mind the 3R
principle of Ecology: Recycle, reduce and reuse.
With these easy practices, domestic consumption can be greatly reduced to avoid
unfortunate surprises on our utility bills, which will surely be increased now that we’re
spending more time at home during confinement.
