Energy efficiency in household appliances. What is energy labeling? Which one should we have in our household appliances? What annual savings could replace an inefficient appliance with a more efficient one?
Energy labeling is a system used to inform consumers about the energy consumption and energy efficiency of a product. It is commonly used for products that consume electricity, such as household appliances, lamps, air conditioning equipment, among others.
Generally, in Europe, the energy label goes from the letter A (dark green) indicating the highest level of energy efficiency, to the letter G (red) indicating the lowest level. In addition, as of March 2021, the energy label has been updated in the European Union to include classes A+, A++ and A+++, as many household appliances have improved their energy efficiency.
As for the annual savings that could result from replacing an inefficient appliance with a more efficient one, this will depend on the appliance in question, as well as the level of energy efficiency that can be achieved with the new appliance. However, in general, it is estimated that replacing an inefficient appliance with a more efficient one can result in significant savings on your electricity bill, especially if the appliance is used frequently
Energy saving lamps:
Energy saving light bulbs are compact fluorescent bulbs that work in a similar way to normal tube fluorescents, but with the difference that, in addition to their low consumption, they are cold, they consume between 50% and 80% % less energy.
- Its useful life → The useful life of these bulbs is 15,000 hours, which corresponds to 625 days.
- Its price → The price varies from €3 to €8 depending on its size and power.
- Savings → These bulbs consume between 50% and 80% of the rest of the bulbs.
Halogen bulbs:
These are bulbs similar to incandescents, but with halogen gas inside.
- Its useful life → The useful life of halogen bulbs is around 3000 hours, which would be 125 days.
- Its price → the price varies between €3 and €4 depending on power and brand.
Savings → this type of light bulbs have a high consumption, therefore, by replacing them with others, we save 21.5 kwh/year, which corresponds to €5.36 per year.
Fluorescent tubes:
- It is a tube-shaped low-pressure discharge lamp filled insed with mercury vapor.
- Its useful life → The useful life of fluorescent tubes is around 8000 hours, which would be 333 days.
- Its price → the price varies between €4 and €5 each bulb depending on its power.
- Savings → this type of light bulb has a consumption that depends on the watts. Without changing to another type of light bulb, we can save up to 0.033 kWh, which corresponds to €5.80 per year.
Incandescent Light Bulbs:
Incandescent light bulbs are those in which electricity passes directly through a filament until it heats up and ignites.
- Its useful life → The useful life of incandescent bulbs is around 1000 hours before burning out, which corresponds to 41 to 42 days.
- Its price → The price varies between €3.90 and €6.99 depending on the brand that sells it and its size.
- Savings → these types of bulbs have a very high energy consumption, so replacing them with more efficient ones will save up to 160.6 kWh/year, which would be around €33.45 per year.
- What orientation should a home have to better take advantage of sunlight hours?
Southern-facing homes receive the most amount of sunlight throughout the day. The radiant heat from the sun is most prevalent in homes that face south, which allows for the use of solar panels to generate solar energy, as well as contributing to a warmer interior and reduced use of artificial lighting. However, due to constant sun exposure, southern-facing homes may require more exterior maintenance. Additionally, certain cultures and climates also influence the orientation of homes.
- Could patios, skylights, translucent walls, or solar ducts be installed in your home or in the institute to better take advantage of sunlight hours?
Regarding my house, I can say that having solar panels installed and living in a place where there is mostly sunlight, I can affirm that the solar panels and the energy generated are very beneficial both for the environment and for me and my family. With this solar energy production, we save on expenses.
Regarding the school, I am aware that there are solar panels, which are currently not functioning. From my personal experience, I can assure that solar panels are beneficial. I believe that if those solar panels could be repaired, it would be a very positive thing for the school, as it would not only contribute to the environment and save costs, but also could generate revenue. Since the school only consumes energy during school hours, which end at 2:45 pm, the solar panels could generate energy during the remaining hours. As you
Now, our school is located in Spain, which is a southern European country, meaning that we usually have sunlight until 6:15 pm in winter and 8:30 pm in summer. Therefore, the energy generated during the remaining hours could be sold to companies.
Energy efficiency with home automation
Lighting control through presence sensors is a technology that is being increasingly used in buildings and homes to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. In some cases, lighting control based on presence sensors can lead to uncomfortable situations for people. For example, if the sensors are not properly calibrated, they can turn off the light in a room while people are still in the room. Therefore, it is important to consider not only the technical aspects of this technology, but also its impact on people and quality of life. It is important that the use of presence sensors is carried out in a careful and responsible manner, taking into account the needs and preferences of the people who use them.
Control of air conditioning in a room through the use of temperature sensors
The use of temperature sensors to control air conditioning in a room is a technology that can improve energy efficiency and reduce operating costs. In addition, it can improve the comfort of the occupants of the room by maintaining a constant and pleasant temperature. People may have different temperature preferences, and it's important to find a balance between comfort and energy efficiency. Therefore, it is important that the use of temperature sensors for air conditioning control is done carefully and responsibly, taking into account both technical aspects and the impact on people and the environment.
Summing up, the control of air conditioning through temperature sensors can be a useful technology to improve energy efficiency and the comfort of the occupants of a room, but its use must be responsible and careful to avoid negative environmental and social impacts.
Programmed closing of blinds
The programmed closing of blinds according to time or temperature is a technology that can be useful to improve energy efficiency in buildings and homes. By controlling the amount of sunlight that enters a space, blinds can help maintain a constant temperature and reduce energy consumption from the heating or cooling system.
For example, if the blinds close automatically at a time when people need natural light to work, study or do other activities, it can cause discomfort or stress.
It is also important to consider the environmental impact of using this technology. Therefore, it is important that the scheduled closing of shutters is carried out carefully and responsibly, taking into account both technical aspects and the impact on people and the environment. It is important to find a balance between energy efficiency and people's comfort, and consider sustainable alternatives such as the use of more sustainable materials and the combination of blinds with natural and efficient lighting systems.
Automatically starting an air conditioner one hour before the scheduled time can be a useful strategy to ensure that the desired temperature is reached at the scheduled time, especially if the space requires significant cooling. If the air conditioner is scheduled to come on at exactly the desired time, the space may not reach the desired temperature until after the scheduled time, which can be inconvenient or even energy inefficient. Turning on the air conditioner one hour before the scheduled time ensures that the space has enough time to cool down before the desired temperature is needed, which can improve the energy efficiency of the system and ensure the comfort of people in the room.