InnoBlog: Saving costs in energy at home

The first step is to educate yourself: what kind of energy does your home need? Only electricity, or maybe you have a gas boiler to heat water, a gas heater to warm your home or a gas stove to cook? Maybe you live in an urban area and are connected to a district heating system - and if so, what do they burn there?

All these factors influence your bills. But they are also interconnected. You might not use gas in your home, but your electricity bill may still increase because the wholesale costs of gas have increased this year, which means gas-fired power generators must pay more to procure the fuel.

If you live in a single-family home, this may be the extra push to invest in that solar photovoltaic system and/or battery storage system you have been contemplating generating your own energy would reduce your dependence on the grid.

But many Europeans, and students in particular, live in flats or apartments: what can you do in this case?

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During both years of my EIT InnoEnergy Master’s programme, I - like most of my peers - lived in accommodation that was administered by the universities. While this was convenient, from an energy systems perspective, it was maybe a bit inefficient: my utilities costs were included in my rent.

While this was likely due to the simple technical fact that not every room and flat were individually metered, it inadvertently removed my incentive to save energy and water. So, these resources must be saved simply because “it is the right thing to do”.

The changes you make don’t have to be grand, either. It is as simple as turning off a light that is not in use; setting your water boiler to a lower temperature, if you have control over it, or taking a shorter hot shower if you can; putting on a sweater instead of cracking up the radiator; fixing that drafty window.

If we all play our part, these actions have the potential to save huge amounts of energy!

by Emilia Chojkiewicz, EIT InnoEnergy Master School alumna
Photo credit: The Business Booster Photo Contest 2018

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17 January 2023. 15.00 CET. The world’s population is increasingly urban. More than half of us now live in a city. Will you design energy solutions for more efficient houses in the future?

Join InnoTalks: Master’s in Energy for Smart Cities to learn how you could lead a future of energy-savvy buildings, meet programme representatives and learn all about the programme that is focused on smarter and more sustainable communities!

During the event, the programme representatives will discuss courses and syllabus, innovation & entrepreneurship journey as well as cover any questions that you might have!

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