Energy Efficient Ibiza Homes – A Guide for Home Owners in Ibiza Part. 2

Improving the energy efficiency of our homes is essential for conserving resources, saving money, and helping the environment. Each of us has a crucial part to play as homeowners, to improve our homes’ energy performance and ultimately reduce our carbon footprint and waste. If we make simple changes, we can achieve better property energy efficiency and contribute greatly to our planet’s future well-being (and our household utility bills).

Our company, Prestige Properties is fully committed to promoting energy efficiency here in Ibiza as a firm supporter of green living. Previously, we published an "Energy Efficient Homes: A Guide for Homeowners in Ibiza" article, aimed at encouraging property owners and buyers to create energy-efficient homes, which we have now extended into part 2 – "Energy Efficient Homes: A Guide for Home Owners Part. 2"

So, let’s get started with our latest guide for those who want to get involved in green and sustainable living right from the comfort of their own homes. 


Energy Efficient Homes - A Guide for Home Owners in Ibiza Part 2

How to Save Energy at Home – Our Top Daily Tip for Your Ibiza Property


  1. Change to LED Light Bulbs

In comparison to incandescent, halogen, and compact fluorescent light bulbs, LED bulbs offer significant energy savings. In fact, LED light bulbs use up to 80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. So, by making the transition to LEDs, you will significantly reduce your carbon footprint and CO2 emissions.


  1. Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water

Although washing clothes in hot water is an effective way to get dirty items extra-clean, it is not cheap and of course, has harmful effects on the environment. 

Where possible, wash your clothes in cold water (unless they are heavily soiled garments). Generating hot water for washing increases energy consumption by up to 90%, therefore, by switching to cold water each household has the potential to save a significant amount of energy on a regular basis. What’s more, cool water also slows the fading of colors and shrinking of fabrics, helping your clothes last longer! 


  1. Air Seal Your Ibiza Home

Something we covered in our last article – A Guide for Home Owners in Ibiza, but equally important advice to revisit.  Sealing cracks, gaps, and leaks, and adding insulation can save up to 10% on home heating and cooling costs.  Property factors such as roofing, solid walls, ventilation, thermal bridges, water tightness, damp-proofing, and sealing should always be monitored, reviewed, and renewed where possible. If your home has single-paned windows, think about replacing them with more energy-efficient ones.


  1. Clean or Replace All Filters 

Dirty or clogged filters make systems like air conditioners and dryers work harder and longer than necessary.  It is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 15% with regular cleaning and maintenance that will ensure steady performance and appropriate use of energy. 


  1. Care for Your Refrigerator and Freezer 

As a general rule, refrigerators and freezers operate most efficiently when they are full, so keep all those shelves in use. However, you should not overfill them, since overfilling will restrict airflow and force the device to work harder.  Remember to avoid excessive cooling and energy waste by following the manufacturer’s temperature regulation recommendations and be sure to clean your appliances before ice builds up to ensure they are all running efficiently.


  1. Use Natural Resources for Light, Shade, Heating, and Cooling

Utilise your surrounding natural resources to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home and eliminate the need for energy-consuming appliances. During the cooler months, open up the shades and let the sunshine enter to warm your home, or use the shades or tinted window panes to do just the opposite.  And, where it is possible to use the natural light, turn off the lights.  Typically, household lighting accounts for 12 percent of a household’s total energy usage.


  1. Be Mindful of Electronics & Appliances in your Ibiza Villa

Make sure you do not leave your electronics on all day long. It is always recommended to turn off your computer, TV monitor, radio and electrical appliances when they are not in use, and only put them on when you really need them. Also, try to avoid plugging in your mobile phone to charge overnight, it only takes a few hours to charge. 

Bake without peeking! Your oven has to use more energy when the temperature drops every time you peek. If you have time, turn off the oven before the cooking time is up, the heat already generated will be enough to finish the cooking process without using extra energy. 

When possible, use high-energy appliances such as dishwashers, washers, and dryers at night. It is common for utility providers to offer lower energy costs during certain times of the day, and certainly overnight. Making plans to do your laundry overnight will not only help you save money on your energy bills, but you will also be doing the planet a big favor. Finally, air-dry when possible, hang laundry outside or on a drying rack and avoid using the dryer altogether. Household sustainability and energy efficiency can be improved with small yet effective measures.


  1. Be Intentional with Your Ibiza Property Thermostat 

If you set your thermostat just a few degrees higher or lower, depending on the season, you will be able to save about 6% to 8% on your energy bill per degree. Your home will not be noticeably cooled or heated any faster by setting your thermostat at a lower or higher temperature than is necessary. It is highly recommended to install a programmable thermostat for your home that will automatically adjust the temperature according to the schedule you set up.  


  1. Recycle, Reuse and Reduce in Ibiza 

For the year 2019, Ibiza generated an average of 662kg of waste per person. The statistics exceeded the national average by 36.4%. Naturally, Ibiza’s landfill is unable to keep up with this large volume of waste which is why we must be intentional and proactive with our activity of daily living and promote waste reduction.  


European Week for Waste Reduction (EWWR) - Prestige Properties beach clean up 2021

According to IbizaPreservation, offers the following list of points to keep in mind act upon:

  • Before buying, think twice – buy only what you really need.
  • Avoid excessively packaged items
  • Refuse plastic bags – bring your own bag or basket to the grocery store.
  • Refuse throwaway plastics – choose reusable products.
  • Refuse plastic straws.
  • Take advantage of organic waste to compost.
  • Use the recycling points on the island – yellow, green, and blue bins.
  • Donate the things you no longer use, or sell them at a flea market or auction & buy second-hand items where possible.

Ibiza also has a good network of selective waste collection points with three main containers:

  • Yellow is for "packaging" where you can deposit different types of containers: plastic, aluminum, metal, and Tetra Brik type containers (milk, soup, juice, sugar boxes).
  • The green container is for glass.
  • Blue is intended for "cardboard packaging", where you can deposit cardboard boxes and paper. 


Every contribution is valuable to the whole and all of our actions will make a difference. In the end, the most important thing to remember is that living or staying in an energy-efficient home always creates a cleaner, greener island for both now and in the future.




Resources & Further Information

Solar Energy:
https://ibizapreservation.org/green-info/support-solar-energy
https://ibizapreservation.org/esp/actua-en-verde/apoya-la-energia-solar

Saving Water:
https://ibizapreservation.org/green-info/save-water/
https://ibizapreservation.org/esp/actua-en-verde/ahorra-agua/

Reduce waste:
https://ibizapreservation.org/green-info/reduce-waste/
https://ibizapreservation.org/esp/actua-en-verde/reduce-residuos/

Preventing Forest Fires:
https://ibizapreservation.org/green-info/prevent-forest-fires/
https://ibizapreservation.org/esp/actua-en-verde/evita-los-incendios-forestales/

Energy-Efficient Homes:
https://ibizapreservation.org/green-info/energy-efficient-homes/
https://ibizapreservation.org/esp/actua-en-verde/viviendas-eficientes-energeticamente/



Thank you for staying updated with us at Prestige Properties. We hope to see you soon!


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