If your gas bill is higher than you’d like, there are five simple steps to save gas at home and cut costs, as recommended by DECO PROTeste.
“The price of gas, in all its forms for domestic consumption (natural, piped propane, and bottled), significantly impacts the monthly bill. Saving gas at home is therefore imperative. More than half of national households depend on bottled gas,” the consumer protection organization explains on its website.
Five Tips to Save on Your Gas Bill
1. Reduce Gas Consumption in the Kitchen
“Did you know that the kitchen and bathroom are where energy consumption is highest at home? There are several practices that can help save water, gas, and electricity.
- Use the dishwasher at full capacity instead of washing dishes by hand.
- Avoid washing dishes under running water if you need to wash by hand.
- Prepare all ingredients before turning on the stove or oven.
- Use lids on pots to speed up cooking.
- Lower the heat after boiling.
- Whenever possible, cook with a pressure cooker. You can save about 15 percent on gas.
- When using the oven, avoid opening it frequently and try to cook multiple dishes simultaneously.
- Turn off the oven before the dish is fully cooked to use residual heat to finish.”
2. Avoid Immersion Baths in the Bathroom
“To reduce water and gas consumption in the bathroom, consider some practical tips.
- Always prefer quick showers and do not leave the tap running while lathering.
- Remember that a daily 10-minute shower, considering a family of three, can lead to a water consumption of between 5,400 and 18,000 liters per month, depending on shower efficiency. Try to limit it to five minutes to save these costs.
- During the shower, keep the tap open only for the necessary time to wet yourself and rinse shampoo and soap. In this way, a family of three can save up to 100,000 liters of water per year.
- Install an efficient showerhead with reduced flow. This way, you avoid using more gas than necessary.”
3. Save Gas Through Thermal Insulation
“Instead of heating the whole house, keep the heating on only in the rooms you are in. Ideally, invest in home thermal insulation. You can seal doors and windows. If you have good window frames, the temperature does not escape from rooms so easily, especially if the heating is gas-powered. Always set the equipment to moderate temperatures; it is the best way to save on consumption.”
4. Buy Efficient Appliances
“Always choose energy-efficient appliances, preferably with good performance. For gas ovens, select one with an internal ventilation function. This way, heat is evenly distributed without waste.”
5. Switch to the Regulated Market
“Consumers in the liberalized natural gas market can now return to the regulated tariff, a change made possible by legislation in 2022. This decision corresponds to a longstanding demand from DECO PROTeste. It is an important opportunity to save gas at home, similar to what has happened with electricity since 2018.”
