For the end of this year, as part of the LIFE IP CARE4CLIMATE project, a Climate Café was hosted in the Domžale Library, and its programme was enhanced by an interesting lecture on ways to save energy in households.
Dr Ivan Kenda, a long-time energy consultant, led us through the introductory part and inspired visitors' with an informative lecture. Dr Kenda not only stressed ways to save energy in the household, but also set out the reasons why we need to use natural resources wisely in our everyday lives. His lecture was based on concrete examples and was full of useful advice that can easily be put into practice in everyday life. For example, he noted that the simple iron is one of the major energy consumers in the household and recommended short-term ironing at a lower temperature. We only have to make sure that we shake out the laundry well before hanging and folding it. He stressed that energy-saving measures do not mean that we should give up our comforts.
The discussion then continued with the participation of guests from the Ministry of Infrastructure: Pia Primec, Under-Secretary at the Sustainable Mobility and Transport Policy Directorate, and Davor Rašić, Undersecretary at the Energy Directorate, in the energy use sector. The guests highlighted energy efficiency measures from various aspects, including sustainable mobility, energy efficiency and practical energy saving measures in residential buildings.
Among other things, Davor Rašić dispelled the myth that manual dishwashing was more energy efficient than machine washing. He explained that this belief was mistaken, as dishwashers use less hot water than washing dishes by hand. The opposite, however, is true for tumble dryers, since laundry can be dried in the air much more efficiently and this mode of drying also extends the lifespan of clothes. He presented to the audience the Belt label, which makes it possible to calculate the energy efficiency of household appliances. With the help of this label, we can check which appliance in our household is the least efficient in case we are considering replacing it with a more efficient one.
Similar to household appliances, the cost of a car can also be calculated. Pia Primec called attention to the fact that Slovenians are at the very top of European rankings in terms of the amount we spend on mobility in the family budget. Such costs account for as much as 17% thereof, which means that there is great potential for savings in this area. Pia Primec attached great importance to measures such as using public transport, cycling and walking, and reducing motorway speeds from 130 to 110 km/h, and she pointed out that when the driver is the sole person in a car it becomes the most energy-inefficient form of transportation. Among the advantages of sustainable forms of mobility, she emphasised well-being, better concentration at the workplace and savings in the personal budget; moreover, the social aspect of walking to work or shared transportation to work, for example, should not be neglected either.
The audience welcomed the event. One of the participants took out an electricity bill and the guest speakers explained some of the items contained therein. Members of the audience posed questions to the experts and exchanged concerns and questions with them.
After the debate, visitors to the Climate Café enjoyed fair trade coffee and chocolate biscuits made with fair trade chocolate. Both the coffee and biscuits were provided by the Buna Cooperative. The participants then proceeded to spin a “climate wheel of fortune” with great enthusiasm and successfully answered questions about climate change, thus earning sustainable awards, which were handed out.
Check out the highlights of the event in the gallery.
We invite you to also follow us next year for more information on the venues of upcoming Climate Cafés.