Year of frugality: officials advise to take shower instead of bath

The Minsk city executive committee gives advices on how to live in the Year of Frugality.

Deputy head of the energy department of the Minsk city executive committee Anatoly Launichuk gave his recommendations in an interview with Minski Kuryer newspaper.

“Minsk residents should understand the main thing: we talk about the rational use of all electric appliances with high energy consumption,” Anatoly Launichuk says. “A washing machine uses kilowatts of energy. Some people use the washing machine every day to wash a pair of socks and t-shirts, but it works at full capacity! Why not wash five killogrames of laundry at once?”

Microwaves ovens have become an ordinary thing, but no one calculates how much energy they consume.

“A microwave oven uses ten times energy per hour as much as a light bulb,” the specialist notes. “Let's take an electric kettle. Someone needs two cups of tea, but fills the kettle full not suspecting that he wastes his money. Try to turn off all lamps and leave the washing machine working and you'll see how quickly figures change on your electric meter!”

Specialists remind that home appliances continue to work in sleep mode: TV sets, computers, microwave ovens continue to consume energy in this mode and waste your money.

As for water, much is used for flushing the toilet. To save money, one can buy a toilet tank with two compartments of different volumes.

Specialists recommend to choose single level mixers rather than faucets with two valves that will allow to save 15% of water.

“Baths use 2 or 3 times more water than showers” Anatoly Launichuk says. “It's up to you to decide what to choose. The result will be seen in your utility bills.”