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Temperature

Experts never tire of repeating it: not all homes need the same heating or air conditioning system. Choosing one over another depends on geographical location, the orientation of the house and the people who live in the property. As a general rule, whenever you are at home, the analysts recommend 20 degrees in winter and 24 degrees in summer.

In winter, you can sleep perfectly at between 15 and 17 degrees, a temperature which is also recommended for heating those rooms which we do not use regularly, or when we are out. In the latter case, as with the summer, it is preferable to use thermostats, programmers or regulators which prepare the environment gradually a couple of hours before you return. Home automation can be a great ally when improving energy efficiency.

However, in addition to temperature levels, if there is an excellent piece of advice in this area it is to invest in insulation. Good windows which shut tightlyy can save up to 30% in energy, by preventing cold or hot air from escaping.

Light

Nowadays, saving on electricity consumption when lighting our homes inevitably involves using low-energy light bulbs. They are more expensive than conventional ones, but last twelve times longer than a conventional light bulb and achieve savings of up to 15% on your monthly bill.

Avoid excessive lighting: you do not need three light fittings to light a room that could be inhabitable with good indirect lighting.

Water

At this stage, nobody is ignorant of the fact that water can be a scarce commodity in certain areas and at certain times of the year. It is likely that, through your everyday activity, you will not be able to make the rain appear when it is needed, but you can optimise its consumption and make sure that supplies do not run out. Did you know that many experts point out that five litres of water per day and per person are enough? In the western world, we consume as much as 170 litres per day between showers, cisterns, cleaning and, naturally, drinking. 

At home, the highest consumption occurs in the bathroom: almost 30% of domestic water consumption takes place in the lavatory, for example. However, it is not difficult to reduce this consumption and neither is it necessary to do without. It is sufficient to make small gestures, such as turning off the tap whilst we brush our teeth and opting fora quick shower  instead of a daily bath, even though the latter is more appealing. Of course, you should not forget the classic solution of placing a bottle inside the cistern if you do not have a water control system in your toilet.

After the bathroom, the kitchen is the room where most water is consumed and you can also take all sorts of measures here such as, for example, using a washing up bowl and reusing water when washing up or waiting until our dishwasher, preferably in the A category for energy consumption, is full before switching it on. This premise is also valid for the washing machine.

 
Related articles:

- The ideal temperature for each room

- Optimum house temperature