Knowing how: Reduce heating costs with simple means

When temperatures slowly fall back into the single digits and the cold season arrives, everyone appreciates a well-heated home. The cosy warmth costs many German households more money than is actually necessary. To reduce costs, you don't always need a completely new heating system. Simple means are often sufficient - without sacrificing the comfort we are used to. Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) provided information about the possibilities at a presentation in the SWG customer centre on the market square in Gießen on Thursday, 28 September.
Among other things, SWG energy consultant Martin Lorenz pointed out the right temperature for each room. If you pay attention to this and don't turn the thermostat up all the way, you can save a lot of money. In the living room, for example, a range between 20 and 22 degrees is considered a comfortable temperature. In the bedroom and kitchen, on the other hand, 15 to 18 degrees is perfectly adequate. "Every additional degree of warmth increases energy costs by around six per cent," explained Martin Lorenz.
He also made it clear what a decisive role ventilation behaviour plays in terms of consumption: "If you only tilt your windows, but for hours at a time, a lot of heat escapes and only allows a small amount of air exchange. It is better to open the windows fully for a few minutes several times a day to replace the stale, humid air with fresh air. This promotes a comfortable living climate and prevents mould growth."
The duration of ventilation depends on the outside temperature. As a guide: the colder, the shorter. While the window is open, the heating should also be turned off completely. Electronic thermostats often do this automatically.

Answers about saving energy
SWG organises events such as last Thursday on the topic of "Correct heating and ventilation" to explain in person how energy consumption can be reduced by simple means. Michael Rösner, Head of Sales Private & Commercial Customers at Stadtwerke Gießen, believes this is an important task and invites everyone to contact SWG with any questions: "Whatever the issue - people from Gießen and the region can contact our experts directly at the SWG customer centre at any time."

SWG's energy advisors are available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. by telephone on 0800 2302100 or on site at the SWG customer centre on Marktplatz. Information is also available around the clock on the SWG website www.energiessen.de.