Make the most of your kitchen sink and save on your home's energy consumption

Have you ever wondered whether it would be possible to save on the water consumption of your kitchen sink or on your household's electricity consumption? If you think your bills have shot up in recent months, you are absolutely right: something is wrong.

And for that, the best thing is to stop and reflect on our household's day-to-day life and the consumption – both energy and water – that we make (often without even realising it) and draw up a plan to help us save for good.

Tricks to consume less and enjoy more

1. Taking out an electricity tariff with time-of-use pricingPut all your appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, etc.) to work during a certain period of hours when the price per kW is lower. Normally these periods start at 10 p.m. and end at 12 noon during the colder months, and from 11 p.m. to 1 p.m. during the summer months. In a couple of months, you will be able to see how your energy bill falls substantially.
2. Natural climate controlSealing possible gaps in floors and windows to prevent heat escaping and adding curtains and rugs. It has been proven that consumption is reduced by 25% in winter. For the summer months, the best thing is to lower the blinds and draw the curtains during the hottest hours and open them as soon as it starts to cool down.
3. Lower the thermostat temperature of the boiler or water heater to 40°CThis way we stop wasting energy for nothing.
4. Use more environmentally friendly appliances with an A+++ labelAnother possibility is to buy bithermal washing machines and dishwashers in which electric heating elements are not used to heat the water.
5. A low-consumption fridge set to 7°C and -18°C for the freezerIt is also important to keep it full, as if it is empty it consumes much more.
6. Use LEDs with a lifespan of between 8,000 and 10,000 hours of lightDid you know that halogen bulbs consume 10 times more?
7. Use a short cold-water programme in the washing machine with which we will save electricity, money and help the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
8. Install a flow reducer or aerator on your kitchen sink tap or on the shower tapWith an investment of just €15, you will reduce water consumption by 50%. It's worth it, isn't it?

And finally, all the water wasted when you turn on the tap and wait for it to run hot – why not use it to water the plants, wash vegetables or hand-wash some items of clothing?

Start today and in no time you will see how your effort begins to produce results you could never even have imagined.