We may have forgotten it a little too quickly, but energy, whatever it is, is a precious resource. Recent events have reminded us of this and our habits must change.

Once your private jet has been swapped for a bicycle, we offer you 5 steps to save energy. And therefore money.

Stop watching

We tend to believe that a device in “sleep” mode does not consume energy. This is obviously false.

Not turning off your television completely uses more electricity than you might imagine. A computer left in “sleep mode” will see its battery wear out much more quickly; it will therefore be necessary to change it more often (with lithium extraction which consumes a lot of water and pollutes the soil).

It's the same thing for all other audiovisual and IT equipment, cooking appliances, household appliances... we don't often think about them but they consume just as much.

So remember to take the right actions: turn off your devices once you no longer use them, use multiple sockets with switches to turn off several devices directly without having to unplug them one by one!

Turning off devices on standby will allow you to save up to 10% per year on your electricity bill!

Choose “Eco” programs for your household appliances

The famous “Eco” program on the washing machine or dishwasher that we tend to neglect because of prejudices: it will not wash properly, the water is not hot enough to overcome all traces and dirt are a marketing subterfuge...

Imagine that these are just preconceived ideas. Because yes, the “Eco” programs use a little less hot water but it remains very effective for washing your clothes or plates.

If you choose the “Eco” program, the wash cycle time is longer than normal because the water used is heated slowly. Because it is the rapid heating that actually consumes the most energy and not the duration of the cycle.

Good to know: for average use, using the “Eco” programs can save you up to €35 per year!

Cover your pots or pans when cooking

And yes ! It's a detail that we tend to forget and yet it has a real impact.

In putting a lid on your pot, the pressure and heat inside builds faster thanks to the steam that remains trapped. The cooking time of the food is thus reduced, which allows you to reduce your gas or electricity consumption.

Good to know: according to Ademe, by putting a lid on the pans, you consume much less energy. The saving is 30% for stewed foods and this can go up to 70% for liquids.

Limit the use of air conditioning

To limit the use of your air conditioner during extreme heat, there are a few simple steps you can take to help you gain a few degrees of freshness:

• Ventilate all rooms at the start of the day to benefit from morning freshness.
• Close shutters, blinds and windows after ventilation to maintain maximum freshness.
• Don't open the windows in the afternoon thinking that maybe it will be cooler. All the freshness that you have managed to keep until then will escape.
• Hydrate yourself regularly with fresh water.
• Air out your rooms at the end of the day when it is cooler.
• And if by any chance you are building a house, avoid 14 meter long bay windows because it gets hot in summer...

Finally, if you want to take full advantage of your air conditioner without causing excess energy consumption, it is recommended not to exceed the 8°C difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures.

Lower the temperature of your heating

It is recommended to maintain the temperature of the main rooms at 19°C (living room, dining room) and around 17°C in rooms that are less busy (bathrooms, etc.).

In the event of absence, we would tend to think that turning off the heating would save us some money. Not really actually. Keeping a little heat in the accommodation will allow us to heat much less when we return to reach the desired temperatures. So turn down the heating yes, turn it off no.

On the other hand, remember to turn off the heating when you open your windows, it is completely useless to leave it running while a window is open.

Furthermore, remember to ventilate your rooms well every day. This will help dry the air and dry air is easier to heat than humid air.

Little tip to avoid drafts. If your windows are poorly insulated and let outside air in, consider hanging thick curtains in winter. These will act as a windbreaker and prevent the cold from entering.

Finally, it is important to maintain your heaters to maximize their efficiency. Dust them regularly, for water radiators, remember to purge them regularly and carry out annual maintenance on your boilers if you have them.

Good to know: 1 degree less equals 7% heating savings!