10 ideas to start September in savings mode

1. Reorganise your study or work-from-home area so that it is comfortable, healthy, and energy-efficient.
2. Check that your Wi-Fi coverage offers good quality in the areas of the house where you will use the internet most.
3. Tune up your IT equipment, updating or deleting applications that might slow it down or increase its electricity consumption.
4. Don't wait for the cold weather to check that your heating works perfectly.
5. Check the thermal insulation of your home in case your doors or windows need any improvements.
6. Take the opportunity to check the condition of your washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge, and dishwasher, carrying out preventive maintenance if necessary.
7. If it is no longer hot, unplug the air conditioning and fans from the mains to prevent them from drawing vampire power for the rest of the year.
8. Thoroughly clean the appliances you use for cooking, including the extractor hood, to improve their performance and reduce their electricity consumption.
9. Ensure all plug sockets, extension leads, lamps, and chargers are in good condition, replacing any that could cause faults in the future.
10. Calculate the power of the electrical appliances you will be using throughout the year, ensuring it makes sense with your contracted power capacity.

How to set up a comfortable and efficient study area

The key lies in lighting and device usage. September means the return of coursework, exams, and watching videos to answer questions. It also brings a return to working from home, with its online meetings and long hours in front of the screen. It is a time for concentration that deserves an appropriate space, designed to look after your back, your eyesight, and, of course, your electricity bill:

Make the most of natural light

You've kept the sun out of the house during the hottest months, but it is time to welcome it back in. Choose a workspace that gets plenty of outdoor light, and you will have healthy, free lighting for most of the day.

Use artificial lighting correctly

LED bulbs use less electricity than conventional ones, provide lighting that is closer to natural light and, with dimmable models, allow you to adjust the intensity to suit every moment. 

However, good lighting quality also depends on quantity: avoid over-lighting the office and position lamps to the side of the desk. This will help you avoid glare, uncomfortable reflections, and unnecessary energy consumption.

Reduce the consumption of computers and other devices

Tablets, laptops, mobile phones, and desktop computers are tools we combine to study or do our jobs. Cables pile up, plug sockets are filled with extension leads and, without realising it, we end up turning the office into just another appliance.

The solution is simple: turn off what you aren't using. Unplug all devices from the mains when you log off. This prevents the small consumption of appliances on standby and plugged-in chargers, which over the school year ends up reducing their lifespan and increasing your electricity bill.

Boost Wi-Fi coverage in your study area

First, check whether your contracted broadband speed will cover the whole family's needs. If several people will be connected at once, especially if video calls or online videos coincide, run a test to see if you need a better plan.

Also, bear in mind that the position of your router affects coverage. Try to place it somewhere in the house as close to the workspace as possible, ensuring there aren't too many walls or obstacles between the router and your devices. This can save you money on buying and running Wi-Fi boosters to enhance the signal.

How to save energy with a household in full swing

September changes how we use our homes and our energy. With the return to school, the end of the holidays, and the last days of summer heat, this shift in consumption will be noticeable in your lighting, washing machine, dishwasher, kitchen appliances, hot water, and climate control. What can we do to ensure it isn't noticeable on the electricity bill too?

Lighting: how to cut your lighting costs

Higher lighting costs are one of the first signs of heading back to school. The days are getting shorter, the family is spread across the house, and study hours stretch late into the night. Proper management of sunlight, along with the use of energy-efficient LED bulbs and the always-good habit of turning off the light when you leave a room, are the best ideas for accumulating daily savings.

Back to the dishwasher and washing machine

More breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at home. More uniforms and work clothes that can't wait. If the dishwasher and washing machine are going to be running at full tilt, one of the best ways to save is to run them with a full load. Whenever possible, wait until they are full and use the eco programme for more efficient consumption. When you are in a rush, choose half-load programmes. And, if your electricity tariff features time-of-use pricing, opt for off-peak hours and weekends to save money.

Cooking without overspending

The other main players in the kitchen are the hob, the electric oven, the air fryer, the microwave, the food processor, and small appliances like blenders, choppers, and juicers. The best recipe for saving while cooking is to avoid using the most energy-hungry appliances if you can achieve the same result with one that uses less electricity.

The fridge deserves a special mention. Running day and night, it accounts for the bulk of consumption in the kitchen and, often, the entire household. That is why it is advisable to have a fridge with a C, B, or A energy efficiency label.

Hot water and climate control

If you have an electric boiler for your domestic hot water (DHW) or a combined air conditioning and heat pump unit, September is the best month to tune them up.

Make sure the boiler works perfectly, with no heat leaks and enough capacity for the increase in showers that the new school term brings.

And, before the summer heat gives way to the autumn chill (and your air conditioner switches to heating mode), clean the filters thoroughly and check that it is in perfect condition to perform both jobs.

Why does your electricity consumption increase in September?

The change in weather and the different way we use our homes – with the return to school, remote working, and new family routines – are the main reasons why electricity consumption in September is higher than during the summer holidays.

In this table, we can see at a glance what increases consumption the most and how to minimise it on your electricity bill:

Energy, broadband, and mobile: the three tariffs you should review

As we've seen, September is a month of changes. New faces at school, new plans at work and, alongside all that, things we can change to improve our homes and our pockets. Three of these are the supplies we will use most until next summer arrives: electricity, broadband, and mobile.

Does your electricity tariff still fit your new routine?

The answer lies in asking yourself another question: When and how much will you be using your most energy-hungry appliances? This might mean your ideal tariff is different from the one you have right now. For example:

• If, with the new term and extracurricular activities, you won't spend a single minute at home on bank holidays and weekends, and it won't be easy to choose when to run the washing machine or dishwasher, stable pricing tariffs like Conecta Luz or Luz 24h Online will help you stop worrying about daily fluctuations in electricity costs.
• If, on the other hand, you will be using quite a few evenings and bank holidays to study, work from home, or prep the next day's meals, you could benefit from the off-peak bands of time-of-use tariffs like Conecta 3 Periodos, which are the most affordable times of the day and week.

Is your broadband and mobile tariff ready for the new school year?

We increasingly study and work online, and having good coverage at home and on your mobile has become essential to do so without any hiccups.

September is ideal for checking whether your contract includes everything you need and, equally importantly, how much you are paying for it. Just like with your electricity tariff, checking a few details might uncover new opportunities to save:

• Calculate how many devices will use the router at the same time: computers, tablets, mobile phones, TVs, consoles, and other connected devices.
• Check the coverage throughout the house, especially in the study and work-from-home area. For example, try streaming a video from several devices at once to confirm they play correctly on all of them.
• Consider whether the speed (Mbps) and the amount of data (GB) you can consume per month align with your actual usage.
• Compare the other details of your current broadband and mobile tariff: contract tie-ins, mobile data and call limits, connection type (4G/5G/5G+), or the television and entertainment channels included.
• Consider the possibility of bundling your contract with other services like electricity or gas. For instance, signing up for Orange through Endesa allows you to save up to €6 a month on your energy bills, and get even more discounts with Endesa PARA TI.

Frequently asked questions about going back to school and saving at home

Which appliances consume the most in September?

IT equipment, the washing machine and dishwasher, kitchen appliances, and home lighting are the items that usually see the biggest increase in consumption when returning to a routine.

How can I save electricity when going back to school?

Set up your study area to make the most of natural light and the sun's heat, unplug devices and chargers you aren't using, take advantage of off-peak hours if you have a time-of-use tariff, and maintain your home's most important appliances.

How do you know how much electricity you consume?

To get a general idea, divide the power (W) of each appliance by 1,000, multiply the result (kWh) by the number of hours you have it on, and add up all the appliances. If you want to be more precise, you can install plug-in energy monitors or check your consumption breakdown in the Endesa Customer Area.

How do you calculate the power capacity you will need this school year?

A quick and easy way to find out what power capacity will cover all your needs without overpaying is to use a power calculator. In Endesa's online calculator, we guide you step by step so you can include all the appliances and devices you think you'll be using at the same time at home.

What is the difference between time-of-use tariffs and stable pricing tariffs?

With time-of-use tariffs, the price of electricity varies across off-peak (usually the most affordable), shoulder (an intermediate price), and peak (generally the highest price) hours and days. With stable pricing tariffs, you get the exact same price 24 hours a day, every day.

Can you save money by bundling broadband and mobile contracts with energy contracts?

Yes. One example is the Orange tariffs for Endesa customers, which combine benefits for broadband, mobile, and TV with discounts on your electricity or gas bills and points for the Endesa PARA TI programme, which can be redeemed for further savings.