Significant increase in heating energy consumption: How to reduce costs

Significant increase in heating energy consumption: How to reduce costs

According to a report by www.tagesschau.de,

The current consumption data from the energy service provider ista show that private households' consumption of heating energy, adjusted for weather conditions, has increased by twelve percent compared to the same period last year. This could lead to significantly higher heating bills for many households. According to ista boss Hagen Lessing, the increase in consumption can be attributed to the fact that consumers are lulled into the supposed security of lower energy prices, even though prices are still significantly higher than in the previous year.

Ista has also announced that they want to ensure more transparency regarding the heating behavior of Germans. The “Heiz-O-Meter” continuously evaluates current monthly data from around 350,000 households and uses this to determine real consumption nationwide. The data is also broken down by federal state and the 20 largest cities. This initiative could not only enable tenants to better understand their heating behavior, but also help politicians to act early to ensure security of supply.

The motivation to save energy could be increased through this transparency. Even small changes in heating behavior, such as lowering the room temperature by a few degrees, can have a significant impact on heating costs. According to Jens Krumnow, energy consultant at the Brandenburg Consumer Center, reducing the room temperature by four degrees saves almost a quarter of heating costs. He also emphasizes the importance of regularly checking the heating settings, as incorrect settings or factory settings can lead to unnecessary energy consumption.

It is important to note that ignorance often leads to unnecessarily high energy consumption. For example, incorrectly positioning the heater or setting the thermostat to the highest setting can lead to increased energy consumption. Such mistakes can be avoided through education and information.

Overall, the data suggests that consumers and politicians could be motivated to take active measures to save energy through the transparency of heating consumption data. Small changes in behavior could lead to significant savings in the long term while also contributing to environmental protection.