Reduce the temperature by 1 ºC and save EUR 135 per year
You can save up to EUR 135 per year by reducing the overall temperature in your home by just 1 ºC. And you can save up to 3% per year by reducing the temperature by 2-3 ºC at night and when you are out during the day.
Location of radiators
Always locate radiators below a window; this prevents any cold air from the window circulating into the room. This is known as a cold downdraught. Furniture should not be positioned in front of a radiator because this makes it harder to distribute the heat into the room, and therefore uses more electricity.
Reduce the temperature
Heat consumption increases by 2-3% for each degree that the temperature rises. So, by lowering the temperature in your house by 2-3 ºC at night and when you are out during the day you can reduce your energy consumption by 3%. You can do this by installing a timer on your distribution board, using a clock timer or having timer thermostats (e.g. with night saver function) fitted to all your radiators.
Thermostats
Thermostats stabilise the temperature in each room without using extra energy. They do this by taking account of the additional heat generated by electronics, the sun and the number of people in the house.
Electronic thermostats regulate the temperature most efficiently. Never cover a thermostat as it will not be able to work properly.
Oil-filled radiators
Oil-filled radiators use just as much energy as conventional electric panel radiators but, because the surface temperature is lower, there is less risk of burning yourself.
Control systems
A control system lets you manage the heat in different rooms independently; for example, keeping your kitchen warmer in the morning and at night compared with the rest of the day. This can reduce the cost of your electricity bill by 10-15%. But remember to shut the doors between rooms because cold rooms suck air from warm ones.
Page last updated 12.10.2010