5 Tips For Saving Energy In The Bathroom

As a general rule, the most environmentally friendly and purse-friendly energy is the energy that is not consumed in the first place. There is a lot of potential for saving energy in the home, including in the bathroom. In addition to hot water, light and small electrical appliances, washing machines and dryers are often also energy guzzlers. To save a lot of money, it, therefore, makes sense to question your own energy consumption in the bathroom. Therefore we have summarized the 5 most important tips for you:

Our 5 Saving Tips For The Bathroom

Clever Ventilation

Especially because the bathroom is relatively small, many people think that heating costs can hardly be saved there - but watch out! Due to the increased air humidity and odour formation, ventilation must be particularly frequent and intensive. This is why it is important, especially in the bathroom, to always see heating and ventilation in context so as not to lose unnecessarily much energy through the exchange of air.

So how do I ventilate properly? 

Shock ventilation is particularly recommended. Here, depending on the weather, all the windows are opened wide. In the ideal case, one opens so many windows that a draught develops in the rooms, the so-called cross ventilation. The room air is completely exchanged within five to ten minutes and as little heating air as possible is lost. Ventilation with tilted windows is less recommendable. Here the air exchange happens only slowly, at the same time much warmth is lost. The walls then cool down quickly. More heating energy must then be used to heat the bathroom again. During the heating period, it is advisable to open the windows three to four times a day.

With proper heating and ventilation, Smart Home systems can save a lot of work.

Washing Machines And Dryers

Especially the washing machine offers a lot of potential for energy savers. First of all, appliances older than five years are comparatively less efficient. Modern machines are so powerful that pre-washing is usually not necessary. As a rule, the main program is quite sufficient. This can reduce energy costs by up to 15 euros a year. If the laundry is only lightly soiled, even the short program can achieve the desired result. In addition, it makes sense to run the machine at 30 degrees only. Compared to the 60-degree wash cycle, power consumption is reduced by around 30 per cent. The everyday laundry will still be clean!

When it comes to laundry, good planning is half the battle. That is why it is important to fill the machine correctly at all times. Otherwise, the amount of water in a load will be used for only a few items of clothing. In addition, you can then do without short-term drying and hang up the laundry for ventilation, preferably outside the home, for example on the balcony or drying floor. It is also helpful to spin the laundry well. Ideally, the dryer can then be dispensed completely. Should this be used, we recommend appliances with efficiency class A++ or higher.

Most washing machines have a hot water connection. This should be used if available. This is because most of the electricity is used to heat the water during the washing cycle. For example, in a 30-degree cycle, about half of the electricity is only used for heating. A lot of energy can be saved by connecting the washing machine to the hot water connection right from the start. In most cases, you can read in the instruction manual whether the appliance is suitable for hot water use. How high the savings are, really depends on how the water is heated. In the case of a solar thermal system, for example, the balance is consistently positive. But even when heating with a gas condensing boiler, the savings achieved with primary energy are still around 27%.

Keep An Eye On Small Devices

Even small appliances can become energy guzzlers in the bathroom and make themselves felt on the electricity bill if they are constantly running in standby mode. Is the electric toothbrush or razor fully charged? Then it's best to pull the plug! With a toothbrush, you can save around 10 euros a year in energy costs. It is also worth asking whether a device has to be in use at all. If you do without your hairdryer, you will save around 15 to 30 euros per person per year.

Socket strips with toggle switches are also available for several appliances. Since all appliances are connected together to the power supply, it is easier to see whether the standby mode is really running or not.

Reduce Hot Water Consumption

Some have probably already heard the tip that showering instead of bathing saves a lot of hot water. Energy savers can simply go one step further. The motto here is: shower as short as possible and not so hot. How about, for example, setting a timer of five minutes and then trying not to exceed it? It is also advisable to turn off the water while soaping and avoid brushing your teeth in the shower so that there is no unnecessary water running through. Even when brushing your teeth and shaving in the sink, the tap does not have to remain open.

If you want to save even more water, install an economical showerhead or jet regulator in your shower. Water-saving mixed glands can also be a great gadget for the bathroom. Here, water is mixed with air, so you hardly notice that much less water comes out of the showerhead.

Replace Bulbs With LEDs

Light bulbs consume most of their energy for unused heat. LEDs offer a low-consumption alternative. They can reduce the energy requirement for light in the household by up to 90% and have a much longer service life than conventional light bulbs. They also contain no dangerous mercury, unlike energy-saving light bulbs. Meanwhile, you can find simple LED lights for a few euros in the DIY store. So why not install the LEDs in the bathroom?

Although the bathroom usually takes up the least space of the living space, there are some savings potentials here. Especially when it comes to heating, ventilation and washing laundry, you should keep an eye on your own energy balance. Not only for the environment but also for your wallet.

For more information on energy efficiency in bathrooms, take a look at the Bathroom Easy blog.