Are you looking for ideas on how to conserve precious resources at home? No wonder: inflation means we get less for our money - and at the same time our electricity and gas bills are rising. And our beautiful planet? It's aching and creaking under the high CO2 emissions. We all need energy-saving tips! Here you can find out how to reduce your household energy consumption and how to save energy in the shower, for example;
We switch on the light. We take a full bath. We take a hot shower. We blow-dry our hair. We shave electrically. We brush our teeth with battery-powered brushes. We wash the laundry and turn on the dryer. This is our daily routine - week after week, year after year. This means that we consume a lot of energy and produce CO2 in the bathroom, and many of us still use real power guzzlers, water guzzlers and gas guzzlers. And it's not always just the big consumers such as heating systems or water heaters. Small animals also make a mess.
The bathroom plays a surprisingly important role in our quest for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Daily routines that we hardly question have a significant impact on our carbon footprint. The positive side is that we have many opportunities to reduce energy consumption.
Tumble dryer and washing machine
It is well known that washing machines and dryers use a lot of electricity: An average washing machine uses 1,000 to 2,000 watts per wash cycle, while a dryer uses up to 3,000 watts, resulting in high energy consumption with regular use. A washing machine with 2,000 watts that runs for one hour three times a week consumes around 312.9 kilowatt hours per year, which at an electricity price of 20.3 cents per kilowatt hour results in annual electricity costs of 63.34 euros.
Electric towel dryer
Electric towel dryers are practical, but their high electricity consumption of around 648 kilowatt hours per year corresponds to twice the consumption of a medium-sized refrigerator with freezer compartment and results in annual CO2 emissions of around 272 kilograms.
Lighting (ceiling, mirror) etc.
Although halogen lamps produce bright light in the bathroom, they consume significantly more electricity than modern LEDs. A conventional halogen lamp with an output of 50 watts, which is switched on for four hours a day, causes annual electricity costs of around 14.79 euros (at an electricity price of 20.3 cents per kilowatt hour). It is therefore advisable to replace old halogen lamps with LEDs.
When purchasing electrical appliances for bathrooms and kitchens, pay attention to the energy efficiency labels A to G (since 2021). A stands for high efficiency and G for low. Whether shower radio or washing machine, bathroom mirror with LED lighting. In principle: Compare the energy efficiency classes of all products. The following applies to the others: If you replace just one energy guzzler with an efficient electrical appliance, you can reduce your energy consumption considerably.
That's clear. Most people live in rental apartments and therefore have no control over whether and which flow heater in their bathroom will draw electricity like there's no tomorrow. But what all residents can do with a small investment in the bathroom is to replace a basin faucet, hand shower or shower thermostat. Specifically:
In comparison with old shower models, which can still consume up to 15 liters per minute on average, EcoSmart showers such as Pulsify reduce water consumption by up to 40 percent: to 8 l/min. Without compromising on comfort. The well-being showers with the microfine PowderRain impress with their low consumption of resources. hansgrohe even produces showers that reduce consumption by 60 percent to 6 l/min, for example in the Planet Edition.
In addition to saving energy when showering or washing your hands, there is a lot you can do (or not do) in the bathroom to reduce your energy consumption.
Gone are the days when energy-saving lamps were cold, scary sparkles. A modern LED lighting bathes your interior in warm light – and helps you to reduce energy consumption. What brightens up your mood even more is a mirror with integrated LEDs such as Xarita Lite.
Whether it's a toothbrush or a fan heater: please don't leave your devices in standby mode 24/7, just unplug them wherever possible.
If possible, avoid electric towel warmers or dryers. It is also not advisable to dry your towel on the radiator, as this warms the towel but leaves the room cold;
This also helps to reduce energy consumption. Use it is better to use a low heat level for heating– this is also gentle on the sensitive scalp
Nowadays, almost every washing machine has short programs that get less dirty laundry clean with significantly lower energy consumption. You can wash many things at a lukewarm 30 degrees (instead of 40, 60 or 95 degrees) anyway;
During the heating season, you will save more energy if you use your open the windows wide for a short time than if you leave them tilted open for hours on end.
Showering a little cooler saves a lot of energy over the year, reduces your bills, boosts your circulation and doesn't dehydrate your skin as much as a hot shower at the limit of pain. Alternatively: refreshing contrast showers, i.e. alternating hot and cold showers.
You can also find out how to reduce your footprint in the bathroom in our magazine articles CO2: Take a more climate-friendly shower! and Water consumption bath tub.
Discover even more water-saving tips for your household now.
Replace your old shower head with a water-saving shower head with EcoRight, which has a limited flow rate. With this clever hansgrohe technology, you use significantly less water – and will also reduce your energy consumption. In EcoRight+ showers, the flow rate is even limited to up to 6 liters per minute. The fewer liters flow through the shower head, the less water needs to be heated.
Yes, if you replace your old faucet with a CoolStart faucet or EcoRight or EcoRight+ faucet, you can reduce your energy consumption day after day. Because with hansgrohe lavatory faucets with cold water start, hot water only flows when you really need it.
Almost every modern washing machine has short programs that get less soiled laundry clean with significantly lower energy consumption. You can wash many things with a clear conscience at a lukewarm 30 degrees (instead of 40, 60 or 95 degrees);
Be sure to replace old illuminants with new ones. Eco-friendly LED lighting will bathe your interior in warm light – and help you reduce energy consumption. A mirror with integrated LED light, such as Xarita Lite, will also brighten your mood.
Ventilate the bathroom thoroughly all year round to prevent mold from forming. During the heating season, it saves a lot of energy if you open your windows wide for a short time rather than leaving them tilted for hours on end.