Home Saving on gas usage: smart tips for your energy bi...
Lukas Jorissen

Bart

Chief Energy

Lukas Jorissen

Simon

Director of Product

Saving on gas usage: smart tips for your energy bill

Wed, 6 Nov 2024

Description

Reading time 12 minutes

In times of rising gas prices, it’s wise to look for ways to save energy. Not only for your wallet but also for the environment. With the help of smart technology, it becomes much easier to monitor your energy consumption and avoid unnecessary costs. That’s where the Sparky P1 meter and Chargee app come into play.

The Chargee app provides insights into your (real-time) consumption and makes predictions, allowing you to use energy more intelligently. In this article, you'll find practical tips: from small adjustments you can implement immediately to investments that can lead to significant savings in the long run. Are you ready to dive in?

Directly save on gas without major investments

Did you know that approximately 75% of your gas consumption goes towards heating your home? The rest is primarily used for hot water, such as during showers. Cooking food only uses a small amount of gas. (Source: MilieuCentraal)

There are simple ways to save on gas immediately, without making major investments. With a few adjustments to your daily routine, you can make a big difference. You may already know these tips, but it doesn’t hurt to repeat them:

  • Lower the thermostat: by lowering your thermostat by just one degree, you can save up to 5% on your gas consumption. If you still feel chilly at home, put on a cozy sweater or some warm socks.

  • Reduce shower time with a shower timer: by reducing your shower time by one minute per session, you can save up to €65 annually. That’s worth it, right?

  • Close the doors: close the doors to keep your rooms warm. This helps maintain a stable temperature in those spaces.

With the Chargee app, you get real-time insight into your gas consumption directly via the DSMR protocol. By the way, DSMR stands for Dutch Smart Meter Reader. If you have a DSMR 5 meter and a Sparky P1 meter, you will see updates every 5 minutes. For a DSMR 4 or 2 meter, this is every 15 minutes. Additionally, the Chargee app shows you your expected gas consumption. This helps you plan better and make informed choices to save energy.


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Saving gas with small adjustments at home

Would you like to save on your gas consumption but don’t want to make large investments? Luckily, there are many small adjustments that can make a big difference. By smartly limiting heat loss, you can quickly create a warmer and more energy-efficient environment at home. Have you considered these changes?

  • Installing radiator foil: by placing radiator foil behind your radiators, the heat is reflected back into the room. This makes heating more efficient and reduces gas consumption.

  • Applying draft strips: small openings around windows and doors cause drafts, allowing heat to escape. Draft strips keep the warmth inside and decrease gas usage.

  • Water-saving showerhead: a water-saving showerhead uses less hot water while still providing comfort. With such a showerhead, you use a maximum of 7.2 liters of water per minute, saving about €32 per person per year!

    Source: MilieuCentraal


Big steps for gas savings: insulation and smart technology

In addition to small adjustments, there are also larger measures that can significantly reduce your gas consumption and, consequently, your expenses. One of the most effective ways to save energy is through good insulation. Insulating walls, floors, and roofs prevents heat loss, meaning you need to heat less. This not only results in a lower energy bill but also creates a more comfortable home. Good insulation keeps the warmth inside during winter and the coolness in summer, providing year-round benefits!

You can also use smart technology to further improve your energy consumption. For instance, with smart thermostats, you can tailor your heating to your daily routine. These thermostats allow you to set when your home should be heated, ensuring you never waste energy. What that means? Optimal comfort and efficiency!

With the Chargee app, you gain detailed insights into your gas usage. For example, you can immediately see how many cubic meters of gas you use during a shower. This helps you target your savings effectively. Additionally, the app shows how you can further reduce your energy consumption by setting up a smart thermostat. By being conscious of your energy use, you make a positive impact on the environment while also keeping an eye on your wallet.

Saving gas with a hybrid heat pump and electric heating

Have you ever considered a hybrid heat pump or an electric heater? Hybrid heat pumps and electric heaters are excellent options for reducing your gas consumption.

A hybrid heat pump uses both gas and electricity. This system utilizes electricity to extract heat from the outside air, while gas is used during times of higher heat demand, such as on cold days. This way, you consume less gas and benefit from a more efficient heating solution.

Additionally, electric heaters provide a flexible solution for specific spaces in your home. They can quickly offer warmth without the need to heat the entire house, further lowering gas consumption.

With the Chargee app, users can smartly monitor and optimize these systems. The app provides insight into your (expected) solar generation, allowing you to use your self-generated electricity for your hybrid heat pump or electric heater. This means you can shift your gas consumption to electricity, which is easier to time. For example, if you know that a lot of sun is expected, you can ensure that your electric heating is active during that period, reducing your gas usage.

An added advantage is that gas often has a fixed price, while the price of electricity can vary by the hour. This means that by planning smartly and utilizing the cheapest times for electricity, you can lower your overall energy costs. For instance, if you're working from home on a cold winter day, you can set the electric heating to operate when your solar panels are generating plenty of power. This way, you stay nice and warm, save on costs, and reduce your gas consumption. By doing so, you make your energy consumption smarter and more sustainable.

Insight into your gas consumption: monitor and optimize with Chargee

With the Chargee app and the Sparky P1 meter, users gain clear insight into their gas consumption. The app offers a user-friendly interface that allows you to easily track and analyze your energy usage. By connecting to the Sparky P1 meter, you receive real-time data about your gas consumption, enabling you to see immediately where you can save.

A satisfied user of our product:
Great product, and within 5 minutes, I have insight into my electricity usage. And in my case, also gas consumption and solar generation.

May 10, 2024

Do you want to benefit from this smart technology too? Discover the advantages of the Sparky P1 meter and start monitoring and optimizing your gas consumption today.

How Chargee helps you save on gas

Chargee offers an all-in-one solution for gaining insight into your energy consumption and saving on gas. With the Chargee app, you have access to real-time data that helps you manage your energy usage more consciously. The app makes personalized forecasts based on your consumption history and allows you to connect devices such as your thermostat, air conditioning, or heat pump. This makes it easy to optimize your energy usage and reduce unnecessary gas consumption.

At Chargee, we support various brands—such as Nest, NIBE, Honeywell, and Sensibo—so you can easily integrate your existing devices. In the app, you gain insight into important data, such as the temperature in Celsius and whether the device is heating or cooling. Additionally, you can see the consumption in wattage, providing you with a clear overview of how much energy the device is using.

We would like to summarize the key points of the blog for you:

  • Lower the thermostat by one degree and save up to 5% on your energy costs

  • Use the Chargee app to monitor your gas consumption in real-time

  • Invest in insulation and smart technologies such as a hybrid heat pump or smart thermostat

Do you have questions about energy savings? Send us a message in the app or send an email to [email protected]. Want to experience the benefits of Chargee for yourself? Order the Sparky P1 meter and start optimizing your gas consumption.

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