Energy saving. Some useful tips to consume less

In particular, at a time when the cost of gas and energy continues to rise, it is important to look at the use of appliances that consume a lot, and try to adopt ‘virtuous behaviour’. On these pages, we will try to provide you with some useful tips to reduce your impact on the environment and on your household finances.

Our tips

• Showering
  If you take a shower every other day, it is estimated that an average family could save around 96 cubic metres of gas per year. Similarly, reducing the time spent in the shower by 2 minutes, and lowering the hot water temperature by 3 degrees, would lower a family’s annual spending by more than EUR 200.
• Radiators
  Reducing the temperature of radiators by one degree leads to an average saving per household of about 119 cubic metres of gas per year.
• Oven
  The oven consumes a lot of energy, and the larger ovens (90 cm) require much more energy to heat up than smaller ones. Do not place the cooker close to the fridge. Pyrolytic (or self-cleaning) ovens consume a lot of energy because they raise the temperature to 500 degrees in a few minutes. Better to give it a good clean on a regular basis.
• Dishwasher
  The dishwasher should be used with a full load, using the eco-wash mode, even though it takes longer. The phase that consumes the most energy is drying, so if possible, it is advisable to use non-dry programmes.
• Washing machine
  Just as for the dishwasher, it is recommended to use it at full load, favouring eco and low-temperature programmes (30-40 °C).
• Give preference to newer appliances
  The savings from full load use of both dishwasher and washing machine are around 40-50 euro per year. A bigger impact can be obtained, in terms of reducing consumption, by replacing older household appliances: for example, switching from a 15-20 year old refrigerator to a current one saves up to 100 euro per year.
• Refrigerator
  Avoid putting hot food inside. If the freezer is a no frost type, it should be defrosted regularly.
• Further tips
  The list of tips is long, and although not all of them are equally valid in terms of their effectiveness on savings, their combined use, as mentioned above, is advisable.

Stores

1. Switch off the store sign at night
   Switch it on when needed, this is a good energy-saving practice. Switching off the store sign at night can save 3,000 kWh per year and over 1 tonne of CO2.
2. Use energy-saving light bulbs
   Lighting energy consumption can be reduced by 50% by installing energy-efficient LED devices with integrated presence detectors.
3. Install smart control systems
   The introduction of intelligent control systems makes it possible to maximise efficiency even when shop premises are partially occupied. The use of these systems based on presence detectors can lead to energy savings for heating of between 7% and 20% and for cooling of between 2% and 4%.
4. Close doors
   During public opening hours and with the heating or cooling systems switched on, keep the entrance doors closed. This will avoid heat loss and heat re-entry in the summer period
5. Check air curtain devices
   In order to curb energy expenditure, air curtains must ensure that the width of the air curtain is not less than the width of the shop opening. The air flow must not be heated by an electric resistor, and must go down to the ground.
6. Lower the temperature in winter
   Set the temperature to around 18°C and turn off the heating an hour earlier. The temperature rises by 1-2°C after a person is 30 minutes in the room. This measure helps to reduce heating consumption by over 12%.
7. Raise the temperature in the summer
   Switch off the air conditioning an hour before closing, and consider using dehumidification mode. Set the temperature to around 28°C, at least one degree higher than you would usually set. These measureshelp to reduce air cooling consumption by an average 22%.
8. Unplug devices when the store is closed
   Unplug devices and advertising units when the store is closed. Use a power strip to group computers and peripherals. In this way, when you leave the store everything is switched off.
9. Use sun shades or films
   Stopping the entry of sunlight during the summer in shop windows significantly reduces the consumption of the cooling system and also provides protection against the deterioration or discolouration of the goods on display.
10. Perform maintenance work regularly
    Have the system checked, and always perform mandatory maintenance. This is the number one rule for safety and security, savings and protecting the environment. A system consumes and pollutes less when it is correctly maintained, with clean filters and no limescale build-up. Consider replacing old systems with more efficient technologies.