In 2012, VAT in the Netherlands went to 21% and most households also use more and more electricity. For example, the bill of one of the SMTS volonteers was in 2012 higher than expected. Reason for SMTS to look where savings could be achieved.
Measuring
It is advisable to measure the electricity yourself. This is for example possible with the Youless energy meter (http://www.youless.nl)
SMTS has looked at what energy is like at different times of the day and what happens when a certain device is turned on. Is the power consumption really low at 5:00 am? After that, a number of measures can be taken, we distinguish the measures into three groups:
- simple measures: they cost little and are easy to do
- a little more work: the measures take some time and some money
- more work: measures that cost a little more time and money
Very complicated measures, such as solar panels, have been deliberately kept out of this document.
Simple measures:
- use the washing/drying machine as economical as possible
- turn off the computer(s) at night
- turn off monitor(s) at night
- use one clock radio
Measures with a little more work:
- use LED lamps
- set for example a pond pump on a timer (at night is not necessary)
- turn off extra computer equipment at night
- set energy measures on equipment (some internet routers have this)
- let e-mail arrive on the mobile or tablet in copy and then turn off the computer more often
Measures with more work:
- install a system with switches on sockets (for example KlikAanKlikUit) and always switch off all equipment that is not needed