Volodymyr Bondarchuk, coordinator of the «Energy Efficiency» direction of the «NIK-ELEKTRONIKA», LLC. told about the achievement of significant savings with the use of modern metering devices.
The cost of energy sources is constantly increasing that stimulates the consumers to use them economical. How can I minimize the costs?
It is necessary to perform accurate records of resources to achieve effective economy. In this case, you pay for what you really consume, and you have a clear idea of the consumption amount. Based on this information, it is possible to analyze and implement energy efficiency measures. These means include replacement of lamps with economical ones, use of household appliances with maximum class of energy efficiency, weatherization, installation of modern metering devices and a small correction of own habits provide a tangible result and savings in the family budget.
How can you achieve significant savings with the help of metering devices produced by your company?
If we talk about electricity, then significant savings can be achieved using multi-tariff metering devices. You can choose a two- or three-zone tariff depending on your consumption. In this case, electricity consumed at night, from 23 p.m. to 7 a.m., will cost you 50% or 60% cheaper. To achieve maximum savings with a multi-tariff meter, use the delayed start option in the washing machine and start it at night, the same as the boiler. If your household appliances do not have a delayed start option, it can be replaced by timer sockets.
It will be especially beneficial to have multi-zone electricity metering device if you use electric heating. In this case, it is necessary to turn the heating on at night, and in order to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the day, it is possible to use electric boiler with heat accumulator. It should be noted that electric boilers are sensitive voltage fluctuations. Therefore, if there are voltage fluctuations in your network, it is better to install a constant-voltage unit. It will require some initial investment, but in the long term they will pay off rather quickly, you will receive both economy and comfort.
Where else the metering devices are capable to reduce the energy costs?
This is an important issue for those who use centralized heating. In this case, the residential heat meter will help to save. Nowadays, such devices are already provided in the projects for new buildings and are installed immediately during construction. However, in many buildings constructed in 2000-2010, with a horizontal heating circuit the residential heat meters were not installed. And apartment owners often do not hurry to do this, losing their opportunity to save. The availability of residential heat meter makes heating account twice as little. And if the house is well winterized, then, for example, during the daytime when you are at work, you can reduce the intensity of heating or completely switch it off, depending on the temperature outside. In the evening, when you returned home, you can turn on the heating again. In this way, you will significantly reduce the cost of heating and pay off the cost of the residential heat meter for a season.
In addition, now we release a new line of smart heat meters with optical port. It allows you to read full information about your consumption schedule for different periods (data is updated every 30 seconds), analyze it and find new opportunities to reduce costs in the future. For this purpose, you will need an optical port with a USB-port that is also manufactured by our company, a special program and a laptop. Such metering devices, when the appropriate infrastructure in the house is included, can remotely transmit meter readings to the power supply company, and you don’t have to waste your time to record and transfer them to make the heating account.