Your electricity bill deserves a break too

Multiple heatwaves, a football tournament that ended in celebration, a historic solar eclipse, and many hours enjoying home, a second residence, or both. This summer has had it all. And, through almost all of it, one thing has been creeping up on us: the electricity bill.

Now that August is starting to give way to the back-to-school season and September routines, it is a great time to give your consumption a rest. How do you achieve this? If you are going away for a few days, getting the house ready to reduce invisible expenses. And if you are already back, getting it ready for the months ahead.

For those heading off: what to unplug before leaving for the holidays

Even if you don't use them while you are on holiday, the appliances left at home continue to consume a small amount of energy by remaining plugged into the mains. 

This is known as vampire power, which the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE) calculates at up to 11% of a home's total electricity consumption. Money that you can save by knowing that not everything that seems to be switched off actually is: televisions, stereos, games consoles, PCs, screens, chargers, and other devices left on standby. Therefore, unplugging them before you leave is the best way to reduce costs.

But there are two appliances that do not fall into this category, or at least not always, and which require you to think about whether flipping the main switch is the best idea: the fridge and solar panels.

When to unplug the fridge?

Switched on 24 hours a day all year round, the fridge's electricity consumption accounts for a significant portion of the electricity bill. This is a good reason to give it a rest when the house is empty, but that depends on whether the fridge will also be left completely empty:

• Keep the fridge switched on if you are only going away for a few days, as the savings you might achieve will not make up for the electricity consumption of the compressor when it restarts.
• Switch it off if you are going to be away for more than 3 or 4 days. In this case, it is advisable to plan your grocery shopping the week before so you leave the fridge completely empty. Remember to leave the door slightly open once unplugged to prevent bad odours from building up.

And, for fridges that have an ice maker or a cold water dispenser, it is important to shut off the water valve once the appliance is unplugged. This will reduce the risk of leaks or overpressure that could damage the system.

Can you cut the power if you have solar panels?

In this case, the answer is a resounding NO. Self-consumption systems with solar panels need to remain connected to the electricity grid so that the inverter and, if applicable, the batteries continue to function.

This way, the system remains operational even when you are not at home, generating its own energy and, if you have a feed-in compensation tariff, generating income by feeding surplus energy back into the grid.

Therefore, instead of flipping the main switch on the consumer unit, it is preferable to turn off the individual switches that supply the rest of the house, leaving the one dedicated to the solar energy system switched on.

The forgotten appliance and the biggest consumer: turn off your electric immersion heater

Many homes, whether they are primary or secondary residences, use electric immersion heaters to heat water. If this is your case, it will help to know that they can generate a consumption that is as unnecessary as it is high when left on: no less than 7.4% of the household's annual expenditure.

During the holidays, that percentage can rise to 25% of the electricity consumption of an empty house, which makes it highly advisable to unplug the heater before walking out the door.

For those returning: how to prepare the house for the new school year

If you are already home, the second half of August also offers a great opportunity to save. The secret is to anticipate the return to routine, the hours of studying and working from home, and the changes in pace that will soon arrive.

Among all the measures you can apply, perhaps the most significant is how to better manage lighting, to use less electricity while setting up a healthier workspace:

• Choose a room well-lit by sunlight and position the desk perpendicular to the windows. This will give you natural lighting that is good for your eyes and, at the same time, saves money on your electricity bill.
• Use LED bulbs for artificial lighting when natural light is not enough. Due to their lifespan, light quality, and low consumption, they are an increasingly common alternative to conventional bulbs.
• Avoid unnecessary electricity waste in the office: unplug all chargers, laptops, screens, mobiles, and other devices that you are not using or charging at that moment from the mains.

How to reduce consumption with the washing machine and dishwasher at full capacity

Between the final washes of holiday clothes and getting uniforms, sports kits, and work suits ready, the last few days of August tend to put our washing machine to the test. The dishwasher too, with more plates and cutlery to clean, and less time available between meals.

That is why it is worth doing a quick check that both appliances are working perfectly before you start needing them at full capacity:

• Check that the cables are correctly plugged in and in good condition, as well as the water intakes and drainage pipes.
• Check the correct operation of the appliances and carry out any necessary maintenance or repairs to prevent major failures with intensive use.

Additionally, try to run the dishwasher and washing machine with a full load or, if absolutely necessary, select half-load programmes to minimise extra electricity and water consumption.

And if you have a time-of-use tariff, take advantage of it to use these appliances during the off-peak hours each day and at weekends. This way, their high electricity consumption will be offset by lower energy prices.

Adapt the air conditioning to the last days and nights of August

Although it is harder to tell each year, the last few weeks of August usually bring cooler weather during the nights. A sign that air conditioning will soon be less necessary, and that it would be wise to start getting the heating ready for the future.

How to use air conditioning less and more efficiently

If temperatures become milder, it will be a good time to reduce the use of air conditioning and replace it with a fan, which consumes between 10 and 20 times less energy, or with natural draughts, which are free. These are some tips that will also help you save:

• On cooler days, open the windows to ventilate the house with fresh air.
• If you turn on the air conditioning, avoid setting it below 24ºC. Every degree below that temperature entails about 8% more expense.
• By combining the air conditioning with a fan, you can keep the house cool for longer and save between 20% and 30% on climate control consumption.
• Prioritise the use of the eco mode and the air conditioner's scheduling function, maintaining a suitable temperature without multiplying the cost.

How to prepare the heating for the new school year

Believe it or not, autumn will eventually arrive. And we will go from cooling the house to heating it. You now have the perfect few weeks ahead to get everything ready, with enough time to avoid catching the first colds of the season.

And if your heating runs on electricity, whether through inverter air conditioning models (heat pump), aerothermal energy, or underfloor heating, you can take note of a few tips so that the arrival of the cold does not cause its impact on your bill to skyrocket:

• Check that the generators, radiators, and other components of the heating system are working properly.
• Remember to maintain a comfortable, but not excessively high, temperature when you use the heating: similarly to what happens with air conditioning, every degree you turn the electric heater up above 26ºC means a significant leap in electricity expenditure.
• Programme the hours and degrees to enjoy a stable temperature, avoiding straining the appliance. Apps that allow you to manage the system from your mobile are a great help in this regard.