Consumer report: how to save on gas

Natural gas is used to heat your water and for cooking. So when you shower, cook on a gas stove or heat your house, you use gas. In recent years, we have also seen a downward trend in natural gas consumption: between 2012 and 2016 it decreased by 2.7% per year. How can you ensure that you use less gas with the help of smart home solutions?

1. Smart heating

Heating is important, but it also consumes a lot of energy. That is why it is important to heat smartly: only when needed in the rooms where it is needed. In practice, however, this is difficult to achieve in the household. Forgetting to turn off the radiator, opening a window while the heating is on and entire floors being heated when you turn up the thermostat are factors that cause your bill to be unnecessarily high.

Our tip: a  smart thermostat  with  smart radiator knobs . A smart thermostat ensures that you have more control over your heating and can also heat smarter. Most smart thermostats know when you are (almost) home and only then switch on the heating. Are you away from home or are you sleeping? Then the heating will automatically go down. With smart radiator buttons you are even able to heat rooms separately from each other. For example, you can choose to heat 1 bedroom, without having to switch on radiators on the entire top floor.

Do you want to know more about smart thermostats? Then take a look at this page . Here you will find, among other things, how these work. If you need help in choosing a smart thermostat,  check out our selection guide .

2. Radiator fans

Another smart home product that helps you to consume less is the radiator fan . You can also use this if you don’t have a smart thermostat, by the way. You place the radiator fan under your radiator. When the radiator rises above 33 degrees, the fan switches on. This ensures that the warm air is distributed more quickly throughout the room. The result: a warm room faster, so that the heating does not have to be on for as long. Immediate savings!

3. Insulate and ventilate

Good insulation is important in order not to lose the warm air in the house. Therefore, make sure that you insulate your entire house well by using HR ++ double glazing, insulating pipes, floors, roof and (cavity) walls.

Ventilation is also important. You may not expect it, but clean and dry air heats up faster than polluted and moist air. So make sure that the air in the house is clean. How can you do this? Start by measuring the air quality in your home with an indoor climate sensor , such as the  Netatmo Healthy Home Coach . This will let you know when you need to ventilate or air your house.

4. Compare your options

Comparing utility companies ensures you’re not overpaying for your energy.