How to save resources and reduce bills: recommendations for reducing water and electricity costs – Family, well-being

The annual study on life at home* found that for almost a third of the Latvian population, when thinking about the ideal home, it is essential that it not only be a haven of peace and a place to be yourself, but also that it is possible to save money while managing the home. The good news is that you don’t have to change your home to save. Reducing water and energy consumption and bills is possible with a few simple techniques.

“The results of IKEA’s annual study “Life at home” show that 27% of Latvian residents believe that the ideal home is one that also promotes the formation of more sustainable habits. A small change in your habits can help improve your daily life at home for today and the future, as well as reduce your bills. The most effective solutions for saving resources at home are those that are easy to implement, do not require large financial investments and do not significantly affect the lifestyle,” says Dariuss Rimkus, head of IKEA’s interior design department.

How to reduce water consumption

The interior designer emphasizes that only 3% of the world’s water supply is fresh water. Therefore, saving water makes sense not only from a financial point of view, but also from an ecological point of view. Today, there are modern solutions that can help save water at home. For example, a faucet with a built-in aerator reduces water flow by up to 50% without reducing pressure. On the other hand, when you have to wait until the warm water is sufficiently heated, you can not let it go down the drain, but collect it in a bucket or watering can and later use it for watering houseplants.

To reduce water consumption when washing hands or dishes, the faucet can be equipped with a spray nozzle. It is easy to install, the intensity of the flow can be changed from a stronger jet to a spray of drops, and with such a nozzle it is possible to significantly save water. For example, it is recommended to use the spray mode for washing hands and dishes, and a stronger jet for filling larger pots for cooking.

D. Rimkus explains: “This nozzle can reduce the flow rate to 0.25 l per minute in spray mode, and to 1.9 l per minute in jet mode. The consumption of a normal water tap is about 5.7 l per minute. In short, the nozzle can reduce consumption by up to 95% in spray mode and 66% in jet mode.

“In a typical household, a lot of water can be saved every day by also washing vegetables in a bowl or partially filled sink instead of running water. Leftover water can be used to water houseplants. It is also better to use a bowl for washing dishes, so as not to waste water unnecessarily – when washing dishes in running water, the consumption is very high.”

How to save electricity

One of the easiest ways to save electricity at home is to replace incandescent bulbs with more energy-efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs. It’s very simple, but can reduce electricity consumption by up to 85%, and LED bulbs also last up to 20 times longer than conventional ones. In the relaxation area in the living room, as well as in the bedroom, you can use cozy LED lighting, which can be adjusted with a remote control and turned off even without getting up.

“Another simple way to save electricity is to put a lid on the dishes while cooking, as it can save up to 30% of energy. You should also make sure that pots and pans fit the size of the cooking surface. A pan that is too small causes heat leakage, which can increase energy consumption by as much as 20%. What’s more, it is known that steaming requires less water, and vegetables prepared in this way retain more nutrients. But did you know about vaporizers? It can save even more energy and time at the same time!”

D. Rimkus reminds that various unused devices, such as a phone charger left in the socket, can increase household electricity consumption by as much as 7%, so disconnecting unused devices from electricity is also a way to reduce the bill a little.

“Those who would like to save money on batteries used for things like remote controls, toys and other everyday items can buy and use rechargeable batteries that can be charged up to 500 times. With such batteries, you can also save time, because disposable batteries must always be disposed of in special places intended for this purpose, which are not always right next to the house. With rechargeable batteries, this distance should rarely be measured.”

*About the research

The quantitative study was carried out by the international research and data analysis group YouGov on behalf of IKEA Grup. The survey was conducted between May 2023 and June 2023 online. 1005 respondents took part in the survey.

IKEA Group