Saving Energy at Home: Five Often-Overlooked Household Tips

Do Not Leave Supplementary Electric Heating Running Unnecessarily

Electric towel radiators, heating mats and bathroom underfloor heating often appear harmless. However, their long operating times can result in considerable costs. A 500-watt appliance running for six hours a day consumes approximately 1,095 kilowatt-hours per year. At an electricity price of 37 cents per kilowatt-hour, this amounts to around €405.

Limiting the operating time to two hours with a timer reduces the cost in this example to approximately €135—an annual saving of around €270.

Look Beyond Standby Mode to Networked Standby

With modern devices, the small standby light is often not the real problem. Games consoles, smart speakers, receivers and other connected devices can remain active in the background. The standard EU limit of 0.5 watts for standby mode does not automatically apply to network-enabled devices.

A plug-in energy monitor can therefore be worthwhile. An unnoticed continuous power draw of ten watts adds up to approximately 88 kilowatt-hours, or €32 per year.

Check Refrigerator Temperatures with a Thermometer

The position of the temperature dial says little about the actual temperature. In the upper refrigerator compartment, seven degrees Celsius is generally sufficient. According to the German consumer advice service, every degree colder increases electricity consumption by approximately six per cent.

Adjusting a refrigerator from five to seven degrees can reduce its consumption by roughly ten to twelve per cent. With annual consumption of 150 to 200 kilowatt-hours, this corresponds to approximately €6 to €9.

A one-centimetre-thick layer of ice in the freezer compartment increases consumption by a further ten to 15 per cent. At 200 kilowatt-hours, defrosting can save an additional €7 to €11 per year.

Reconsider the Need for a Second Refrigerator

An old refrigerator in the basement is often used only for drinks, celebrations or a small quantity of food, yet it runs throughout the entire year. According to the German Environment Agency, the electricity costs of a refrigerator amount to approximately €20 to €80 per year, depending on its model and age.

When the additional appliance is used only occasionally, switching it off completely is usually more sensible than keeping it running while almost empty.

Insulate Exposed Heating Pipes

In basements and unheated utility rooms, uninsulated heating pipes release some of their heat before it reaches the living areas. Pipe-insulation sleeves from a DIY store can usually be fitted to easily accessible pipes with relatively little effort.

According to the German consumer advice service, this can save up to €20 per metre of pipe each year. With five metres of uninsulated piping, the calculated annual saving can therefore reach €100, meaning that the measure may pay for itself within the first year. In rented properties, the work should be agreed with the landlord beforehand.

No single measure will fundamentally transform a household energy bill. When several of these situations occur together, however, the savings can add up to several hundred euros per year. The decisive factor is therefore not knowing as many general energy-saving tips as possible, but identifying the appliances and systems in your own home that consume energy continuously.

The euro amounts are rounded examples. They are based on an average household electricity price of 37 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2026. Actual costs depend on the tariff, appliance and duration of use.

Sources: BDEW-Strompreisanalyse 2026; Verbraucherzentrale: „Strom sparen im Haushalt“, „So finden Sie den passenden Kühlschrank“ und „Heizung: 10 einfache Tipps zum Heizkosten sparen“; Umweltbundesamt: „Kühlschrank: Mit kleinen Tipps unnötigen Stromverbrauch vermeiden“.