Winter is just around the corner. Despite the mild temperatures this autumn that gave us hope, with the arrival of the first cold spells, the upcoming months will be economically challenging.
Is it really possible to save?
Due to the energy crisis and the international political situation, increases in electricity and gas prices will heavily impact the budgets of both Italian and European households.
In this concerning situation, the former Minister for Ecological Transition in the Draghi Government had launched a national plan to limit natural gas consumption, while ENEA, the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development, had compiled a valuable list of best practices that every citizen could adopt to try to reduce their bills.
The ENEA Ten Commandments
ENEA has proposed a series of simple measures that, if consistently implemented, could significantly reduce the energy consumption of each household, resulting in lower expenses.
- Use LED or energy-saving light bulbs
- Improve home insulation
- Insulate the roof and ceiling
- Use double-glazed windows
- Reduce hot water usage
- Choose electronics with higher energy efficiency ratings
- Use power strips
- Avoid leaving lights on unnecessarily
- Install renewable energy generation systems
- Perform regular maintenance on systems
- Monitor indoor temperatures
- Be mindful of heating system operation times
- Cover windows at night
- Avoid obstacles in front of or above radiators
- Perform a property check-up
- Equip your system with a temperature control unit
- Use thermostatic valves
- Implement a heat metering system
- Replace old boilers with condensing ones
- Regularly defrost refrigerators and freezers
Water treatment and savings: a winning combination
In the list of tips compiled by ENEA, several points highlight the close connection between a building's energy efficiency and the proper functioning of its systems, whether heating or hot water systems.
In fact, in autumn, it is important, and legally required, to carry out regular maintenance on the boiler.
A boiler check-up allows for the inspection of the burner, flue heat exchanger, checking the tightness of the system, smoke extraction, ventilation in the boiler room, and replacing any components if needed.
Water treatment through the installation of softening, filtration, and chemical conditioning systems not only improves water quality but also provides excellent energy and economic savings (up to 20% reduction in hot water expenses and 10% in heating costs).
By treating the water, corrosion and limescale build-up are limited, the system operates more efficiently, and waste is reduced.
Finally, it's worth remembering that the expenses for these interventions are deductible under Italian law (Renovation Bonus, Ecobonus, Superbonus, Potable Water Bonus) and could represent an important step towards significant savings for families and beyond.