Which category do you fall into: thrifty or a spendthrift?

We propose you take a test: choose one of the options for each of the following questions. Do you dare to discover into which category you fall?

Question 1

At what temperature do you usually have your heating or air conditioning?

A) I always have the house at about 19ºC, although if I go out I do turn the thermostat down. I ventilate the house in the morning for about 10 minutes. As soon as the house is ventilated, I close the windows. I also usually make sure my heating or air conditioning equipment is properly maintained and working properly.

B) In the summer I turn the air conditioning to maximum and in the winter I also program the heating to maximum. There are times when I even have to leave the windows open due to the heat generated. As long as my appliances work, I don't worry about maintenance.

Question 2

Is your home well insulated?

A) I've always made sure any window and door slits are covered with draught excluders, silicone or putty. When I had the chance, I decided to change my windows and doors to improve the exterior enclosures, with suitable glass and thermal break profiles.

B) I have never worried or have any intention of insulating my home, it doesn't matter that cold, wind or heat sneaks through the gaps in the windows: I just have to turn up the air conditioning or heating and problem solved.

Question 3

When you take a shower, at what temperature do you take it?

A) I have a single-lever tap with temperature control and I always set it between 30ºC and 35ºC. I also try to control water consumption with energy-efficient showerheads. I have flow reducers installed in other taps. I have opted for a hot water storage tank over other systems, such as instantaneous hot water or tankless systems.

B) I prefer to have a bath: I fill the bathtub with very hot water and wait until it is at the temperature I like it.

Question 4

What lights do you have in your home?

A) I try to make the most of natural light, I even have my ceilings and walls painted in light colours. My lamps all have LED bulbs and dimmers, to adapt the light as needed. In my residents' community, motion sensing lights have been installed.

B) I like to have the lights in the house on all the time, even if I'm not in a room. I still have old bulbs.

Question 5

Do you do anything to avoid phantom power?

A) I have power strips that I activate and deactivate depending on whether I need to use a device or not.

B) I don't know what phantom power is, I always have everything plugged in just in case.

Question 6

How do you wash your clothes?

A) I do the laundry when I have enough clothes to fill the capacity of my washing machine. I usually use the economy program, at a low temperature and I prioritise the spin cycle over using the tumble dryer. I follow the instructions for use and maintenance of the washing machine, opting to repair whenever possible. When I had to buy a new washing machine I opted for one with the highest energy efficiency rating and I made sure that the seller took the old washing machine to recycle it.

B) I put the washing machine on when I feel like it: sometimes with just a few clothes and other times, I fill it too much. I choose a hot and non-spin program because the clothes go straight into the tumble dryer. I do not worry much about maintenance and when it has broken down, I have bought another washing machine straightaway without paying attention to the energy efficiency rating. I left the old washing machine on the street.

Question 7

How often do you use your hob, microwave and oven?

A) I prioritise use of the microwave, followed by the pressure cooker, the induction hob and the oven last of all. I always try to take advantage of residual heat.

B) I use the oven frequently, even if just to heat or thaw a small meal.

Question 8

How do you get around your city?

A) I try to use public transport as much as possible. Other times I try to car share or car pool with people I know or with strangers . When the distance allows, I choose to go on foot or use zero-emission modes of transport, such as scooters or electric bicycles.

B) I drive my fossil fuel car everywhere.

It's time to find out whether you're thrifty or a spendthrift.

If most of your answers are A: you are super thrifty. You pay attention to every detail to try to spend just the right amount, and you know that it makes a difference to the environment and your bank balance.

If most of your answers are B: you are a spendthrift, but do not worry, because in our blog we give you some tips so that you can change and become more thrifty.

Keep up-to-date with InfoEnergía

With our exclusive InfoEnergía service, you will always know how much electricity you are consuming at home and be able to save on your bills as a result of the customised tips on energy efficiency that InfoEnergía provides.

The top 5 data that are available through InfoEnergía:

• Your current consumption compared to previous periods.
• You will knowing which domestic appliances consume more in your home and the total balance for your consumption.
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• You get customised tips that will help you reduce consumption based on your lifestyle and equipment (boiler, cooker, electric car, etc.)
• You receive comparisons between your consumption and the consumption made by other profiles similar to yours in the neighbouring area.