Selecting the Correct Setting onthe Radiator
The settings on the radiator or thermostat correspond to the temperature to which the room should be heated:
- * approximately 5 degrees Celsius, frost protection
- Setting 1: about 12 degrees
- Setting 2: approximately 16 degrees
- Setting 3: approximately 20 degrees.
On the thermostat, the individual settings are marked by three lines. Each line represents one degree. Even a few degrees can make a big difference in energy consumption.
- In living areas, a temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius (Level 3) is usually sufficient
- In the kitchen, 18 degrees (Level 2–3) is appropriate
- In the bedroom, 17 to 18 degrees (level 2–3).
However, it shouldn’t get any colder than that, as this increases the risk of mold. The bathroom can be warmer; 22 degrees is ideal here.
At night, you can generally turn down the heat: The temperature in living and work areas can be lowered by 4 to 5 degrees at night. Still, you should make sure the rooms don’t cool down completely overnight. It takes a lot of energy to heat them back up. Tip: Turning the thermostat all the way up won’t make the room warm up any faster.
Tips:
Keep radiators clear
Furniture, curtains, wet laundry—none of these belong in front of or on top of radiators. If you want the heat to circulate well throughout the room, make sure the radiators aren’t covered.
Turn off the heat earlier
You can turn down the heat half an hour or a full hour before going to bed. This also saves a bit of energy and money. There are also digital thermostats that let you automatically set the desired times.
Close the Shutters/Curtains at Night
Darkened rooms don’t just help you sleep better. Blinds and curtains also prevent rooms from cooling down at night. This way, you’ll sleep well and save energy at the same time.
Ventilate Properly
Regular ventilation is important even during the heating season to maintain good air quality and reduce humidity. To prevent rooms from cooling down, windows should not be left in the “tilt” position for extended periods. It’s more effective and faster to open the windows fully several times a day and ventilate briefly and thoroughly for five minutes. This allows the air in the rooms to be refreshed without letting them get cold. The cooler the room temperature, the more often you need to ventilate to prevent mold growth.
Bonus Info: How much CO2 can be saved this way?
Due to the direct and indirect emissions generated by heating, heating systems account for approximately 63% of household CO2 emissions. According to the rule of thumb that lowering the temperature by 1 degree saves 6% energy, nearly 8 million metric tons of CO2 could be saved across Germany—if everyone were to lower their room temperature by just 1 degree.
