Energy efficiency in everyday life
How small changes can have a big impact
Drying racks instead of dryers: This saves almost 150 euros a year.
© Leifheit
Changing simple habits and saving electricity at the same time? With these small changes in everyday life, you protect your wallet and the environment.
Whether for cooking, washing, heating or for entertainment: Electricity has become an integral part of our everyday life. But while we’ve gotten used to all the electronic devices, we often forget how much energy they actually use. Especially against the background of the energy and climate crisis as well as inflation, saving electricity is indispensable. Even small changes can have a big impact. This is how much you save if you replace electronic everyday objects with non-electric alternatives.
Drying rack instead of power guzzlers
The tumble dryer is one of the biggest power guzzlers in the household – and actually unnecessary. Depending on the model and filling quantity, it uses between 2,000 and 4,000 watts of electricity for a drying process. The classic drying rack is an electricity-free alternative that is not only good for the environment but also for your wallet: according to Leifheit, switching to a beach dryer can save around 730 euros in five years.
On a sunny day, the laundry dries just as quickly as in an electric tumble dryer. “The average service life of an electric dryer is also ten to 13 years, and a drying rack without electricity can become a lifelong household companion,” says Alexander Rau, Head of Brand & Digital Activation at Leifheit. In addition, the natural drying in the air means that the laundry lasts longer and keeps its shape and color longer.
Electronics off, book open
Who doesn’t know it: After a long day in the office, the first course often leads to the couch and reaching for the remote control. For many, letting yourself be showered by series and films is the best distraction from everyday life. But that has its price: On average, a TV set consumes around 100 watts per hour. A television that runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. consumes 400 watts of electricity. Anyone who reaches for the book instead uses virtually no electricity. Even if you need a lamp for it: an energy-saving lamp consumes only around eleven watts per hour. If you replace the television with reading every day, you save around 40 euros over a year.
Old-fashioned but efficient: DVD instead of streaming
In times of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Co., it is tempting to be able to access the latest films and series anytime, anywhere. But this convenience has its price: Streaming services not only consume bandwidth (around 75 percent of global data traffic), but also electricity. Depending on the device, an hour of streaming can consume between 200 and 500 watts – that quickly adds up. An old-fashioned DVD, on the other hand, only needs the power needed to operate the DVD player – on average around 10 to 20 watts per hour. So at the next movie night, maybe put in your favorite DVD again instead of streaming.
Air dry hair instead of using a hair dryer
After washing your hair, the hair dryer is an indispensable device for many. The advantage: wet hair is dry in just a few minutes. The downside: A typical hair dryer uses between 1,200 and 2,200 watts per hour. Blow-drying your hair for just ten minutes consumes around three times more electricity than an hour of television! The better alternative: air drying your hair. Although this takes a little longer than blow-drying, it saves electricity and protects the hair from stress. It is best to wrap wet hair in a microfiber towel and pat dry after a few minutes, then air dry.
Manual garden tools instead of lawn mowers
There is a lot to do in the garden in spring and summer. When the grass sprouts, the lawnmower is quickly used in many households. But such a typical electric lawn mower consumes a lot of electricity: between 1,400 and 1,800 watts per hour! A non-electric alternative is a hand-operated cylinder mower, which can cut the grass cleanly and precisely without any electricity. Although it requires human muscle power instead, you save a lot of money and electricity a year – and at the same time get your body moving. Another advantage: In contrast to electric mowers, manual mowers make significantly less noise.