Guide: Heating efficiently – the most important basics for your home
About two-thirds of the energy consumed by private households in Germany goes towards space heating. Taking action here saves the most: energy, costs and CO₂. The good news: many effective measures cost little or nothing at all. In this guide, we have compiled the most important basics.
1. Choose the right temperature
Every degree lower in room temperature saves roughly six percent of heating energy. Not every room needs to be equally warm: most people find about 20 °C comfortable in the living room, while 18 °C is often sufficient in the kitchen and 17 °C in the bedroom. It is important not to let living spaces cool down to below about 16 °C permanently, so that no moisture or mold forms on cold walls.
2. Heat only when someone is home
Many heaters run according to a fixed schedule, even when no one is at home. By adjusting the heating times to the actual daily routine and lowering them at night and during longer absences, you save without losing comfort. Programmable thermostats help with this.
3. Ventilate properly
Opening the windows wide for a few minutes several times a day (cross-ventilation or through-ventilation) quickly replaces the air without cooling down the walls and furniture. Windows left permanently open on tilt, on the other hand, cost a lot of energy and cool down the building components around the window. Turn off the radiators while ventilating.
4. Don't let heat escape
Radiators should stand freely and not be covered by furniture or long curtains. Keep doors to less heated rooms closed. Close roller shutters and curtains at night; this reduces heat loss through the windows.
5. Maintain the heating system
Air in the radiators, an incorrectly set heating curve, or a lack of hydraulic balancing cause the system to consume more energy than necessary. Regular maintenance by a specialist company pays off.
6. Zone instead of room: bring heat to where you are
Conventional heaters heat the entire room, even though you usually only stay in one place: on the sofa, at the desk, at the dining table. A zone heater such as the Aura heated rug specifically heats this area, right where you sit or play. This allows the room temperature to be lowered slightly, while it remains pleasantly warm at the place of stay.
Because the thin heating surface provides heat almost without delay, it does not need to be preheated for hours. How to use the heated rug most effectively, we explain in our guide "How to use the heated rug correctly".
7. Keep an eye on consumption
Anyone who regularly records meter readings or uses their energy supplier's consumption display can quickly see which measures are working. Small changes add up over an entire heating season to noticeable savings.
Conclusion
Heating efficiently means above all: only as warm, for as long, and as much area as necessary. With conscious temperatures, good ventilation, and a heating system that adjusts to your presence, you save energy and costs without feeling cold.
