• Before buying a new TV, please read the energy label carefully.
• It is equally important to consider your TV viewing habits – either it will be switched on in the evening to watch news, soaps and films, or it will be used by a cinema fan, who is particularly interested in high quality. In the first case, the comparison of different modern TV screens will not make a significant difference; however, if high quality is important, it is worth investing and getting quality in the long run.
• One of the most important factors in choosing a TV is the type of screen. We have summarised the main advantages and disadvantages of different screen types.

What else should be taken into consideration?

• The size of the TV screen also determines the electricity consumption, therefore you need to select a screen, the size of which suits the room. To calculate the optimum diagonal size of a TV screen in centimetres, the distance from the viewer’s position to the screen must be divided by three.
• We recommend choosing a TV with a built-in ambient light sensor, as this will automatically adjust the screen to the optimum brightness in a dark room, saving 30–50% on electricity.
• If you often forget to turn off the TV when it’s not being actively watched, or if you use it to listen to digital radio, you should choose a TV model that has a built-in occupancy sensor (the screen is automatically turned off when no one is near the TV) or a screen-off function, thus reducing your overall electricity consumption.

• The brighter the screen, the more electricity it consumes. The brightness of the screen must be adjusted to the level of ambient light: in a well-lit room the screen brightness should be increased, while in a dark room it should be decreased.
• It is advisable to place the TV in a spot where the screen is not directly exposed to the sun.
• All devices that can be switched on with a remote control constantly consume small amounts of electricity in standby mode. We recommend switching the TV off completely when it’s not in use. An extension cord with an on/off switch can help here.
• To reduce electricity consumption, select "Optimal", "Movies" or "Cinema" in the TV image settings.
• If your home doesn’t have a lightning and surge protection system, you must unplug your TV, set-top box and other electrical appliances during a thunderstorm.
• It is not advisable to leave the TV on while performing other activities at the same time, with the TV as background noise. Not only does this affect the productivity of the work done but it is also reflected in your electricity bill.
• If you often forget to turn off the TV or if you find yourself dozing off, we recommend that you set a time, upon the expiry of which the TV automatically switches off in your TV settings.

• The TV screen should not be cleaned with chemical cleaners or wet sponges. A dry cloth of microfibre fabric designed for cleaning monitors must be used instead.

• It is recommended to install a ceiling lamp as the general light source, which is used as the main source of room lighting. This lamp should preferably be equipped with a dimmer, to ensure that the lighting can be adjusted to suit your specific needs.
• How do I know if an LED bulb has a dimming function? This is indicated on the bulb packaging by a dimmer or light regulator pictogram. If it is crossed out, the bulb cannot be connected to the dimmer.
• The colour of the light can have a psychological effect on productivity – bluish light stimulates energy, while warm white light creates a feeling of relaxation and calm. The most suitable lighting for residential lighting is a bulb with a warm white light colour that complies with 2700–3200 K (Kelvin degrees).
• The lighting should be directed to the area where it is most needed; furthermore, it should be possible to make adjustments from a brighter to a warmer colour.
• It is desirable to create several areas in the living room with different light, or to install light dimmers in each area.

• To avoid wasting electricity on lighting, natural light must be used to the fullest by choosing curtains that are as transparent as possible so that you do not have to switch on light bulbs during daylight hours.
• Inspired by the Danish lifestyle hygge (hyoo-guh), which describes a feeling of cosiness, warmth and comfort at home, we recommend using several luminaires with warm light (1800–2700 K) that is reminiscent of a sunset or the glow of a cosy campfire.
• The further the luminaire is from the floor or table top, the more the light emitted by the bulb is dispersed; therefore, rooms with high ceilings need a light source with higher luminous flux, or more lumens (lm).
• Wall lamps, floor lamps or desk lamps are recommended for reading, doing crafts, studying and working on the computer.
• White colour LED lighting (3200–4000 K) is more suitable for productivity and performance in work areas.

You will find more useful information on lighting here.

• The most important things to consider are the size of the area the appliance is designed to cover, its performance and, consequently, electricity consumption, as well as the noise level it generates. The sound or noise level of these devices ranges from 25 to 50 dB.
• You are also advised to assess the water consumption and the size of the water tank – the ratio between them determines the time of humidifier operation until the next refilling of the tank (usually 10–15 h).
• If you plan to use the humidifier in several rooms, the device should be as light as possible to ensure that it is easy to move.

There are basically three types of humidifiers:

• Ultrasonic humidifiers with both hot and cold steam systems are available for purchase. With the use of a hot steam system, the water is heated to about 80 degrees, then it is turned into mist, and when it reaches the humidifier opening, the steam is about 40 degrees hot, which is a pleasant level of heat that cannot cause scalds. In a cold steam system, on the other hand, the water is not heated and is immediately turned into a moist mist. Some models also offer the option of using the device as an essential oil diffuser.
• Cold steam humidifiers are generally cheaper, easier to handle and often suitable for larger rooms. However, they are often louder, as well.
• Meanwhile, hot steam humidifiers are quieter, they can increase the humidity level in a room faster and are more suitable for northern climates. Furthermore, hot steam models do not need to be cleaned as often.

• Only plug the humidifier in when you are using it. Unplugging the device reduces the amount of power consumed by the device in standby mode.
• Tap water can be used in the humidifier, but distilled water is preferable as it will prevent the build-up of limescale and keep the humidifier running at high efficiency for longer.
• Place the humidifier in the centre of the room, away from walls and large furniture, to enable the access of as much air to the unit as possible.

• To prevent the growth of mould and other contaminants, we recommend rinsing the humidifier tank daily, towel-drying it and refilling it with fresh water.
• Once a week (or as specified in the instructions), the tank and the base need to be serviced and disinfected to prevent loss of efficiency.
• Change filters in accordance with the schedule recommended by the manufacturer.
• Dry the humidifier thoroughly before storing it. And only fill the tank, when you are ready to use it.

• When choosing an air conditioner, attention must be paid to its energy efficiency. The higher the energy efficiency class, the less energy it is going to consume. Please note that mobile air conditioners do not have an energy label. The energy label of your air conditioner contains the following information.
• Air conditioner is an effective device for cooling premises, but it is very important to know how to select the appropriate air conditioner.

Split-type air conditioner

• This type of air conditioner consists of two units – an indoor and an outdoor unit – connected by pipes through which the refrigerant circulates.
• Split-type air conditioners have different functions, and they are safe and quiet. This air conditioner has low electricity consumption and a high-performance factor. However, this type of air conditioner is relatively expensive and needs to be installed by a professional.

Window air conditioner

• This type of air conditioner is installed in a window opening or in the wall next to the window. This solution is not common in Latvia, but the main advantages of a window air conditioner are high cooling capacity, many features, easy installation and maintenance, and relatively low price. There are disadvantages that need to be mentioned as well, for instance, high noise levels and the fact that the air conditioner takes up a large part of the window.
• The installation of split-type and window air conditioners in apartments requires written approval of a majority of the owners of the apartments in the building (50% plus one vote). Therefore, a mobile air conditioner is the most convenient type of air conditioner as it doesn’t require approval.

Mobile air conditioner

• It is a suitable solution for small spaces. The warm air is expelled through a special pipe. The advantage of such device is that it has wheels, which makes it easy to move.
• The mobile air conditioner is relatively simple to install and is also reasonably priced. The main drawbacks of the device are the low power and high noise level.

The most important factors when selecting a conditioner:

• Power – it is important to choose this parameter in accordance with the area of the room. If you choose a low-capacity device, it will not be able to cool a large room. We recommend that you seek professional advice to understand how much power you need for your home. The specialist will recommend the most suitable option.
• Functions – Nowadays, air conditioners are equipped with several functions such as air cooling, ventilation, as well as air heating. It should be noted that each function increases the cost of the device. To avoid overpaying, we recommend choosing a device with features that you really need and will use.
• Installation – not all air conditioners are easy to install. In order not to damage the device during installation, it is better to entrust this work to professionals. When choosing this household climate control device, special attention should be paid to noise level indicators. Most commonly, the air conditioner emits noise between 38 dB and 54 dB outdoors, and between 26 dB and 36 dB indoors. For comparison – people indoors usually talk at a noise level between 35 dB and 45 dB.

The air conditioner will be able to cool and run energy-efficiently if a number of recommendations are taken into consideration:

• Ensuring good air circulation around the unit by removing obstacles such as furniture or plants that block the flow of cooled air is recommended to ensure high cooling efficiency of the air conditioner.
• The air conditioner usually has a temperature sensor that measures the room temperature and a thermostat that adjusts the cooling temperature accordingly. It is therefore recommended not to place equipment that generates heat next to the air conditioner, since this will induce more extensive operation of the air conditioner and, consequently, increase electricity consumption.
• Cooling should be started early in the morning before the rooms have been heated up by the sun, as well as windows and night curtains or blinds should be closed in the rooms you want to protect from rising temperatures.
• It is advisable to keep windows and doors closed when the appliance is running, thus limiting the flow of hot air into the room and, consequently, reducing electricity consumption.
• To take care of your health and electricity consumption, we recommend that you set the operating mode of the air conditioner in your room so that the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures doesn’t exceed 5 °C.
• If possible, we recommend that you set the desired time of operation of the air conditioner, rather than switching it on every time you need it – this will keep the room at the desired temperature at all times

• Some air conditioners not only cool rooms but also provide cleaning of the air with filters. To ensure efficient and human health-friendly operation of your air conditioner, it is recommended to have it serviced at least once per year, following the information in the user manual or, preferably – by a professional!
• Before servicing the appliance, switch it off and disconnect it from the power supply.
• The surface can be cleaned with a damp, soft cloth without using chemical solvents, as these can damage the surface of the air conditioner and even the entire unit itself.
• Cleaning of the filter grille is recommended every two weeks – if it becomes clogged, the performance of the air conditioner will deteriorate.

Several types of electrical heaters are available:

• It should be noted that 100 W are required to heat 1 m2, so a 1 kW heater should be chosen to heat a 10 m2 room, a 2 kW heater to heat a 20 m2 room, and so on.
• It is important that the heater is equipped with a thermostat that allows you to adjust the heating capacity, not just turn the heater on and off, and maintains the temperature set in the room.
• If you need to keep the room warm for a long time, you should choose a convection heater, which will heat the room quicker and more evenly.
• If you only want to heat the part of the room where people are staying, you can choose an infrared heater. Such a heater reaches its maximum heating capacity in just a few seconds, rapidly generating heat in its heat radiation area (by warming the objects nearby).

• If it’s cool when you come home and you want to warm the room quickly, first switch the heater on to the maximum heating mode. When a comfortable temperature in the room has been reached, adjust the heater to a mode that maintains the room temperature.
• To reduce the electricity consumption of electrical heaters, we recommend using their control options. When at home, the heating temperature of your home should be set between 20 and 22 °C.
• If the temperature of the premises is lowered by just 1°, the electricity consumption of the heater will reduce by 5%.
• Rooms also need to be ventilated in autumn and winter to remove the carbon dioxide (CO2) that has been accumulated in the room and to provide your body with fresh air. To prevent unnecessary electricity consumption of the heater, turn it off during ventilation.
• Do not forget about your safety – an electrical heater may not be situated too close to furniture and it may not be left on when you leave your house.
• Technology is evolving at an increasingly faster pace and there are now many options on the market that allow you to upgrade your home and manage your electrical appliances remotely. The electrical heater can also be connected to a smart socket, which will display the consumption of the appliance and be controlled remotely via the mobile app of the manufacturer, virtual assistant or voice control (depending on the appliance). This allows you to adjust the heating, for instance, by switching it on shortly before you get home.