Make Easter more effective!

Society mistakenly believes that you need big long term investments to live energy-efficient and environment-friendly. Actually, everyone can start taking actions today and decrease their costs for energy at the same time by taking smart steps towards a sustainable future – starting with changing daily habits in the use of energy resources, efficient use of electric appliances, up to the construction of energy-efficient houses, use of smart technologies and other long-term solutions.

Spring is the right time to make changes. The clock has turned one hour forward and Easter is just around the corner. According to Baltic traditions, this is the victory of light over darkness and the moment when the day becomes ‘larger’ than night. It is the time to celebrate spring and spend time with relatives, friends, and to swing, acquiring inspiration for future daily activities. It can also be done in a more environmentally friendly way.

Specialists of the Elektrum Energy Efficiency Centre share their advice on how to make the holidays joyful and at the same time, environmentally friendly. Moreover, these energy efficiency tips will also be valuable in daily life, in order to run the household more efficiently and reduce the consumption of electricity, water and heat.

Effective egg colouring

• While preparing for one of the most important Easter rituals, remember to fill the pot only with the required amount of water for boiling eggs, not to the top.
• When boiling eggs on an electric hob, choose a pot with a thick base of suitable size. At the beginning, set it to the maximum temperature/mode, but when the water starts to boil, lower the temperature just enough to keep the water boiling. It is recommended to boil the eggs on a lower temperature to stop them from cracking.
• During cooking, place the lid on the pot, thus saving up to 30% energy.

Not only delicious, but also an energy efficiently cooked holiday meal

• If you wish to cook a bigger meal, the most effective way is to use the oven.
• Read the instruction manual of the oven to learn about the functions, if you haven’t already done that. We often use only a couple of them, but the newest models offer such functions as ‘warm air flow’ that offer the possibility to cook different meals on 2–3 levels (depending on the model), without mixing aromas, thus saving both time and energy.
• Carefully choose the cooking temperature – the higher the temperature, the higher energy consumption. At the same time, follow the instructions and specifics of the recipe to make the meal as intended.
• During cooking, try not open the oven doors often to avoid additional energy consumption and damaging the meal due to changes in the temperature.

Fresh air in the house

• Although the smell of food and warmth provides cosiness and comfort, remember to let some fresh air into the house. The most effective way is to ventilate the rooms correctly by opening the window fully for a short period, rather than leaving it on ventilation mode for long periods of time.
• If you are using heating devices, turn them off or set at the minimum level.

Breath in the spring outside

• Before going to absorb the energy of nature after egg fights with your loved ones, make sure that all electrical appliances at home are turned off. It is recommended to unplug from the power outlet such devices as TV, decoder, printer, computer, router, that way avoiding the electricity consumption on stand-by mode, which can make up to 10% of the total electricity consumption.
• To avoid the temptation to buy hot drinks and snacks at a gas station or a store, when taking a longer trip, make the coffee/tea and healthy snacks at home, saving money and enjoying a healthier meal at the same time. Put the food in transparent containers or jars for a better overview, and it will also be more convenient.
• When preparing hot drinks, fill the electric kettle only with the required amount of water (considering the size of the thermos or mug), saving both electricity and water.
• Evaluate the heating element of the kettle as well! Maybe it needs to be decalcified after the holidays, because even a 1 mm layer of calcification can increase the electricity consumption by up to 10%.
• When planning to wash the holiday clothes after celebrating Easter, evaluate the amount of laundry to be washed. Do not fill the washing machine too full, but don't run it half-empty either, and choose the appropriate temperature. For slightly dirty laundry 30 ℃ instead of 40 ℃ is enough, saving electricity up to 25%.

May the holidays be creative, delicious, healthy and thoughtful! Wishing you an energetic Easter!