Not just air conditioners and boilers. Another energy-guzzling household appliance has been named
25 June 2024 19:13
ЕКСКЛЮЗИВ
In early June, the Government called for not switching on air conditioners to save energy.
According to various studies, air conditioners are among the most energy-intensive household appliances. Later, experts started to make other statements that we should refuse not only air conditioners, but also boilers, because they also absorb a lot of energy.
"Komersant Ukrainian" decided to look into this topic and talk to experts to set the record straight: which household appliances should be abandoned in order to reduce their consumption and why.
What consumes the most electricity
Among the appliances that consume the most electricity, the first place is occupied by an electric stove – 3.5 kWh; the second – an air conditioner – 3 kWh; the third – a hairdryer, an electric kettle and an iron – an average of 2.2 kWh. The boiler ranks fourth at 2 kWh.
*Sources: YASNO, State Energy Supervision Inspectorate
Air conditioner or boiler?
However, experts emphasise that electricity consumption is not the most important characteristic. What is more important is how many hours this appliance works in a row.
“A hairdryer or an electric kettle have a lot of power, but it is short-lived. That is, if this device is switched on for 5-10 minutes, it will not have a significant impact on the power system,” explained Vadym Lytvyn, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Energy Auditors.
In his opinion, it is electric boilers and electric stoves that should be restricted in use.
“They work for a long time and usually at the same time, especially after the lights are switched on. Yes, it is possible to spread this power over time (to use appliances in the same residential building at different times – ed.), but few people do it,” Lytvyn said.
According to him, the use of air conditioners should also be limited, but they do not have such a significant impact on electricity, as not every Ukrainian has one.
“As for air conditioners, they often do not work simultaneously in residential buildings and not everyone has them. If we take the balance for a residential building, it will not be as significant as the same boiler or electric stove.”
Should Ukrainians save electricity?
Despite the calls from the government and experts to save electricity, not all Ukrainians agree to do so.
In particular, users of social media ask the authorities whether there will be a “tax on air conditioners”, who will control energy savings and what to do with people who may end up in hospitals due to overheating from non-working air conditioners.
However, Vadym Lytvyn, Chairman of the Board of the Association of Energy Auditors, stresses that Ukrainians can help Ukraine’s energy system without taking critical actions.
“In houses with centralised hot water supply, we should start using such water. If you use a boiler, set a timer for its operation, for example, at night or during the day, not during peak hours. Instead of an electric stove, you can use a slow cooker: it is both faster and consumes less electricity. As for air conditioners, we do not set the temperature to the minimum, but to about 24-25 degrees,” he recommended.
At the same time, Oleh Popenko, head of the Union of Consumers of Public Utilities, said that while Ukrainians really need to save electricity, the government should not go overboard and look for those responsible among Ukrainians.
“Yes, it is necessary to limit the use of electrical appliances, especially during peak times. But there is no need to start looking for ‘witches’: we have a boiler as the main problem, or an air conditioner. Such statements by the authorities are an attempt to shift the incompetence of the industry’s management onto ordinary Ukrainians,” he said.
“There is no need to blame people for using a boiler. They switch it on because they have no hot water for several months. I do not consider it a discussion at all to talk about switching something off. We need to look at the problem as a whole,” said Popenko.
According to the expert, the problem of electricity shortages should be addressed first and foremost by state and local governments.
