Take a stand, make a difference!
Wondering how you can make a difference in the efficient use of heating systems during winter? The good news is that you can contribute, both as an individual and within your community. By implementing energy-saving practices, you can play a part in conserving energy, reducing costs, and minimizing environmental impact. Check out the examples below to discover some strategies:
What can I do?
Quick & Go activities
- Check that you don’t have anything right in front of your heater (like curtains or furniture), if you do, move them. At the same time, you can get a new kind of interior design!
- Open curtains during the day and close them at night. This helps the heat to get in during the day and at night the windows don’t let the heat out.
- Use carpets on floors, the floors stay warm! Colourful and beautiful carpets also bring joy during dark winter.
- Do not put warm food in the refrigerator.
Deep but swift activities
- Check weather strips on your windows and doors, and replace them if necessary. Strips are actually quite a cost-effective means of influencing the heating bills.
- All rooms do not have to be at the same temperature. Open and close doors when needed. For example, it is better to sleep in a slightly cooler bedroom.
- Familiarize yourself with applications that allow you to manage and view your energy and heating usage.
- Check the placement of the refrigeration equipment, isn’t the refrigerator near the radiator?
The hardest, the best activities
- Do you have double-glazed windows? If not, think about replacing them, if possible. Window repair is a bit more expensive and requires some work, but it is still beneficial for future generations and nature because it can save energy.
- If cold air comes in from the front door, you can also install a curtain rod and a curtain over the door.
- Find out if there are suitable alternatives for smart home solutions on the market. These can be smart blinds, remote temperature control or tracking open windows.
What can I do with my community?
Quick & Go activities
- Discuss with your neighbours – do they have experience with lowering the laundry temperature? Did the laundry come out clean? Some may hesitate to lower the temperature, but sharing good experiences encourages them to try.
Deep but swift activities
- Discuss with your friends about the best tips on efficient heating in winter.
- Are your windows clean? Dirty windows limit sunlight and thus increase electricity consumption. Could cleaning windows be arranged in a community?
- Can heating or electricity consumption be reduced in common spaces, if you live in an apartment, or empty rooms, if you live in a single home? If people do not use those spaces, try to reduce the amount of time the heating system and electricity is used.
The hardest, the best activities
- Discuss with your neighbours about changing windows to double-glazed windows and search for possibilities to do that (analyse costs, time and needed resources).
- Organize a ‘energy-saving’ campaign (with your neighbourhood association if you live in an apartment or with your family is you live in a single home) where you all commit to implement specific energy-saving measures. Calculate how much money you saved and organize, for example, joint free activities with the saved amount.
