What is the best time to wash. Learning to save: anti-crisis use of household appliances. Higher quality machine - more economical washing
There are two main measures to reduce the cost of electricity consumed and save electricity (to receive cheap electricity) for citizens-consumers:
1. Make calculations using a tariff differentiated by day zones (this requires a multi-tariff or two-tariff electricity meter).
What is a tariff differentiated by zones of the day? This is an electricity tariff that will allow you to get cheaper electricity.
This is a tariff for electricity, the amount of which varies depending on the time of use of electricity (the nightly tariff for electricity is much lower than the daytime tariff for electricity. However, the time of the nightly tariff for electricity is usually limited from 23-00 to 07-00. When using these tariffs, it appears like this called two-tariff electricity). In order to be able to pay using such a tariff, it is necessary that the consumer has an individual electricity meter installed, which can record electricity consumption by day zones (multi-tariff or two-tariff electricity meter). The cost of such metering devices starts from 800 rubles.
It should be noted that when making a decision to carry out calculations using tariffs differentiated by day zones, the consumer must first carefully calculate everything and evaluate possible savings, and also understand that if this tariff is chosen by him, then in the future he will have to change the usual structure of consumption electricity - "two-tariff payment for electricity" will be used. (For example, leave the washing machine running at night, etc.). So before switching to electricity consumption day and night, you need to clearly understand whether it will be possible to organize yourself to change the order of using electricity.
2. Carry out energy saving measures that will reduce the cost of 1 kilowatt of electricity. Here are some tips for the population on energy saving (methods of saving electricity in an apartment and at home):
a) In order to save energy at home, improve the natural lighting in your home. How can this be done:
- A lighter finish on ceilings and walls will help save 1 to 3% of the electricity that is usually spent on lighting;
- Do not cover the windows with curtains or other items - then you can save from 1 to 3% of the electricity that is usually spent on lighting
- Keep your windows clean: clean windows allow you to save from 3% of all electrical energy usually spent on lighting;
b) Increase the efficiency of artificial lighting. How can this be done:
- Wipe dust from lamps, lamps and ceiling lamps in time. Keep them clean. This will save from 5 to 20% of all electrical energy usually spent on lighting the premises;
- Use local lighting ( table lamps, floor lamp, sconce, etc.). In the case of a switched off or reduced level of general lighting, it is possible to save from 30 to 50% of all electrical energy usually spent on lighting premises;
- Connect the general lighting in groups that will divide the room into different light zones. This event will provide energy savings from 20 to 50% of all electrical energy usually spent on lighting premises;
c) Organize energy savings in everyday life: organize the placement of electrical appliances correctly. For example, a refrigerator does not need to be placed near a radiator or other heat sources. Leave a distance of at least 5 cm between the refrigerator and the wall.
d) If you have an electric stove installed, then heating pots and pans will take much longer if they have an uneven bottom. In this regard, the operating time of the electric furnace will be much longer.
So, this article briefly discusses possible methods saving electricity at home and in the apartment.
Readers have repeatedly contacted the editors of the Kaliningrad Country with a request to talk about two-tariff electricity meters.
Such a meter differs from the usual one in that it determines the amount of electricity consumed separately by zones of the day: in the night zone - from 23.00 to 7.00 and in the daytime - from 07.00 to 23.00. Each zone has its own tariff. For example, for owners of city apartments with gas stoves, 1 kW / h will cost 2.62 rubles at night, and 3.50 during the day. At the same time, with a conventional (so-called single-rate) meter of 1 kW / h in the same housing - 3.25 rubles. It turns out that in the case of using a two-tariff meter, the consumer will pay 25 kopecks more for 1 kW / h during the day and 63 kopecks less at night.
You can also lose
Consumers are interested in whether it is possible to save money by installing a two-tariff meter, - says Dmitry Vaseyko, head of the client services and PR department of Yantar-energosbyt OJSC. - It all depends on the characteristics of your consumption. But for real savings when using a two-tariff meter (at the current tariffs in our region), you need to consume more than 30% of the daily volume of electricity at night. If you are an average citizen working from 8.00 to 17.00, and the apartment does not have a large amount of “smart” household appliances, capable of working according to a given schedule, then you definitely do not need a multi-tariff meter. On the contrary, when you install it, you can even get an increase in electricity bills.
Of course, at night you can make the washing machine work and dishwasher, bread maker, slow cooker and other appliances with a delayed start ...
This option is possible, - says the specialist, - however, leaving the equipment unattended can lead to a fire or flood. And such noisy equipment as washing machine, can lead to a scandal with neighbors.
We count on an example
But let's be persistent and still calculate how much we can save with a nocturnal lifestyle.
Let's say an average apartment consumes 300 kWh per month, says Dmitry Vaseyko. - With some effort, you managed to get 50% of the nightly consumption. Believe me, this is a very good result, requiring a radical reworking of established habits. In such a situation in our area, the monthly savings will be:
300 kWh x 3.25 rubles - (150 kWh x 3.50 rubles + 150 kWh x 2.62 rubles) = 57 rubles
At the same time, keep in mind that a simple two-rate meter costs about 1,500 rubles, while a single-rate meter costs about 500 rubles. You will pay back the difference of 1,000 rubles in about 1.5 years.
According to the Yantarenergosbyt specialist, there is another trap: in case of any changes in electricity metering or time metering (change of day / night time zone boundaries, clock movements), such meters will need to be reprogrammed, for which you will have to contact specialists and, maybe pay for it. Do not forget about the regular verification of the counter.
Any consumer has the right to install a two-tariff meter, but the savings, if any, are microscopic. Indeed, to obtain real savings, all life activities will have to be carried out at night. Two-tariff metering can be beneficial for a small business (for example, a bakery), when the production cycle and, accordingly, the main electricity consumption (in our example, for baking bread) is carried out at night, and during the day the shop does not consume electricity.
In addition to two-tariff, there are also three-tariff meters and corresponding tariffs. The essence of the operation of such a counter is similar to a two-tariff one, but the daily zone is additionally divided into peak and semi-peak.
Personal experience
A resident of Kaliningrad, economist Stanislav Prishchepa installed a two-tariff meter several years ago.
I read on the Internet that it is beneficial. But in the end he began to pay more by 50-70 rubles, - said Stanislav. - The fact is that with my lifestyle, only 30% of electricity consumption will fall into the night tariff. For example, I thought that a washing machine consumes a lot of electricity, which can be turned on at night. But, as my experience has shown, the electric kettle and electric oven “eat” the most electricity. I do not switch to a regular meter just because the difference of 50-70 rubles that arose when installing a two-tariff meter is not so noticeable to me. I burn somewhere around 150 kWh per month. At the same time, I want to note that the idea itself - to consume electricity at night, when the peak load has decreased - is very good. But in our region, an unfavorable fork has been set for the population - the difference between the night and day rates is very small. And if the "night" time would not start at 23.00, but at least from 22.00, it would be better.
How to decide
The most accurate way to find out if it makes sense to switch to multi-tariff accounting is to take an energy consumption profile. To do this, for one month, write down the readings of the electric meter at 7.00 and at 23.00. After that, you can calculate the consumption for all zones and find out whether the replacement is profitable for you or not.
Only numbers
In the Kaliningrad region, only 26 household consumers out of more than 300,000 use two-tariff metering devices.
In Moscow, with a two-tariff meter, the “night” tariff costs the population 1.46 rubles. for 1 kW / h, daily - at 4.53 rubles, with a single-tariff meter - at 4.50 rubles. And many residents of the capital are really interested in turning on electrical appliances at night.
Powder
Washing powders are intended for washing "coarse" linen, it is better to entrust delicate fabrics and wool to other means. But the powder, according to experts, copes with difficult spots better than gels and capsules, while being cheaper.
“The composition of the washing powder is richer, due to this this agent is considered stronger,” notes Dagmar Reinumägi. - Therefore, quality washing powders have a more pronounced efficiency than high-quality gels. I recommend using powders for washing, for example, work clothes or strong and tough fabrics.
What's in the composition? The main composition of all powders includes a mixture of anionic, nonionic, and sometimes cationic surfactants, soda, bleaches, enzymes, flavors, phosphonates.
It is also important not to confuse the powder for hand washing and for the typewriter. The fact is that the composition of the powder for the machine includes defoamers - an excess of foam (contrary to popular belief, the presence of foam does not particularly affect the quality of washing) can damage the machine. Therefore, strictly follow the instructions.
Pros:
Ideally falls asleep in the compartment of the washing machine intended for this purpose.
You can adjust the amount of funds.
Works well on rough fabrics.
Lasts for more washes.
Minuses:
It often doesn't rinse out very well.
When you put it in a container, dust rises into the air - it’s hard for allergy sufferers and sensitive people.
Leaves white marks on clothes.
Sometimes it does not completely dissolve and remains in the compartment of the washing machine.
Doesn't work well at low temperatures.
Washing gel
In Estonia, the gel has also ceased to be a novelty, although many do not trust it, believing that nothing can wash laundry better than powder. In fact, there is some truth in this - gels are more careful with the fabric, due to which not all stains will be washed off. If the stain is not fresh, there is almost no chance that the gel will take it.
“Indeed, gels are more fabric-friendly, so they are ideal for everyday washing,” comments Dagmar Reinumägi. - The gel will not damage the design on textiles, it is easier to rinse and dose. In addition, for fabrics such as silk or wool, special formulations have been developed that will not kill the shine or damage the pile.”
The specialist notes that it is better not to use universal laundry detergents if we are talking about wool - they may contain protease-type enzymes that break down animal fibers and simply "eat" wool.
The standard composition of the washing gel includes 15-30% anionic and nonionic surfactants, phosphonate, polyacrylate, enzymes, fragrances, polycarboxylates. Phosphates are not detected, this is a plus. True, there are phosphonates - as it turned out, also phosphorus compounds.
We have become so accustomed to the presence of washing machines in our lives that we have forgotten what it is like to wash by hand. However, what about the fact that this unit consumes 15% of all electricity in your home? Choice quality device for laundry, the benefits of using overnight rates for water and electricity, and other ways to make laundry cheaper will help to reduce this figure significantly.
Ways to make laundry cheaper
To make washing cost several times cheaper, you need to follow seven simple but effective rules. They will help not only save on the consumption of water and electricity by the washing machine, but also reduce the waste of your own time and money.
1. Selecting a household appliance with high energy efficiency.
Such devices are more expensive, but the savings with them are greater (in the consumption of water, electricity, long service life and infrequent repairs)
2. Connecting the washing machine to the hot water pipe.
In this case, the device will not need to heat the water on its own, which saves electricity, and the heater will not have to be changed often. If you use the water heating function in the device, then do not forget to add a descaling agent to the heating element every 3-6 months. It can be sold separately, or it can be included in laundry detergents and other substances.
You can save up to 15% on washing by loading the appliance with linen completely: it is designed for 5 kg - that means 5. Do not put too few things, but do not overdo it: overload leads to various breakdowns of the washing machine, and a large number of clothes are not washed properly at a time.
4. Quick wash.
With this program, clothes are washed in 30 minutes (if they are not very dirty), which reduces energy consumption.
5. Washing at low temperature.
Not too dirty laundry can be washed at 30-40°C, which will save you money by 50%. Soak especially dirty items. When soaking, bleaching and pre-washing, the machine needs a water temperature of at least 90 ° C, which means more electricity consumption. You can rinse your laundry in cold water, instead of warm, it washes out the powder no worse.
6. Powder saving.
Whatever the quality of the powder, 1 tbsp. l. per kg of things, quite enough. The use of more detergents increases the water consumption of the device when rinsing. You can fight high levels of pollution with a powder booster.
7. Power off.
A connected to the network, albeit a non-working washing machine, consumes up to 10% of the total electricity consumption.
Stop sleeping - wash
Now in Russia, various tariffs for electricity are available, depending on the time of day. According to calculations, the use of a two- or three-rate counter, in comparison with a single-rate counter, saves up to 80% of financial resources, and this is only for one wash!
Two-rate billing (day/night) and three-rate billing (peak/half-peak/night), depending on the time, imply a price difference of about 4 times. This means that it is more economical to wash at night (from 23:00 to 07:00) using the minimum rate. And residents of houses with electric stoves receive an even greater discount on electricity. If you are using a single rate meter, only the basic rate is available to you, with no price difference depending on the time.
Washing machine under the sink: recommendations for selection and installation
Higher quality machine - more economical washing
Do you think the more expensive a household appliance, the more electricity it consumes? Everything is exactly the opposite. For example, Eurosoba washing machines cost 1.5-2 times more than the average. But they are more energy efficient, which means that during washing they save your money by 2-3 times. Such a device is easy to “set up for savings” using various functions (pay attention to their presence when buying a device). With the use of a washing machine, you will understand how important it is to take into account the max load, the ability to change the water temperature, the delayed start timer and various additional functions.- Function of energy-saving mode of operation (the machine heats water less than 50 ° C and consumes it more economically; washing time increases up to 3 hours).
- Quick wash (for a short time lightly soiled laundry is washed).
- Delayed start (the time after which the wash will start is set; suitable for night operation of the machine with the onset of “cheap electricity”).
- Night wash cycle (has a reduced noise level and does not interfere with sleep for you or your neighbors).
- Devices that have the function of mixing powder and water separately, when the finished product arrives at the things detergent, capable of high-quality washing even at a 20-degree water temperature.
- Washing modes (for things from various materials).