ENERGY SAVER - HAVE THEY BEEN TESTED TO WORK? - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The energy saver is a product that is offered as a solution to the problem of electricity consumption, one of the most common everyday concerns due to the high costs that an electricity bill can present.

However, when seeing the different energy saving products offered on the market, the consumer must always be confronted with a justified doubt: "Does this device really work?"

Supposedly, energy savers store the extra energy that is generated at times of greatest intensity of use of an appliance. Source: pixabay.com

There are few devices whose use can bring significant savings in electrical energy consumption within the home. You need to be well informed to avoid falling into the trap of misleading marketing, as most of these "energy savers" turn out to be scams.

Assumed operation

Energy savers are generally sold as devices that work simply by connecting them to an electrical system. Those who offer these products often speak that the saver is a technological vanguard device.

They supposedly have the property of taking advantage of all the extra electricity generated by the appliances when they work at their most intense moments, energy that would be lost if the saver did not redistribute it, recycling electricity.

Likewise, the publicity speeches affirm that the energy savers stabilize the current, minimizing the wave variations that negatively affect the performance of the devices. It is also argued that these devices reduce power surges.

In addition, they are often classified as ecological devices that serve to counteract the effect of electromagnetic radiation.

Have they been proven to work?

Many of these attributions given to so-called energy savers are nothing more than vaguely explained fallacies, not supported by studies or scientific tests.

The truth is that all appliances that work with electricity have a pre-established power requirement and it is impossible for any special accessory to change these specifications.

Energy savers are not sophisticated technology; in reality they are only simple electrical capacitors, only with some accessory, such as a varistor. However, it is necessary to emphasize that the capacitor is capable of regulating the power of reactive energy generating devices.

Capacitor operation

Industrial motors and other reactive devices generate large amounts of excess energy. Capacitors - or capacitors, as they are called in technical language - are capable of saving this energy and reinjecting it into the electrical system, which reduces the electrical consumption of the appliance.

What happens many times is that, as savers are generic devices, their capacitors tend to have a reduced capacity. For this reason, in many cases the saver is not able to compensate the loads of the system in which the user intends to use it.

The saver does not work magically. For it to be effective, it must be connected to the specific site where it is needed and its capacity must be adequate. In the home the savers can be connected to the air conditioner, the refrigerator, the dryer or the washing machine.

It is important that, before installing a saver, a specialist is consulted who has previously studied the electrical system to see if the device will take effect. If this is not met, it is very likely that the buyer's investment will end up being a failure.

Real ways / other ways to save energy

Before investing in energy saving devices, the consumer should bear in mind that there are also more organic and economical saving methods that simply require the user to become aware of their electricity consumption habits and apply corrective measures to acts that imply a bad expenditure of energy. Energy.

-Business savings

Saving electrical energy can be very beneficial for a company in the economic sense.

In addition, the culture of energy saving in the business sector is a fundamental aspect for the protection of the environment.

Below we will review some of the most effective energy saving techniques for the industrial and business sector.

Take advantage of natural light

Although it is necessary that the work areas be equipped with an artificial lighting system taking into account the instability of natural light, its use must be balanced, taking advantage of the spaces where the sun enters.

Lights should be turned off when not needed. This includes both working hours when sunlight is available and times when workspaces are not being used, in which case it makes no sense to leave the lights on.

Use of home automation technology

Installing dimmers and presence sensors can be an investment that provides great benefits in terms of energy consumption. Automated electrical systems can be configured to minimize energy use.

Choice of lamps

There are many types of lamps to suit various needs. When planning the installation of the lighting system, it is essential to take into account what kind of luminaire is suitable for the workspace, not only following the criteria of work requirements, but also that of profitability and consumption.

Conscious use of equipment

Electronic equipment usually generates unnecessary energy costs in offices because they are not used economically.

Conscious use of computer equipment involves turning off computers and their accessories when they are not in use. There are times when computers must be left on to work automatically; in these cases it is advisable to turn off the monitor.

When buying equipment for work, it is good to take into account that certain types of devices generate less electricity consumption and perfectly fulfill the tasks for which they are required. For example, laptops consume much less power than desktop computers.

Likewise, computers have special settings for energy saving. It is recommended to activate them by following the corresponding instructions.

-Domestic savings

Consciously selecting and using household appliances can significantly ease the financial burden of electric service. For this reason, it is advisable to inculcate thrifty behaviors in raising children.

Heating

It is recommended that when purchasing or replacing heating equipment, high-performance boilers are purchased. For hot water, the ideal is to use solar panels.

Likewise, thermostatic valves for radiators and programmable thermostats are instruments that save up to 13% in energy.

Insulation mechanisms such as the double window also allow to better conserve heat inside the house, reducing the need to use electrical energy to acclimatize the environment.

Fridge

The refrigerator is the device that generates the most costs for electricity; for that reason, you must be aware of the conditions of use.

By losing cold, the mechanism requires more energy to stabilize the temperature. In addition, it is always advisable to place it in a place where its rear part can be ventilated. You also have to be careful not to open it constantly.

Washing machine

When using the washing machine, try to fill the entire load of clothes, also avoiding wasting water and reducing the number of times the appliance is turned on.

Likewise, it is advisable to use the cold wash options to avoid the electrical expense that occurs when heating the water.

Dishwasher

The dishwasher has similar considerations; For example, it should be used only when it is full.

These appliances also have economical washing options that make better use of thermal energy.

Dryer

The dryers that consume the least amount of energy are those of gas. It is also recommended to use progressive cool down cycles.

When using this appliance also keep in mind that it is best to turn it on only to dry full loads.

On the other hand, using the spin to the maximum also allows the drying process to be more economical.

Oven

The gas oven is much more efficient and economical than the electric one. It must be taken into account that when the lid is opened, 20% of the heat is lost; for this reason it is recommended that when it is going to be used as much food as possible be put in at once so as not to have to open it unnecessarily.

illumination

For lighting in the house it is better to use fluorescent tubes or energy saving light bulbs. Despite being more expensive, these generate 80% less electricity consumption and have a greater durability than incandescent bulbs.

Air conditioning

It is recommended to set the air conditioning to an average temperature of 26 ° C. In addition, refrigeration appliances must be located in a space where they do not receive large amounts of solar radiation and where they are well ventilated.

Audiovisual equipment

Electronic devices such as televisions, stereos and computer monitors generate a higher electricity consumption the higher the power they have.

The best thing in this regard is to acquire moderate equipment, with a power according to the real needs of the users.

Kitchen

Gas cookers obviously generate a lower amount of energy consumption. When using the electric stove, it is good to take advantage of the residual heat by turning off the stove a few minutes before the food is ready, covering the pot well to conserve the heat with which the cooking process will be finished.

References

1. “101 easy ways to save energy and money” (2015) in Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from Beat the Peak: energysmartsc.org.
2. "Saving energy with a capacitor" (January 15, 2019) in How I Save Energy. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from How I Save Energy: comoahorroenergia.net
3. "Good practices for saving energy in the company" (no date) in OptimaGrid. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from SUDOE: 4.interreg-sudoe.eu.
4. "Efficient energy consumption at home" (no date) in the Federation of Independent Consumers Users. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from the Federation of Independent Consumer Users: fuci.es.
5. "Energy Saver" (May 2014) in US Department of Energy. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from US Department of Energy: energy.gov.
6. "Saving energy at home and school" (2016-2017) in National Energy Development Project. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from the National Energy Development Project: need.org.
7. Maldonado, E. and Vargas, L. "Uses and applications of capacitors and inductors in engineering" (no date) at Academia.edu. Retrieved on August 2, 2019 from Academia.edu: academia.edu.