Step 1: Conduct an audit of your consumption
Collect twelve months of bills and, where available, interval consumption data from your supplier. Compare seasonal patterns with heating, hot water, cooking and EV charging. A plug-in meter can measure suitable socket-powered appliances. Have any meter requiring work inside the electrical distribution board installed by an authorised professional; a whole-home meter alone does not identify every appliance.
Step 2: Eliminate standby consumption
Measure standby power before estimating savings. Switch off suitable equipment when it is not needed, while keeping safety systems, necessary network services and manufacturer requirements in mind. As an illustration, avoiding a continuous 10 W load saves 0.010 × 24 × 365 = 87.6 kWh per year. Multiply this by the electricity price actually avoided and subtract the cost of any new equipment.
Step 3: Switch completely to LED bulbs
Compare light output, colour rendering and actual operating hours before replacing lamps. In an illustrative example, replacing twenty 60 W lamps with 8 W LEDs, each used four hours per day, saves 20 × (60 − 8) × 4 × 365 / 1000 = 1518.4 kWh per year. Multiply this by the electricity price actually avoided. This example does not represent the average household; investment cost and payback depend on the number of lamps, their use and purchase prices.
Step 4: Use large appliances at off-peak times
Check whether your tariff changes by time of day and use the periods stated in your supplier’s current tariff sheet. Saving equals electricity rescheduled multiplied by the relevant price difference. For example, moving 400 kWh per year to a period costing CHF 0.06/kWh less saves CHF 24 per year. This is an illustration, not a Swiss tariff average. Consider noise, appliance safety and whether daytime solar consumption is more valuable.
Step 5: Optimize heating and water heater
Adjust heating to the building’s needs and compare measured consumption. Do not lower domestic hot water temperatures merely to save electricity: the Federal Office of Public Health recommends 60°C at the water heater outlet and 55°C in the pipe system to reduce Legionella growth. Have a qualified professional assess the installation, hygiene, scald protection and manufacturer’s instructions. A temperature setting alone does not guarantee the absence of Legionella. Electrical wiring and control changes must be performed by an authorised professional.
Step 6: Maintain your devices regularly
Follow the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions: inspect refrigerator seals, keep ventilation openings clear and have heating or hot water equipment serviced when required. Compare measured consumption before and after maintenance under similar conditions. A worn seal or scale deposit does not imply the same extra consumption in every appliance.
Step 7: Produce your own electricity with solar
Estimate usable roof area, shading and production alongside your hourly consumption. Solar electricity reduces grid purchases only when it is consumed on site, directly or after storage; exported surplus is paid under separate terms. Compare scenarios with and without a battery, including losses, maintenance, replacements, confirmed subsidies and applicable tax treatment. Size alone does not guarantee a self-sufficiency level or payback period.