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Household energy demand

How much energy will households need in the future? The answer depends ... read more

How much energy will households need in the future?

The answer depends on your assumptions about the adoption of new technologies and economic or population growth, for example. You can fill in these assumptions and the graphs will show how things change.

Households mostly need heat and electricity. Heat use has been steadily decreasing the past years, because of better insulation in houses. Electricity demand has kept increasing. As we get richer, we use ever more electrical appliances. hide text

• Demand growth

  The changes in energy use per person you indicate here are due to changes in personal prosperity. This is excluding efficiencies and technological changes you can indicate in the subsections below.
  The demand is also influenced by the population growth and the rate at which existing houses are replaced.

  %/year
  Population
  How do you expect the population to grow? Apart from increasing prosperity, this is one of the most important drivers for the energy demand growth.
  Electricity per person
  Note: these changes in energy use exclude the use of the efficient technologies that you can choose below (Appliances, Lighting, Heating & Cooling).
  
  Here you indicate how you expect demand for electricity per person to change. This is mainly determined by growth in prosperity. As people become richer, their energy consumption inevitably increases as they acquire ever more appliances, larger houses, etc.
  Heat per person
  Note: these changes in energy use exclude the use of the efficient technologies that you can choose below (Heating & Cooling).
  
  Here you indicate how you expect heat demand per person to change. This is mainly determined by growth in prosperity. As people become richer, their energy consumption inevitably increases as they start living in larger houses etc.
  Cooling per person
  Note: these changes in energy use exclude the use of those efficient technologies that you can choose below (Heating & Cooling).
  
  Please indicate how you expect the demand for cooling per person to change. This is mainly determined by growth in prosperity. As people become richer, their energy consumption inevitably increases as they acquire ever larger houses, airconditioning, etc.
  Hot water per person
  Note: these changes in energy use exclude the use of the efficient technologies that you can choose below (Heating & Cooling).
  
  Here you indicate how you expect demand for hot water per person to change. This is mainly determined by growth in prosperity. As people become richer, their energy consumption inevitably increases as they start living in larger houses etc.
  Replacement of existing houses
  What is the rate at which existing houses are replaced?
  
  For the Netherlands, this rate has been 0,25% per year on average over the last twenty years. We exclude newly built houses that do not replace existing ones.

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• Insulation

  Insulation is cheap and effective. The demand for heating or cooling depends on the level of insulation. We make a distinction between old houses (built before 1995) and new houses (built since 1995), since the levels of insulation differ. help me choose

  insulation level
  Insulation level old houses scale 1-3
  Will old residences (built before 1995) be better insulated in the future?
  
  We have several options to better insulate our houses. The most important ones are roof, wall, floor insulation and insulated glazing. These four options count for 75% of the total potential savings. The insulation level can be expressed as a Rc-value. This thermal resistance is a measure for the heat and cold that is resisted by a construction. Thus, the higher the Rc-value, the better the insulation level of the residence.
  
  For the Netherlands, the average Rc-value of old residences is about 1. This is the result of a mix between bad, partially, and well insulated residences. For old residences an average Rc-value of about 3 is the maximum obtainable. It should be noted here that it is difficult to calculate an average Rc-value, since in general windows have a much lower Rc-value than for example walls.
  Insulation level new houses scale 2.5-6
  Will new residences (built since 1995) be better insulated in the future?
  
  We have several options to better insulate our houses. The most important ones are roof, wall, floor insulation and insulated glazing. These four options count for 75% of the total potential savings. The insulation level can be expressed as a Rc-value. This thermal resistance is a measure for the heat and cold that is resisted by a construction. Thus, the higher the Rc-value, the better the insulation level of the residence.
  
  For the Netherlands, the average Rc-value of new residences is about 2,5. For new residences an average Rc-value of about 4 is the maximum obtainable. Certain newly built energy 'passive' houses, however, might reach an Rc-value of 10.
  It should be noted here that it is difficult to calculate an average Rc-value, since in general windows have a much lower Rc-value than for example walls.

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• Space heating

  How will households be heated? Many countries can save a lot of energy by being smarter about how buildings are heated. help me choose

  combined with hot water share
  Condensing combi boiler
  All heat that is not generated with any of the methods below will be generated using a condensing gas-fired heater for a central heating system. These systems are quite energy efficient, but not the most efficient heaters use gas. To see which are more efficient, try some sliders below.
  These boilers also produce hot water for showering and other uses. Hot water production is slightly less efficient than producing heat for the central heating system.
  These boilers emit CO₂. The latter is a problem if you wish to reduce emissions significantly.
  Heat pump (ground)
  A heat pump moves heat from one place to another. Heat pumps are used in refrigerators, but buildings can use them for heating and cooling. This saves energy compared to a gas-fired central heating boiler, for example. For optimal application, it does often require installation of under-floor and wall heating instead of radiators. Currently, their use in newly constructed houses is becoming quite popular, since European legislation dictates that domestic energy consumption must decrease.
  
  Heat pumps can run on gas or electricity. This is an electric heat pump, as it draws its heat from the ground. Gas-fired heat pumps are more often used to draw their heat from the air. Heat pumps and micro-CHPs are not a very useful combination.
  
  Micro-CHP
  The micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) unit is a tiny gas-fired heat and power plant for domestic use. Depending on what year you have chosen as your future year, the model uses a different kind of micro CHP, changing from 5 kW thermal en 1 kW electric now, to 1 kWth and 1 kWe in 2050.
  Future micro CHPs will supply less heat, because they are meant to be used in well-insulated houses. In 2050 they are mostly suited for supplying hot water and no longer for space heating. If you have not decreased household heating demand by insulation, micro-CHPs in the distant future (2040 - 2050) will not be able to supply all the required heat. In that case the model supposes that a back-up gas-fired heater produces the additional heat. In practice the potential for this will be limited. Insulating houses well is a condition for micro-CHPs to function optimally in 2040 - 2050.
  
  Combining a micro-CHP and a heat pump is not useful.
  District heating
  District heating networks deliver heat to households, which has been generated elsewhere. Often this heat comes from local CHP's (combined heat and power) or even a power plant (via a large scale city heating network).
  
  Heat networks can also carry renewable heat, for example if geothermal wells provide the heat.
  space heating only share
  Solar thermal panels
  Solar water heaters (SWH) use solar thermal panels to produce warm water using heat from the sun. This heat can be used to heat a building. SWHs are installed on rooftops or in asphalt for parking lots, for example. A SWH is often combined with a gas-fired central heating boiler that heats water further if necessary (especially in winter). It is also advantageously combined with a heat pump.
  
  
  Heat pump (add-on)
  An add-on heat pump is a heat pump that can be added to an existing gas-fired heater. It draws heat from the air, except on cold days when this consumes too much energy. In those cases, the gas heater is used for part or all of the heating. This heat-pump can deliver approximately 70% of all heat demand.
  
  The advantage of an add-on heat pump is that you can install it in an existing house and you do not need under-floor or wall heating, but rely on regular radiators.
  Heat pump with TS
  Thermal storage works by storing a building's heat underground by cooling it with water from a water basin or aquifer in summer and using that heat in winter for heating the building. Alternatively the natural heat of cold of ground water or roads, for example, can be used.
  
  Heat pumps are more efficient when used in combination with thermal storage, because less energy has to be added to cool or heat water to the right temperature. It is difficult to realize underground thermal storage in densely populated areas so this is only lucrative for 'collectives' like housing estates or entire housing blocks.
  Gas-fired heat pump
  A gas-fired heat pump is similar to an electric heat pump except that the energy driving the process comes from gas, not electricity. This heat pump takes its heat from the outside air, which makes it easier and cheaper to install than the heat pump that takes its heat from the ground or underground water. Depending on how the electricity for electric heat pumps is produced, gas-fired heat pumps are roughly as efficient as electric ones.
  
  On cold winter days, gas-fired heat pumps in effect turn into gas-fired heaters, since little ambient heat is available. This is vastly preferable to electric heat pumps that draw their heat from the outside air (not found in this model) and require additional electric heating capacity for cold days. The latter will require investments to reinforce electricity grids.
  Wood pellet stove
  This is a wood pellet-fired stove. These are quite efficient and fully automated in that they draw their fuel from an attached silo.
  
  It is assumed the biomass used has been produced sustainably. Still, transporting biomass consumes fuel and the smaller the scale at which it is used, the less 'green' this option becomes.
  
  Conventional stoves or fireplaces have not been included separately.
  Electric heater
  Electric heaters directly convert electricity back to heat.
  Some people believe this is a waste of energy. Electricity is a very versatile form of energy and low-grade heat can only be used to heat buildings or make hot water. The waste is even bigger if the electricity is generated using fossil fuels.
  
  Electric heaters need to be able to produce a lot of heat quickly, so they can have a large impact on the energy grid. Especially if they are added to electric heat pumps as extra heating capacity during cold days, impact on the local electricity grid can be extreme. If you want to see what will happen to the grid you can set the electric heater slider to the same percentage as electric heat pumps (ground).
  Gas-fired heater
  These are the same heaters as the "Condensing combi boiler", except that they do not produce hot water, but only heat for a central heating systems. This makes them on average a little more efficient than their 'combi' counterparts.
  Oil-fired heater
  This shows what part of heating is produced by oil-fired heaters. These are still quite common in many countries. Their advantage is that under normal circumstances fuel oil burns slowly and completely, producing no air pollutants other than CO₂. A considerable disadvantage is the fact that oil tanks tend to start leaking after a few decades and this can cause significant pollution of soil and drinking water.
  Coal-fired heater
  What percentage of heating demand in households is met by coal-firing?
  
  The mix you fill in here is probably mostly determined by fuel prices and environmental legislation.

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• Hot water

  How will households produce their warm water? Your choices for heating and hot water should be consistent. help me choose

  combined with space heating share
  Condensing combi boiler
  All warm water that is not generated with any of the methods below will be generated using the condensing gas-fired heater for a central heating system.
  These boilers also produce hot water for showering and other uses. Hot water production is slightly less efficient than producing heat for the central heating system.
  Heat pump (ground)
  This slider sets what percentage of your hot water is produced using the technologies you have chosen to provide space heating.
  
  This slider concerns a heat pump that draws its heat from a ground source (see 'Space heating' for more information).
  Micro-CHP
  The micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) unit is a tiny gas-fired heat and power plant for domestic use. Depending on what year you have chosen as your future year, the model uses a different kind of micro CHP, changing from 5 kW thermal en 1 kW electric now, to 1 kWth and 1 kWe in 2050.
  Future micro CHPs will supply less heat, because they are meant to be used in well-insulated houses. In 2050 they are mostly suited for supplying hot water and no longer for space heating. If you have not decreased household heating demand by insulation, micro-CHPs in the distant future (2040 - 2050) will not be able to supply all the required heat. In that case the model supposes that a back-up gas-fired heater produces the additional heat. In practice the potential for this will be limited. Insulating houses well is a condition for micro-CHPs to function optimally in 2040 - 2050.
  
  The combination of heat and electricity makes this option quite energy efficient, especially in houses that have a large heat demand. The micro-CHP replaces the gas-fired central heating boiler. The heat produced is used for heating building spaces or water. If not all produced electricity is used, it is delivered back to the electricity grid, just like with solar panels.
  
  Combining a micro-CHP and a heat pump is not useful.
  District heating
  District heating networks deliver heat to households, which has been generated elsewhere. Often this heat comes from local CHP's (combined heat and power) or even a power plant (via a large scale city heating network).
  
  Heat networks can also carry renewable heat, for example if geothermal wells provide the heat.
  hot water only share
  Wood stove
  This is a wood pellet-fired stove. These are quite efficient and fully automated in that they draw their fuel from an attached silo.
  
  It is assumed the biomass used has been produced sustainably. Still, transporting biomass consumes fuel and the smaller the scale at which it is used, the less 'green' this option becomes.
  
  Conventional stoves or fireplaces have not been included separately.
  Fuel cell
  This is a so-called Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC). Fuel cells are electrochemical conversion devices that produce electricity directly from oxidizing a fuel. Fuel cells are highly efficient and produce, besides electricity, also heat.
  This fuel cell uses gas but is somewhat flexible when it comes to the kind of fuel it uses. The largest disadvantage is that is operates at high temperatures (500 - 1000 °C), which results in longer start-up times. In households this is not a problem as they are basically constantly running, producing warm water that is stored in a container until it is needed.
  
  This device provides more electricity than a typical household needs, turning its owner into a net electricity producer.
  Electric boiler
  Electric boiler produce hot water by converting electricity to heat.
  Some people believe this is a waste of energy. Electricity is a very versatile form of energy and low-grade heat can only be used to heat buildings or make hot water. The waste is even bigger if the electricity is generated using fossil fuels.
  Gas water heater
  A gas water heater is a slightly obsolete means of producing hot water using a gas burner. The hot water is not stored in a boiler tank, but flows directly from the tap. This Energy Transition Model uses this technology as the remainder category.
  Oil-fired heater
  This slider sets what percentage of your hot water is produced using the technologies you have chosen to provide space heating.
  
  This slider concerns a standard oil-fired heater (see 'Space heating' for more information).
  Coal-fired heater
  What percentage of warm water demand in households is made by coal-firing boilers? These are not very common, but they do exist.
  market penetration share
  Solar water heater
  Solar water heaters (SWH) use solar thermal panels to produce warm water using heat from the sun. This heat can be used to heat shower or do the dishes, for example. SWHs are installed on rooftops or in asphalt for parking lots, for example. A SWH is often combined with a gas-fired central heating boiler that heats water further if necessary (especially in winter). It can also be combined with a heat pump.

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• District heating

  Space heating and hot water can come from district heat networks. Where will these networks obtain their heat? Are they connected to local sources or to a larger city heating network?

  share
  Gas CHP
  Small Combined heat and power (CHP) engines like these (~1 MWe and 1 MWth) are gas-fired engines that generate both heat and electricity. The combination of heat and electricity makes this option quite energy efficient. Also, locally producing and using heat and electricity reduces transportation losses and saves energy. CHPs are primarily used at sites with a predictable demand for heat, such as housing estates for example.
  
  A gas-fired CHP uses more natural gas to make heat than a good gas-fired boiler, and is only attractive if the electricity is used or can be sold over the grid.
  
  More information on units...
  Biomass CHP
  Small biomass-fired combined heat and power (CHP) plants generate both heat and electricity. The combination of heat and electricity makes this option quite energy efficient. Also, producing and using heat and electricity locally reduces transportation losses and saves energy. CHPs are primarily used at sites with a predictable demand for heat, such as collective housing estates.
  
  Biomass CHPs and waste incinerators tend to be larger than ~20 MWe, so biomass use can be concentrated. Biomass has a low energy density, after all, so transport needs to be limited.
  
  More information on units...
  Geothermal
  Geothermal heat’s potential is theoretically huge. This slider provides low grade heat (< 100 °C) from several kilometers underground.
  
  
  Centralized district heating
  District heating is heat supplied by a large scale city heating grid. The heat is produced in a nearby power plant or waste incineration plant. Heat networks may also be supplied by huge boilers that produce no electricity at all. A heat network solutions can be quite energy efficient, since electricity production in thermal power plants inevitably leads to energy loss in the form of heat. Of course, it only saves energy if end users do not end up wasting the 'cheap' heat. The transportation and distribution of heat over a distance aslo produces some loss, but usually is still more efficient than having individual options in each household.
  
  When you set this slider and there is not enough excess heat from central power stations, waste incineration plants or central boilers you will have to provide more of these options under supply.

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• Cooling

  How will households be cooled? Some of the same technologies as listed under 'Space Heating' can be used here. help me choose

  share
  Heat pump (ground)
  A heat pump moves heat from one place to another. Heat pumps are used in refrigerators, but buildings can use them for heating and cooling. For optimal application, it does often require installation of under-floor and wall heating instead of radiators. Currently, their use in newly constructed houses is becoming quite popular, since European legislation dictates that domestic energy consumption must decrease.
  
  Heat pumps can run on gas or electricity. This is an electric heat pump, as it draws its heat from the ground. Gas-fired heat pumps are more often used to draw their heat from the air. Heat pumps and micro-CHPs are not a very useful combination.
  Heat pump with TS
  Thermal storage works by storing a building's heat underground by cooling it with water from a water basin or aquifer in summer. This heat can be used again in winter for heating the building. Alternatively the natural heat of cold of ground water or roads, for example, can be used.
  
  Heat pumps are more efficient when used in combination with thermal storage, because less energy has to be added to cool or heat water to the right temperature. It is difficult to realize underground thermal storage in densely populated areas so this is only lucrative for 'collectives' like housing estates or entire housing blocks.
  Gas-fired heat pump
  A gas-fired heat pump is similar to an electric heat pump except that the energy driving the process comes from gas, not electricity. This heat pump takes its heat from the outside air, which makes it easier and cheaper to install than the heat pump that takes its heat from the ground or underground water. Depending on how the electricity for electric heat pumps is produced, gas-fired heat pumps are roughly as efficient as electric ones for heating. For cooling they are less efficient.
  Airconditioning
  This indicates the extent to which air conditioning is used to cool houses and apartments. Currently, most cooling is provided by air conditioning and the model uses it as a remainder.

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• Cooking

  Will energy use change much if households change the way they cook?

  share
  Gas
  Gas cooking is popular in countries where there is an abundance of natural gas and a gas distribution network. The efficiency of a gas stove is 40% and is lower than the electric alternatives since a lot of heat is lost to the environment. Although electric cooking may therefore appear more efficient, it is important to take the entire 'well-to-potato' chain into account, meaning that in some cases gas cooking might be advantageous. Electricity production in power plants also leads to losses.
  
  Only the costs due to the difference in energy demand are considered. The costs of the stove are not taken into account in the Energy Transition Model.
  Electric
  Electric cookers are a popular in urban and suburban areas where there is no access to a natural gas network. Electric stoves use resistive heating coils to produce heat and have an efficiency of approximately 55% (excluding electricity production and transport losses).
  The disadvantage of electric stoves is the time required to warm the stove and the inability to quickly change the cooking temperature.
  
  Only the costs due to the difference in energy demand are considered. The costs of the stove are not taken into account in the Energy Transition Model.
  Halogen
  Halogen stoves use electricity to produce infrared radiation and red light to heat food. Halogen stoves can be identified by the special toughened ceramic glass stove tops. Compared to electric stoves, halogen stoves heat up and cool down quicker offering more flexibility during cooking and improved efficiency. The efficiency of a halogen stove is approximately 60% (excluding losses that occur when electricity is produced).
  
  Only the costs due to the difference in energy demand are considered. The costs of the stove are not taken into account in the Energy Transition Model.
  Induction
  An induction cooker uses a type of induction heating for cooking. What sets it apart from other common forms of stovetop cooking, is the fact that the heat is generated directly in the cooking vessel, as opposed to being transferred from the stovetop to the pan by electrical coils or burning gas. Because of this, special pans are required for induction cookers. The efficiency of an induction stove is very high, approximately 83-90%.
  
  Only the costs due to the difference in energy demand are considered. The costs of the stove are not taken into account in the Energy Transition Model.
  Biomass
  Cooking on biomass includes different fuels and technologies, among which wood, wood pallets, bio-gas and bio-oil. Old fashioned wood stoves have a very low efficiency for cooking. The efficiency of the biomass stove in the Energy Transition Model is 30% and is lower than the natural gas and electric alternatives since a lot of heat is lost to the environment.
  
  Only the costs due to the difference in energy demand are considered. The costs of the stove are not taken into account in the Energy Transition Model.

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• Appliances

  There is ample room for improvement of household appliances. How much more energy efficient do you think they will become?

  change
  Dish washer
  How much more efficient do you think dish washers will be in the future?
  
  National and European legislation is forcing household appliances to use ever less energy. The energy labels that are mandatory nowadays in all European countries give a good indication of the energy efficiency of household appliances.
  
  The starting value of this slider is the current average label of dish washers. Use the slider to give an estimation of the average label of dish washers in the future. The A++++ label corresponds to an energy reduction of 79% compared to today.
  Fridge / Freezer
  How much more efficient do you think fridges and freezers will be in the future?
  
  National and European legislation is forcing household appliances to use ever less energy. The energy labels that are mandatory nowadays in all European countries give a good indication of the energy efficiency of household appliances.
  
  The starting value of this slider is the current average label of fridges and freezers. Use the slider to give an estimation of the average label of fridges and freezers in the future. The A++++ label corresponds to an energy reduction of 96% compared to today.
  Washing machine
  How much more efficient do you think washing machines will be in the future?
  
  National and European legislation is forcing household appliances to use ever less energy. The energy labels that are mandatory nowadays in all European countries give a good indication of the energy efficiency of household appliances.
  
  The starting value of this slider is the current average label of washing machines. Use the slider to give an estimation of the average label of washing machines in the future. The A++++ label corresponds to an energy reduction of 86% compared to today.
  Dryer
  How much more efficient do you think wash dryers will be in the future?
  
  National and European legislation is forcing household appliances to use ever less energy. The energy labels that are mandatory nowadays in all European countries give a good indication of the energy efficiency of household appliances.
  
  The starting value of this slider is the current average label of dryers. Use the slider to give an estimation of the average label of dryers in the future. The A++++ label corresponds to an energy reduction of 77% compared to today.
  appliances without label change
  Television
  How much more efficient do you think televisions will be in the future?
  
  New technologies such as LED displays reduce energy consumption. But keep in mind that large televisions of course consume more energy than small ones using the same technology. As a result, each television uses more energy today than it did several years ago.
  
  Use the slider to give an estimation of the reduction in energy consumption of televisions.
  Computer / Media
  How much more efficient do you think computers and other audio/video appliances (excluding television) will be in the future?
  Vacuum cleaner
  How much more efficient do you think vacuum cleaners will be in the future?
  Other
  How much more efficient do you think other appliances will be in the future?
  
  This category includes:
  Personal care
  Leisure
  Kitchenware (exclusive of cooking)
  Ventilation

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• Lighting

  Lighting is a small but obvious part of a household's need for energy.

  share
  Incandescent
  The demand for lighting not supplied by the technologies listed below is supplied by ordinary incandescent light bulbs.
  
  Many EU countries will ban the incandescent light bulb in the future. They only convert about 2-3% of the energy used into visible light. The rest is radiated as heat. They also do not live very long compared to newer technologies. An advantage is that they tend to give off a 'warm' light.
  
  Lifetime comparison:
  • LED-light: ~50.000 hours
  • ESLB: ~7.500 hours
  • Incandescent: ~1.000 hours
  Low-energy light bulb
  What share of lighting comes from Energy-saving light bulbs (ESLB)?
  
  Many EU countries will ban the incandescent light bulb in the future. ESLBs use ~75% less energy than incandescent light bulbs, but about twice as much as LED-lights. Not all ESLBs can be thrown away without danger of polluting the environment, as they contain toxic substances. Incandescent light bulbs or LED-lights do not. ESLB's lifetime is shortened when they are often rapidly switched on and off.
  
  Lifetime comparison:
  • LED-light: ~50.000 hours
  • ESLB: ~7.500 hours
  • Incandescent: ~1.000 hours
  Light Emitting Diode
  What share of lighting comes from Light Emitting Diodes?
  
  Many EU countries will ban the incandescent light bulb in the future. LEDs use only 10% of the energy of a normal light bulb and about half of an energy saving light bulb (ESLB). Unlike ESLB’s LEDs can be switched on and off rapidly without decreasing their lifetime. LED-lights cost 5 to 50 times more than the alternatives. Their chief disadvantage is that they are not (yet) optimally suited for evenly lighting up a room.
  
  Lifetime comparison:
  • LED-light: ~50.000 hours
  • ESLB: ~7.500 hours
  • Incandescent: ~1.000 hours

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• Behavior

  Will changing our behavior make a big difference for household energy consumption?

  change
  Turn off appliances
  How many people will change their behavior to save energy?
  
  Many electric appliances use electricity even if they are switched off. In this "standby" mode appliances like televisions can still use between 10 to 15 Watts of electricity. Computers can even use up to 60 Watts when they are "switched off". Physically unplugging the device from the socket, or installing a standby killer or on/off switch on the wall socket can eliminate this "phantom load".
  
  Estimates vary on the total impact of this type of energy leaking, but it can be up to 20% of total power used for these kind of appliances. It is important to note that the total electricity use of these media appliances is very small compared to the total demand of power and heat in households. That is why this slider does not show a big decrease in the graph, even if 100% of the population changes their behavior in this way. On the other hand, a behavioral change in this area might also lead to behavioral changes that do matter, like taking the bicycle or public transport to work instead of the car.
  Turn off the light
  How many people will change their behavior to save energy?
  
  Many lights in the house are still switched on even if no one is there in the house, or when it is light outside. Switching of these lights can save some energy.
  
  The total amount of electricity used for lighting in households is small compared to the total demand for electricity and heat in households, so the effects of this behavioral change are not that high. In the buildings sector however, lighting makes up a significant portion of the total elektricity demand. Here making sure less light is used can lead to significant savings.
  Turn down heating
  How many people will change their behavior to save energy?
  
  Heating your home to a lower temperature (and wearing a sweater) or turning off the heating in rooms which are not currently being used can save a lot of energy used for heating.
  
  What percentage of the people do you think will turn down the heating of their home?
  Low-temperature washing
  How many people will change their behavior to save energy?
  
  Washing your laundy at 40 degrees Celcius instead of 60 degrees can save up to 50% of the electricity.
  
  What percentage of the people do you think will start washing their laundry at lower temperatures?

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• Decentral electricity

  Generating electricity locally saves energy and maybe also money in the future. help me choose

  % of potential
  Solar panels
  Market penetration means the percentage of households that has solar panels. We assume that all available roof space for each house is used.
  
  Solar cells transform sunlight into electricity. Solar panels are installed on rooftops and may compete for space with solar water heaters. This technology is developing rapidly and solar panels are becoming ever more efficient and cheaper. Solar panels are expected to become much cheaper in the coming 40 years. For more information, see the 'technology curves'.
  
  Solar panels produce electricity on site, so transport of electricity is not always required. This avoids losses on the grid and that saves energy. Feeding locally produced power back into the local power grid requires a higher capacity or smarter local grid, to prevent it from overloading.
  
  The electricity produced by these solar panels is shown in the chart on the right.