New Guide to encourage Danes to scale down their electricity consumption

Electricity consumption on the rise
Electricity consumption in Danish homes has been gradually increasing in recent years – on average by around 1% per year. The reason for this is a combination of the increasing number of devices in homes offset by the fact that on average these are increasingly energy efficient.

Savings advice
‘The challenge is to break the energy curve so that the total consumption of electricity falls not rises,’ says Göran Wilke, Head of Secretariat at the Trust. ‘As we point out, this can be achieved without individuals having to suffer any inconvenience in their daily lives. Nonetheless, consumers need to know what measures they can actually take in their homes. This is why the Trust is publishing its Guide to lower electricity consumption with specific tips and ideas to help Danish household behave in an energy efficient way.’

The way to achieve lower electricity consumption is to buy energy efficient products, and to make sure that lights and appliances are only switched on when required. However, because consumers tend to forget to switch off after using a piece of equipment, help is at hand in the form of products such as AutoPowerOff plug banks (Elspareskinne) and intelligent control systems. Danish consumers can use ‘Min Bolig’ (My House) to check how much electricity can be saved by installing energy efficient equipment and appliances.

1,000 kWh benchmark for healthy energy consumption
Danish electricity consumption is on average 1,500 kWh per person, but there are considerable differences in usage patterns with some under 1,000 kWh and others at over 3,000 kWh per person. The Trust’s benchmark target is 1,000 kWh. However, because the energy used by some appliances is the same irrespective of the number of persons in a household, the benchmark for those living alone is 1,500 kWh per person. 

Eliminate unnecessary consumption
‘Saving electricity and reducing consumption to 1,000 kWh is not that difficult. The trick is to identify the energy which is wasted. This is exactly where the brochure and the Trust’s website can help,’ says Göran Wilke. ‘It’s about making the right choices when shopping for new equipment – look for the Trust’s Energy Saving Label when shopping for large domestic appliances, A-rated energy saving bulbs, A-rated circulator pumps, and other appliances. It’s also a question of switching off equipment after use and turning down the lights when the sun is shining,’ adds Göran Wilke.

Keep in touch at www.savingtrust.dk
In 2007 the Trust launched a range of campaigns to highlight the fact that Danish consumers can mostly decide for themselves how much electricity they use, and that energy savings are not synonymous with lower standards of comfort. The Guide provides consumers with a global overview along with advice and information. The Guide can also be read as an introduction to all the information and guidelines offered by the Trust on its website at www.savingtrust.dk.

The Trust’s latest tool on its website is ‘Min Bolig – Det Intelligente Hjem’ (My House – the intelligent home), a software platform currently in Danish which allows homeowners and tenants to input their floor plans, pictures and documents as well as analysing and tracking their electricity consumption. The programme also gives them access to public databases on homes and properties.

Sending a clear signal before the Climate Change Summit
‘The Guide and the Trust’s website highlight the fact that everyone can play their part in reducing their electricity consumption,’ says Göran Wilke, Head of Secretariat at the Trust. ‘If enough people take steps to change their energy consumption patterns, total household electricity consumption in Denmark will fall in real terms. This will send a very positive and clear signal to the rest of the world in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2009. Lower electricity consumption in 2008 is the Trust’s suggested New Year’s resolution, which will benefit both the environment and consumers’ bank balances.’

 Download ‘Guide to lower electricity consumption’ (pdf)

Please contact Elsparefonden for more copies.

Breakdown of Danish household electricity consumption
21% on dishwashing, washing and drying
15% on lighting
15% on fridges and freezers
12% on TVs and entertainment systems
12% on computers and peripherals
11% on controlling the indoor environment
9% on food preparation
5% on miscellaneous equipment such as mobile chargers, electric toothbrushes and shavers

Source: Family living in detached house, see www.elsparefonden.dk/MinBolig.