Why is hot water such a big energy consumer? It's simple: every day we use hot water for showering, bathing, washing our hands, cooking or for the dishwasher and washing machine. A lot of energy is used to heat the water, which is cost-intensive and usually obtained from fossil fuels such as natural gas or heating oil. This also generates large amounts of CO2 emissions, which contribute to man-made climate change.

On average, water heating accounts for between twelve and 15 per cent of total energy consumption. According to the Federal Environment Agency, water heating in German households produces around 20 million tons of CO2 every year. That's quite a lot when you consider that we're only dealing with water here!

And it's not just the environment that is affected, but also your own household budget: if you waste (hot) water, you are not only wasting energy, but also money. With a few simple steps and small water savers for the household, you can save almost 85 kilograms of CO2 and around 130 euros in water and energy costs every year.

These savings, if implemented by many households, contribute to a significant reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Every small step counts in the fight against man-made climate change and for the conservation of natural resources.

You can also use the money you save in other areas of your household or for environmentally friendly investments, such as buying  energy-efficient appliances or gadgets

Reducing hot water consumption can be achieved in various ways, for example by taking shorter showers, using economy programmes on washing machines and dishwashers or installing small water savers in your bathroom, shower or kitchen.

In addition to reducing your hot water consumption, you can also save energy at home by taking other energy-saving measures. For example, the Frauenhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology has found that standby losses in German households amount to around 21 TWh per year, which corresponds to around 4 per cent of total electricity consumption. The German Energy Agency also states that energy-efficient appliances reduce household electricity consumption by up to 5 per cent.

Switch off electronic devices completely when they are not in use instead of leaving them in standby mode. Use power strips with switches to switch off several devices at the same time and reduce energy consumption. Standby mode causes unnecessary energy consumption, which will be reflected in your electricity bill over time and also contributes to environmental pollution.

When buying household appliances, pay attention to the energy efficiency rating and choose appliances with the highest possible energy efficiency. This applies in particular to fridges, washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers.

Replace conventional light bulbs and halogen lamps with energy-efficient LED lamps and switch off the light when it is not needed.

Lower the room temperature by 1 degree Celsius to save up to 6 per cent heating energy. A room thermostat and programmable thermostatic valves on the radiators can help you regulate the temperature better.

You can also find more tips and energy-saving gadgets here

The use of hot water in the home is an often underestimated energy guzzler that has a significant impact on the environment, climate and your household costs. However, by acting consciously and implementing practical tips to reduce hot water consumption, you can make a positive contribution to protecting the environment and save money at the same time. Every small step counts in the fight against climate change, and by rethinking our habits and implementing more efficient solutions in our homes, together we can make a significant difference. Remember that a sustainable lifestyle is not only good for the environment and the climate, but also for your own wallet and ultimately for the quality of life of future generations.