A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

67% of our private energy consumption in the household is used for heat generation. Our greatest savings potential at home therefore lies in the areas of heating and hot water.
 

• Set the heating temperature correctly
  By lowering the heating temperature by 1 degree, you can save 6% energy.
  Guidelines for room temperatures:
  20° to 22° C in living areas (level 3)
  17° to 18° C Kitchen and bedroom (level 2.5)
  Tip: Heating at level 5 consumes a lot of energy.
  However, it does not heat up much faster than at level 3 to 4.
   
• Clear space around radiators
  Furniture, curtains and other coverings should be placed at a sufficient distance (20 to 30 cm) from the radiator.
   
• Ventilating properly
  Even if it's cold outside, regular ventilation is very important during the heating season!
  
  Ventilation reduces humidity in living spaces and ensures good air quality.
  
  Open one or more windows wide several times a day (3x) for approx. 5 to 10 minutes.
  Important: Before opening the windows, turn the heating thermostats down completely and only turn them back up again after closing the windows. Avoid tilting windows during the heating season and on cold days!
   
• Take showers instead of baths and turn down the temperature:
  warm (around 36°C) instead of hot.
   
• Take shorter showers (aim for 5 minutes) and turn off the water while soaping up – halving your shower time (which is usually around 10 minutes on average) will also halve your hot water costs.

Source: https://www.niedersachsen.de/energiekrise/spartipps/informationen-zum-energiesparen-213637.html

Every kilowatt hour of energy saved (1 kWh corresponds, for example, to a 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours) saves money and helps us all prepare for the coming winter!
 

• media devices – stop standby costs for devices with switchable sockets
   
• oven – the fan function in the oven saves 20% compared to top/bottom heat; preheating is usually not necessary.
   
• stove – Cooking with a lid on the pot reduces consumption by 50%.
  For electric stoves, use the residual heat and turn off the stove 5 to 10 minutes before the end of the cooking time.
  For smaller amounts of water (up to 1.5 litres), heating with a kettle is about a third cheaper than on the stove.
   
• refrigerator – Cooling temperature to 7° degrees
  Defrost regularly – a 5 mm layer of ice increases the refrigerator's power consumption by 30%.
   
• LED Lamp – Use LED bulbs instead of conventional incandescent bulbs or energy-saving bulbs.
   
• washing machine – The 40°C programme saves around 45% electricity compared to the 60°C programme.
   
• Purchase green electricity – By switching to a green electricity provider—a simple process that is free of charge—an average three-person household with a consumption of 3,500 kWh can avoid around 935 kilograms of CO2 per year.

Source: https://www.niedersachsen.de/energiekrise/spartipps/informationen-zum-energiesparen-213637.html

Saving electricity and gas not only has financial benefits, but also helps to reduce your carbon footprint. The main sources of CO2 emissions are industry, transport, waste management and agriculture. Each individual plays a small but significant role here, which can have a big impact when taken together.

• choice of transport – Use public transport, cycle or walk whenever possible. If you need to use a car, share journeys with others or choose a fuel-efficient vehicle. Switching to electric or hybrid vehicles can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
   
• nutrition – Reduce your meat consumption, especially red meat, as livestock farming contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, consume plant-based foods and favour local and seasonal products to reduce the carbon footprint of food production.
   
• waste management – Recycle and separate your waste properly. Reduce your use of disposable products and use reusable alternatives whenever possible. Avoid food waste by shopping consciously and using leftovers.
   
• consumption – Purchase sustainable products and support companies that are committed to environmental protection and sustainability. Reduce your overall consumption by consciously choosing what you really need and favouring durable products.
   
• raise awareness – Learn about climate change and share your knowledge with others. Encourage your family, friends and community to make environmentally friendly choices too.