Saving electricity in business and in everyday life
Saving electricity begins with a clear picture of consumption. Which systems run for extended periods? What power do they require during normal operation? And which processes need to continue running even after work hours? For businesses, this results in different priorities than for individual households.
This guide combines operational approaches with the general principles of saving electricity at home. Measurable changes and appropriate measures are crucial. Safety functions, hygiene, product quality, and necessary operational processes must not be compromised.
The electricity cost calculator converts average power and operating time into energy and consumption costs. Start with an appliance whose operating time you can influence and record the baseline. Then check whether a change actually helped.
First, measure: Where does the electricity consumption originate?
Start with your billing statements and available meter readings. Note the period under review and any known changes, such as additional shifts or new equipment. A lower electricity price does not necessarily mean lower consumption; therefore, also compare kilowatt-hours.
Consider power and operating time together
A small appliance with a long operating time can have a significant annual energy consumption. A high-power appliance that only runs briefly doesn't necessarily use more energy. Calculate based on the average actual power consumption, not on the maximum value listed on the nameplate without verification.
Example: ten lights rated at 20 watts each operate for 2,000 hours a year. This gives 10 × 20 ÷ 1,000 × 2,000 = 400 kWh. At an assumed price of 30 ct/kWh, consumption costs would be €120. Reducing operating time by 500 hours would equal 100 kWh or €30 in this model.
Select the appropriate measurement
For suitable plug-in devices, an approved energy meter can record consumption over several days. Permanently connected machines and electrical distribution systems must be professionally measured. A single instantaneous reading is less meaningful for intermittently operating devices than energy measurement over a representative period.
Reduce electricity consumption: Prioritize measures
Create a manageable list of consumers, operating times, purpose, and potential changes. For each measure, assess the expected amount of energy, implementation effort, and operational limitations. Calculate investments and ongoing changes separately.
| Area | A sensible first check | Important limit |
|---|---|---|
| lighting | Power, operating time and actual use | Maintain the required lighting quality |
| Ventilation and air conditioning | Coordinate operating hours with occupancy | Pay attention to air quality and technical specifications |
| cooling | Check seals, maintenance, and unnecessary door openings. | Ensuring the cold chain and target temperatures |
| compressed air | Professionally inspect for leaks and operation outside of production | Interventions by qualified personnel |
| Office equipment | Use appropriate energy-saving and sleep modes | Pay attention to updates, accessibility, and data integrity. |
After implementation, check whether consumption has actually decreased with comparable usage. A one-off low reading could also be due to reduced production, holidays, or different weather conditions.
Why saving electricity is also relevant for the environment and business
Reducing unnecessary electricity consumption lowers a company's energy needs. The specific environmental impact depends on factors such as the electricity source, the timing, and the specific carbon footprint being considered. If you wish to include a measure in your carbon footprint analysis, document the kWh saved, the emission factor used, and its reference year. This ensures the calculation method remains transparent.
Efficiency and procurement are complementary. A different supply contract will not change a machine's energy consumption. Conversely, a more efficient system can reduce energy consumption costs at the same price. Document these effects separately so that improvements remain traceable.
When replacing equipment, purchase, lifespan, usage, and maintenance should all be considered in the overall decision. Compare the total costs of the existing and new systems over the planned service life – including purchase, energy, and maintenance. Modifying the control system or reducing unnecessary operating time can already help before replacement of the system is due.
Electricity-saving tips: Lighting, heating, cooling and appliances
Operate lighting according to demand.
LED technology can use less energy than suitable older light sources. The specific effect depends on light output and operating hours. Check suitable controls, daylight utilization, and occupancy-dependent switching. Even efficient lighting is not automatically negligible for large areas and long operating times.
Properly assigning heating and cooling
Electric heaters, heat pumps, and refrigeration systems can be significant electricity consumers. With gas heating, on the other hand, fuel consumption concerns gas; pumps and controls also require electricity. Mixing these two energy sources can easily lead to misjudging the necessary measures.
Have the controls, operating times, and maintenance status checked to ensure they are appropriate for the system. Unnecessary door openings and damaged seals can affect the operation of refrigeration units. The prescribed temperature ranges and hygiene requirements must be observed, even when implementing energy-saving measures.
Make good use of device functions
Use appropriate energy-saving programs and sleep modes according to the manufacturer's instructions. Whether switching off or standby mode is suitable depends on the device and the task. Servers, security systems, or cooling systems should not all be switched off using a common power strip.
Calculation method instead of blanket comparisons
Always compare a planned measure with the previous operating conditions: How many hours will be saved, and what average power was required during that time? Calculate power consumption in kW multiplied by the hours saved. Multiplying this by your energy price gives you the avoided energy cost share. The lighting calculation above illustrates this process with concrete figures.
Saving electricity in everyday work and in the office
Agree on a short checklist for the end of the workday: Which devices can be switched off, which must remain running, and who will check the agreed-upon settings? Designating a specific person and scheduling a fixed check time will turn a good intention into a repeatable process. Be sure to consider technical dependencies and necessary updates.
After closing time
A look at the base load shows whether the site continues to consume a significant amount of power outside of working hours. Compare this curve with those of facilities that are deliberately operating continuously. The Load Profile Guide illustrates the difference between base load and production demand.
Workstations
Appropriate screen brightness and automatic sleep modes can reduce unnecessary operation. For meeting rooms, printers, and peripherals, usage and standby times should be aligned. A common standard facilitates implementation but must allow for exceptions to meet operational requirements.
Production and ancillary facilities
Check with those responsible whether idle times or unnecessary parallel operations can be avoided. Changes to start-up sequences or supply systems must be professionally assessed. Reducing peak load and saving kilowatt-hours are different goals; not every time shift reduces overall consumption.
Saving electricity at home: the basics remain the same
Even in the household, billing, meter readings, and appropriate appliance measurements can help. A comparison with the previous year is only meaningful if the time period and usage are taken into account. New residents, working from home, electric water heating, or an additional appliance can change consumption.
Kitchen and refrigeration appliances
Use appliances appropriate for the required quantity and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Keep refrigerators in good working order, ensure doors close properly, and avoid leaving them open unnecessarily long. Food safety takes precedence over minimizing power draw.
Washing and drying
Suitable programs and sensible loading can influence energy consumption. Select the temperature and program according to the textiles and hygiene requirements. A nominally powerful appliance cannot be compared to another solely based on its wattage rating; energy consumption per suitable program is more meaningful.
Water and hot water
Reducing unnecessary hot water usage can lower demand. Whether this saves electricity or gas depends on the hot water heating system. Changes to storage or circulation settings should take hygiene requirements into account.
Check tariff and consumption separately
Switching energy providers is a contractual decision. A change in consumption alters the energy required. Both can be beneficial, but they are not the same. For switching, you will find a separate guide to contract durations and procedures; to calculate the energy consumption of individual appliances, use the electricity cost calculator.
For your business: start with one measure
First, select a business measure from the table, designate a responsible person, and note the previous consumption. Schedule an appointment immediately for a comparison after implementation. If the costs are unclear, especially despite plausible consumption figures, the Guide to Checking Business Electricity Bills will help with the next step.
