Energy saving tips

Saving on your heating bill is not only good for the environment, but it can also save you money. It is good to know that your bill consists of two parts: the fixed costs and the variable costs.

The fixed costs are the same every month. You cannot save on those costs. You can on the variable costs. Those are the costs for your heat consumption. How much you can save depends on how much you consume. Here are a few saving tips.

Turn thermostat (automatically) low

Set the thermostat to 15 degrees at least one hour before going to bed. The heat will linger in your house for a while. This saves you another hour on heating costs. If your thermostat has a clock, set the temperature to drop automatically in the evening. If you have to lower it manually, set an alarm every day so you don’t forget.
Don’t switch on the heating if you’re out all day. It’s a waste of energy! In the morning, leave the thermostat at 15 degrees.

Windows and doors: open or closed?

Only heat the room you’ll be staying in for a long time and keep interior doors closed as much as possible. Warm air escapes mainly at the door to the hallway and through the stairwell.
Fresh, dry air heats up easier and faster than the air that is already in the house. Therefore, open the windows for a few minutes every day. This causes some heat loss, but the house will heat up faster afterwards. Do not leave windows/doors open unnecessarily during the day.

Icoon van openslaande ramen voor ventilatie van een woning

Heat of the sun: make use of it!

If the sun is shining, open the curtains and take advantage of the sun’s heat. This easily provides a few degrees of free heat in your house.

Icoon van een huis waarbij gebruik wordt gemaak van thermische zonne-energie, pv- of pvt-panelen

Keep the heat inside

Close the curtains at night to keep the heat in. Thick curtains and insulating pleated curtains yield the biggest savings. If your curtains are hanging in front of the radiator, make them shorter so the heat can enter the room properly.
Look around the room. If there’s any furniture or decorations in front of the radiators, remove them to prevent heat loss.

Other tips

See what you can adjust at home to save costs. Often, small investments quickly yield a saving. Consider using a water-saving shower head; stretch frame foil in front of (single-glazed) windows or stick radiator foil between the radiator and the outside wall.