Defrost the refrigerator and freezer from time to time.

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Did you know? 

Only 5 millimetres of ice in the freezer costs a third more electricity!

Heat water in the electric kettle.

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Boil only as much water as you need.

Warm the rolls in the toaster. 

Not in the oven.

Heating with gas or electricity? 

Gas and district heating are expensive. But heating with electricity is not a solution either. This is because electricity is also very expensive. What's more, if too many people consume too much electricity, the power grid can collapse.

It is better to save energy now!

Steam vegetables, potatoes and eggs - with a lid and little water.

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The pot should be as small as possible and fit exactly on the stovetop.

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A pressure cooker can save a lot of energy when you have to cook food for a long time.

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If you heat very little food, the microwave is the most economical.

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Switch off the hob and oven five minutes beforehand. The residual heat is enough.

Bake with convection. Top and bottom heat are more expensive.

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You only need to preheat the oven for a few dishes. Preheating is expensive.

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Do not always set the extractor bonnet to maximum - a lower setting is often sufficient.

Wash fruit and vegetables with cold water. This also preserves the vitamins.

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Do not wash dishes under running water.

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Use the dishwasher if there is one.

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Always fill the dishwasher completely.

Switch on the ECO programme. It takes longer, but saves electricity.

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There is no need to pre-rinse.

Source: German Caritas Association/Federal Association of Energy and Climate Protection Agencies in Germany (EAD)

Saving energy 

in the living room and study

Standby costs electricity. Therefore: Do not just switch off the TV with the remote control, but switch it off completely.

Also switch off or unplug computers and other devices completely.

The brighter the screen, the more energy it needs. Therefore: Do not place the TV and computer near a window or under a lamp. Set the TV and computer to be less bright.

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Do not use a screen saver. It is better to switch off the screen immediately.

Saving energy in the bathroom

The warmer the water, 

the more it costs you.

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Wash hands with cold water.

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Shower instead of bathing.

Do not shower for too long. Do not shower hot, but warm.

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Turn off the shower while soaping.

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Do not leave the water running when shaving or brushing your teeth.

Set the mixing lever to cold when you turn off the water. This applies to bathrooms and kitchens - and especially to instantaneous water heaters.

Only use the washing machine when full.

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Do not wash so hot. 30 degrees is often enough and is gentle on the clothes.

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Switch on the ECO programme. It takes longer, but saves electricity.

Even if you have a dryer: Dry laundry on the line - best outside on the balcony or with the window open, weather permitting.

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Tumble dryers require a lot of electricity.

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Only iron what you really need to iron.

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Unplug the iron a little earlier. The residual heat is enough.

Saving energy 

throughout the home

Replace incandescent lamps and halogen spotlights with LED lamps.

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Put the table and desk by the window. Daylight costs nothing!

Switch off the light when no one is in the room.

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Did you know? Switching on and off often does not damage the lamps.

Lower the roller shutters at night. Or close the curtains. But be careful! The radiator must remain free.

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Do not open the window if it gets too warm. Better: Turn down the heating and leave the window closed.

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Do not place furniture in front of the heater.

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Do not cover the heater and thermostat with the curtain.

Do not put clothes on the heater.

If you are away for a few days or longer: Turn down to approx. 16 degrees 

(rotary valve level 2).

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Do not turn off the heating completely when you are away. Otherwise the flat will cool down or mould will grow.

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If your heating gurgles, it needs to be bled.

Impact ventilation instead of continuously. This means: ventilate briefly and vigorously.

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3 to 4 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes.

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If possible: cross-ventilate. This means: open windows on two opposite sides.

Do not tilt the window, but open it fully for a short time. Otherwise the room will cool down. That costs a lot of energy.

Before each airing, turn the heating to snowflake.

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Underfloor heating is an exception. They can stay on because their thermostat is not close to the window.

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Did you already know? After airing, set the rotary valves back to the way they were before. The room will not warm up faster if you turn it all the way up. It only costs more.

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Close the door when you are cooking, cleaning or showering. When you have finished: Open the window so that steam and moist air do not remain in the flat.

Do not place furniture too close to the wall. Only at a distance of 5 centimetres does air come into contact with the wall.

A lot of appliances means a lot of consumption. Think about which appliances you really need.

_____

Regularly descale appliances such as the dishwasher or kettle.

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Did you know? Limescale is like an insulating layer. A coffee machine with limescale needs much more electricity.

Pay attention to the energy efficiency class of new appliances.

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Did you know? A coloured sticker helps you when buying. Dark green means: very economical. This corresponds to class A.

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More precise than the efficiency class is the energy consumption in kilowatt hours per year (kWh/a). This must be as low as possible. This information is also on the label.

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You can also find out which appliances are economical on the Internet, for example at ecotopten.de or spargeraete.de

Expensive, dangerous 

and not allowed. 

Beware of "alternative" heating methods!

Many people are worried about the energy supply and the high costs. Afraid of freezing, some look for alternatives to heat their homes. But be careful: what sounds good can quickly become expensive and dangerous.

Get more information here

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