From PCs to cookie ovens: how electrical appliances drive up energy costs
When temperatures drop outside, almost everything inside runs continuously – and our energy costs also rise. Holidays, working from home, or perhaps some people are already on holiday – having lots of people at home usually means higher electricity consumption. In the living room and children's rooms, game consoles and gaming PCs are glowing, which can consume several hundred watts when gaming. The television is on – regardless of whether anyone is watching it or not – as are smart TV boxes.
The kitchen is also a hive of activity: cookies and gingerbread are baking in the oven, mulled wine, hot chocolate or the occasional festive dish is simmering on the hob. And the more work is done at the stove, the more often the dishwasher is used – just like the washing machine and tumble dryer. Refrigerators and freezers are also often turned up to full power (due to the amount of food they have to ‘accommodate’). Indispensable – but also real power guzzlers. And even worse than refrigerators and televisions combined: heating – especially older models.
Even routers and standby devices add up: according to recent studies, they account for around 8–12% of electricity consumption – so they're not insignificant. And the flashing crowning glory of it all: the many Christmas fairy lights that turn our homes into little electricity festivals. Depending on the type of lights used, traditional fairy lights can actually cost an additional £10–20 per season, while modern LED fairy lights are much more economical. Not only does this increase our electricity bill, but our carbon footprint also increases immensely during the cold months.
But what is the alternative? Sitting in the living room wearing a winter coat, foregoing cookies and other treats, and depriving the kids of all the fun during the holidays? No – but with a few tips, you can protect the environment in winter and still enjoy all the comforts of the festive season.
Protecting the environment at Christmas – without sacrifice
For some people, tech gadgets are as indispensable at Christmas as Christmas trees and Christmas markets. But we don't have to say goodbye to them completely, because with a little thought, we can achieve a lot: we can save electricity, protect the environment and give our devices a well-deserved break in between. Small routines and a little cleverness make all the difference here – they ensure that our technology serves us reliably for a long time and that our electricity bills don't skyrocket.
25 tips for greater sustainability in winter
- Use the hibernate function
Computers are used frequently during the day, so constantly switching them on and off makes little sense. It is better to put them into hibernate mode after use: this leaves only the RAM active, means the PC or laptop is quickly ready for use again, and significantly reduces power consumption compared to running it constantly. This also reduces the continuous load on the CPU, hard drives, power supply and fan, which reduces wear and tear. - Switch off your printer
Rarely used, yet often left on standby: the printer. It still consumes power in this mode. Switching it off consistently reduces energy consumption and extends the life of the hardware at the same time. - Do not place devices directly on radiators
Electronics cannot tolerate direct heat. If PCs, laptops or game consoles are placed directly next to a radiator, the temperature rises unnecessarily. This puts strain on fans and components, shortens their service life and increases the power consumption for cooling. - Set automatic monitor shutdown
We tend to forget to press the little button on the monitor when we leave our workplace. But even when idle, it still consumes power. With an automatic shutdown after a certain period of time, you save energy, reduce heat generation and extend the service life – without having to think about it. - Deactivate your router at night – if possible
At least when we sleep, we are truly ‘offline’. So why not give your router a break too? After all, it consumes electricity around the clock. Households that do not need an internet connection at night can use smart sockets with timers or integrated router functions for time switching. - Only connect external hard drives when needed
Even when idle, they consume electricity, generate heat and lose service life if they are constantly connected. Connecting them only when in use saves energy and reduces wear and tear on mechanical and electronic components. - Do not leave entertainment electronics on standby
Smart TVs, game consoles and sound systems continue to consume electricity even when in standby mode. The more devices connected to the power strip, the higher the costs. Many systems are only used at weekends or even less frequently – switching them off completely or disconnecting them from the mains using a switchable power strip saves energy and extends their service life. - Unplug kitchen appliances when they are not in use
Microwaves, toasters, kettles, food processors, hand mixers, air fryers – many appliances run hot during the Christmas season. Plugging them in only when needed avoids unnecessary power consumption. - Ensure good ventilation
If electronic devices are poorly ventilated, heat builds up. Fans and heat sinks have to work harder and consume more electricity. A free location with sufficient distance from walls and other devices improves airflow, lowers the temperature and extends the service life. - Do not use your laptop on blankets or sofas
Soft surfaces block the ventilation slots on your laptop. Heat builds up, the cooling system has to work harder – the notebook consumes more power and is under high stress. This causes the battery and hardware to wear out faster. - Remove dust regularly
Dust settles in ventilation slots and on heat sinks, blocking the air flow. Cleaning your hardware regularly will extend its service life and protect it from overheating. - Keep the room temperature moderate
A room that is too warm is also not good for the fans and power supplies of notebooks or PCs. A balanced room temperature prevents overheating, ensures stable operation and protects the hardware in the long term. - Use smart power strips
Don't feel like unplugging each device individually or always remembering to turn off the power strip in the evening? Smart models with timers or app control automatically disconnect devices from the power supply. - Check the energy consumption of your devices
Many devices consume more electricity than you might think. The refrigerator your neighbour gave you or your grandmother's washing machine are often really old and real power guzzlers. Twenty-year-old devices often consume up to two to three times more electricity than modern alternatives. Measuring devices or smart sockets can quickly identify the ‘culprits’. - Perform regular updates
Not only hardware, but also software can be optimised: regular updates for operating systems and drivers close security gaps and ensure that hardware runs efficiently and stably. Continuous loads and errors due to incompatibilities are avoided – this saves energy and increases service life. - Close resource-intensive programmes
Programmes that require a lot of CPU or RAM power unnecessarily increase energy consumption. Consider whether the app is really needed – and close it consistently after use. - Use devices efficiently / Use scheduler tools
Energy management and scheduler tools allow you to optimally control operations. Automatic schedules ensure that systems only run when they are really needed and otherwise switch to energy-saving mode or shut down completely. - Use LED fairy lights instead of old light bulbs
LED fairy lights are up to 90% more energy efficient than traditional light bulbs. They generate less heat, last longer and reduce the risk of fire due to overheating. - Use timers for Christmas lights
Timers allow you to control when your Christmas lights come on, avoiding unnecessary power consumption at night or during the day when no one can see them. - Don't leave devices on unnecessarily
On the 25th at your parents' house, on the 26th at your in-laws', on the 27th at grandma and grandpa's, then 3 days at a spa or skiing – so why leave streaming boxes, receivers, game consoles and smart home devices running all the time? If no one is using them, at least put them on standby or unplug them completely. - Bake cookies together instead of alone
This year, you need to bake at least 7–10 different kinds – that means the oven will be running almost non-stop for two days. If you get together with family or friends, you can divide up the work more efficiently, make optimal use of the oven and have more fun. - Charge smartphones and tablets efficiently
‘Oh, only 10% battery left!’ – we've all been there. But constantly recharging the battery unnecessarily puts strain on it. It's better to charge it fully when needed, as this reduces the number of charging cycles and increases its service life. - Plan your online shopping
Spontaneous purchases not only drive up costs, but also energy and resource consumption. Planning your purchases in advance avoids multiple orders, saves packaging material and reduces transport distances. You can find more tips on safe online shopping in our blog post. - Sustainable gift wrapping
Instead of traditional wrapping paper, which is only used once, choose sustainable alternatives. Recycled paper, old newspapers or calendar pages can be used stylishly. Natural decorations such as dried orange slices, pine branches or cinnamon sticks add the finishing touch. - Give refurbished hardware as a gift
Refurbished technology is a sustainable and cost-effective gift idea. Inexpensive laptops or tablets for school, university or work, affordable smartphones or individually configured PCs – refurbished devices are a smart choice... Find out why refurbished devices are perfect under the tree in our blog post: ‘Refurbished, but done right: Enjoy second-hand hardware’.
Sustainable hardware and sensible upgrades
If you want to be a little more sustainable, you should pay attention not only to your daily consumption, but also to the choice of device itself. And if you opt for refurbished devices, you're not only helping the environment, but also your wallet. Professionally refurbished PCs, laptops, smartphones and even servers extend the life of existing technology and reduce electronic waste. The majority of these devices are technically very up to date (e.g. efficient power supplies, energy-saving functions) and offer top performance for office and everyday use.
Targeted upgrades make all the difference: a PC that is constantly running at its limits not only consumes an unnecessary amount of power, but also causes frustration and long waiting times. More RAM or switching from an old hard drive (HDD) to a modern SSD can help to optimise performance efficiently. Programs start faster, the system runs more stably and the hardware has to work less hard. Used components also make high-quality hardware from well-known manufacturers affordable for private individuals, SMEs and start-ups. This not only makes the technology more efficient, but also increases its service life.
Conclusion: You can save electricity in winter too – and it pays off twice: for the environment and your wallet. Especially during the Christmas season and between the holidays, when you spend a lot of time at home, it makes sense to use energy consciously and not leave your devices running around the clock. This saves electricity costs and extends the life of your devices. What's more, less screen time doesn't mean sacrifice, but rather creates space for what's important – time with family, real conversations, baking, cooking and enjoying meals together, and a festive atmosphere without a thousand gadgets. This not only makes your home cosy, but also allows you to consciously focus on what's important right now. A good goal for the start of the new year.
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