How to save electricity in communities?

Welcome to a new article of our blog Meridional Team. Today we are going to talk about how to save electricity in urbanisations.

You may have seen in the Spanish media that electricity prices are constantly rising. This has been happening since the end of last year, and to this day it continues to increase. 

How can you save electricity in the communal areas of your urbanisation?

If you want to know the answers, read on.

Why has the price of electricity increased?

The factors explaining the price increase are as follows:

• Rising commodity prices: natural gas has risen in price, which is one of the fuels needed to generate energy.
• Cost of CO2 emissions:  is what coal and gas companies pay to be able to pollute. As the price goes up, it has an impact on the increase in electricity prices.
• CrisisThe economic crisis left by Covid-19, and later the war between Russia and Ukraine, has an impact on financial markets. 

In 2021, in Spain, the electricity bill increased by 40% compared to the previous year. And this year it is following the same path: Currently, it has risen by 41% in only 3 months. 

Even so, it is worth highlighting some measures that the government has implemented, such as the reduction of VAT on electricity from 21% to 10% or the suspension of the tax on electricity generation, which is 7%.

How to save energy in housing estates?

We are going to provide a series of tips on how to save on electricity bills, focusing on the communal areas of a housing estate/building. 

Saving electricity in lifts

According to experts, electricity consumption can account for up to 80% of the electricity consumption of the homeowners' association. 

Here are 5 energy saving tips:

• The majority of electricity consumption comes from the lighting. The best way to save energy is to use energy-saving lamps and LED technology. This will save up to 80%.
• Use a smart technology system. You will save up to 50% of energy consumption, and you will also save time. 
• Cabin stop. In this way, the lift will not be using light 24 hours a day, but only when it is switched on. To do this, presence detectors need to be installed in the car.
• Renew machinery. It may seem counterproductive, but new technologies consume less and do not require as many resources for optimal performance.
• Selective manoeuvring mechanisms. Unnecessary start-ups shall not occur when calls are requested in the opposite direction to the visitors in the booth.

Although there are many ways to save electricity in lifts, these are the most effective. Of course, responsible use by neighbours and proper maintenance of the lift will facilitate savings.

Saving electricity in the swimming pool

It is common for swimming pools to be built on housing estates. In this article, we focus on outdoor pools.

Here are 7 tricks to save light in swimming pools:

• Employing the use of solar technology. Make use of solar heaters and solar panels that absorb the sun's energy to heat the pool water. In addition, it is environmentally friendly.
• Lighting. As mentioned in the previous point, using LED lights will save light. Another advantage is that they last 3 times longer than other lamps.
• Filtration. The more debris you have in your pool drains, the more the pump and filter will have to work, and therefore the more energy they will use. Regular cleaning ensures that the filtration system works efficiently. In addition, upgrading the system will save more energy, as they tend to use less energy than older filters.
• Automatic pool cleaners. If the pool has an automatic sweep, the most efficient way to use it is as follows: start the sweep 15 minutes after the filtration pump is running, and stop it 15 minutes before the filtration pump is finished. 
• Install a windbreak. A light wind can increase energy consumption by up to 30%. Windbreaks should be high enough and close enough to the pool to save energy.
• Use timers. Timers switch off the power to the filter system at pre-set intervals, making it easier to manage and save energy.
• Prevent evaporation. Evaporation of water is the most energy-consuming form of water in swimming pools. Between 70% and 90% of water heat loss is due to evaporation. Preventing it will result in significant energy savings.

Saving electricity with solar panels

In order to promote the use of the panels, the government has regulated subsidies for communities of neighbours who are willing to use them. To apply for them, it is necessary to contact your local town hall.

There are 3 types of grants:

• Reductions in Real Estate Tax (IBI) IBI is a tax that is levied on the value of properties according to their cadastral classification. The amount and the deadlines depend on each town hall. 

Important: this bonus is only available in the three periods following the completion of the installation.

• Income tax reductions (IRPF) :a rebate of 20% if energy efficiency improvement works have been carried out.
• Aid from the Autonomous Communities: in Andalusia, benefits can cover up to 65% of the cost of the installation.

Extra tips for energy saving in buildings

Finally, we bring you some extra tips to save as much as possible.

• Thermal insulation: By covering the façade with a mineral wool or polystyrene blanket, heat or cold loss or entry into the building is prevented. This will achieve a reduction in consumption of between 50% and 60%.
• Vertical gardencan be installed on facades or terraces. Some of its benefits are, it reduces the temperature, which means a saving of 30% or if the building has solar panels, the plants increase their efficiency.
• Outdoor lighting: use LED lights, in corridors, landings... As well as installing presence detectors to reduce their use.
• Energy consumption analysis: This analysis, carried out by a professional, will help to reduce the billing between 20% and 40%. It consists of determining the electricity expenditure that is being generated, and eliminating or reducing excessive or unnecessary consumption. 

In conclusion, there are many simple tricks that can be implemented to save electricity in housing estates, and that allow a reduction in the electricity bill.

You may also be interested in this article we wrote some time ago, to complement the information we have provided on energy saving in communities.

If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us, Meridional will be happy to inform you.