A sharp rise in electricity prices could significantly increase annual costs for families using electrically heated domestic hot water, according to Juhani Lempinen, product group manager at Finnish tap and shower manufacturer Oras.
Oras estimates that a family of four could spend around €3,000 a year on hot water during periods of high electricity prices. The calculation is based on a household where domestic hot water is heated with electricity.
According to Lempinen, showers and handwashing account for a significant share of the cost. In Oras’s calculation, a four-minute shower would cost around €1.30 at the highest assumed winter electricity prices.
“One four-minute shower costs around €1.30 at the most expensive winter prices. And in many families, there are four such showers every day,” Lempinen said in a statement.
The company estimates that washing hands once would cost around 10 cents under the same conditions.
Much of the hot water may be wasted
Lempinen says a substantial amount of water used during washing can run straight down the drain while people soap themselves or their hands.
During a four-minute shower, water may be running for around half the time without actually being needed for washing, he says. The same applies to handwashing if the tap is left running while soap is being used.
“Turn off the tap while soaping. Water consumption is cut in half, without making washing any less comfortable,” Lempinen said.
Lempinen says he was surprised by the size of the figures himself.
“When I calculated the numbers for the first time, I checked them twice. I could hardly believe them myself.”
The calculations apply specifically to domestic hot water heated with electricity. Costs in euros will differ with other heating systems, although the relative savings from reducing water consumption may be similar.