Consumer electronics draw the most electricity
According to data from the Federal Association for Energy and Water Management (BDEW) from 2021, 28 percent of annual electricity consumption is used for televisions, game consoles and the like. There has been a drastic change in the last 20 years. While the consumption of information and communication technology, i.e. televisions, game consoles and computers, has more than doubled, the consumption of refrigerators and freezers has almost halved due to more efficient devices.
In an interview with the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Joshua Jahn from the Brandenburg consumer advice center points out that a better energy efficiency class does not automatically mean lower consumption. Because a large TV with the best energy efficiency class still consumes more than a small TV in the worst energy efficiency class, says Jahn. In addition, it may be worthwhile to use the laptop more often than the desktop PC, which costs the equivalent of just ten euros of electricity per year, while a desktop PC would cost around 35 euros. In addition, there is the possibility of charging your laptop at work or at university, which saves you further costs at home.
But what about the really big household appliances? After all, washing and drying make up 14 percent of annual consumption and refrigerators and freezers eleven percent. Here you have to check individually whether a new purchase is worthwhile, as this is often associated with higher costs. A power meter can help here, with which you can then extrapolate the consumption and see to what extent a new purchase is worthwhile. Because it can be worthwhile, especially with devices that are ten to 15 years old, since the devices have become a lot more efficient in the meantime.
Just turn off devices?
In fact, the devices continue to consume electricity in stand-by mode. As the consumer center states on its website, there is an EU requirement that regulates that the consumption of the devices in stand-by mode is limited to 0.5 watts. However, this upper limit does not apply to smart TVs, game consoles and printers. So it’s worth turning off these devices when they’re not in use to save on unnecessary power consumption in the background. For Smart TVs, however, you should consult the instructions for use again, as there are some TVs that require power even when they are not in use.
Joshua Jahn further explains to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger that completely switching off some devices in a three-person household can save up to 100 euros a year. According to Jahn, power strips with toggle switches are recommended. Some WiFi routers also have a function to automate the shutdown. In this way, electricity can also be saved at night when not in use, without having to pull the plug every time.
However, are there ways to save electricity during use? The BDEW market partner organization HEA also states in a BDEW press release that it is generally worth paying attention to the energy efficiency label of the device, as mentioned, the size of the device is of course also important here. It is also worth darkening monitor and television screens during use. When it comes to refrigerators, washing machines and the like, the only option is to use more economical models.
How much do Germans save?
According to BDEW, households consumed almost 130 billion kWh of electricity in 2021. The Federal Environment Agency indicates a consumption of minus eight percent in 2021 compared to 2008. This year is important because in 2010 the federal government set itself the goal of reducing electricity consumption by ten percent by 2020 compared to 2008 with an energy concept. This goal was also provisionally achieved in 2020, but the last year was decisively shaped by the corona pandemic. According to the Federal Environment Agency on its website, consumption in 2021 will therefore slightly miss the target of the federal government.
In 2022 this may look different. In a survey by BDEW in July 2022, three quarters of those surveyed stated that they had changed their consumption behavior in relation to energy costs. Only one in five said they had not changed their behavior. 56 percent said they lowered the room temperature, 48 percent said they heated fewer rooms. Furthermore, 45 percent stated that they showered less and 13 percent stated that they had already invested in programmable thermostats or radiators. For 67 percent of those surveyed, the reason for saving is the increased energy costs, around 19 percent save for environmental reasons. However, it remains to be seen to what extent the saved energy really affects the total power consumption. It also remains to be seen to what extent the planned relief will affect consumption, or whether it will come at all.
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