As our world's energy demands continue to rise, sustainable and efficient energy usage becomes increasingly critical. Particularly during the winter months, when the need for heating is paramount, natural gas usage holds significant importance. It is used to meet our daily needs for both heating and hot water, especially during extremely cold weather, whether at home or in workplaces. By using natural gas efficiently, not only can we protect our environment but also prevent waste, allowing us to budget more accurately.

What should be considered in buildings to use natural gas efficiently?

To use natural gas efficiently, there are several factors to consider when it comes to buildings, especially during relocation or renovation:

• Building insulation: Insulation in buildings can lead to savings of up to 50% in natural gas usage, depending on climate conditions.
• Metering system: With a metering system used in central systems, you only pay for the energy you use, leading to savings of up to 30%.
• Boiler usage: By adjusting your boiler to 1 degree lower temperature, you can save up to 6% on fuel consumption. Using household items that do not obstruct the flow of heat from radiators can prevent heat loss.

What can be done to use natural gas more efficiently?

To use natural gas more efficiently, there are several methods that can be applied individually. Let's explain these methods in more detail:

Heating:

When it comes to natural gas usage, heating is often the first thing that comes to mind. You can reduce natural gas costs while heating your space with a few simple methods. Let's list these methods:

• Place heat reflectors behind radiators.
• Avoid covering radiators with furniture, curtains, or similar items. If there is a cover or another item on the radiators, fuel consumption increases by up to 15%.
• Maintain an ideal room temperature between 20-22 degrees (°C). Use thermostats to control the temperature in rooms. If you don't have a thermostat, opt for thermostatic radiator valves. Turn off your thermostat if you're going to be away from home for more than a day.
• Use double-glazed windows or seal gaps around windows with specially designed sponges. Do not close systems that provide airflow such as ventilation or vents for your safety.

"There are many methods that we can individually apply to use natural gas more efficiently. With a few simple techniques, you can reduce natural gas costs while heating your space."

• Keeping your curtains closed at night helps to retain heat inside, resulting in significant energy savings. Close your curtains when the sun is shining through the windows.
• Keep doors to unheated areas of your home, such as corridors, bathrooms, toilets or entrances, open only when needed and for short periods of time.
• Avoid turning your boilers on and off frequently. Boilers use the majority of their fuel to heat water within the first 30 minutes of operation. Therefore, boilers that are continuously used at low temperatures consume less fuel.
• Have your heating appliances regularly serviced by authorized technicians and ensure that filters are cleaned regularly. This will extend the lifespan of your appliances.
• Replacing old chimneys with stainless steel chimneys that comply with standards and have good draft can increase the efficiency of your appliance. This contributes to heating at lower costs.

Hot Water:

Especially during the winter season, the amount of hot water we use increases both in the kitchen and bathroom. You can also save on hot water usage by paying attention to some details. For example:

• Set your hot water thermostat to 50 degrees (°C). Turn the water heating control valve to the "pilot" position and if you're going to be away from home for a week or more, turn off your thermostat completely. If you'll be away from home for a short period, set the temperature to the lowest level.
• Hot water pipes passing through floors and along walls can cause the water to cool down. By insulating the pipes, you can keep the water warmer.
• Use water-saving showerheads. Repair leaking taps.
• If you wash dishes by hand, try to rinse them with cold water as much as possible. If you use a dishwasher, run it only when it's fully loaded.

Insulation:

Buildings experience heat losses for various reasons. For instance, while exterior walls and windows typically account for higher heat losses, those from roofs, floors and foundations tend to be comparatively lower. Now, let's outline the key factors you should consider concerning insulation to enhance the efficiency of natural gas utilization:

• By insulating your building, you can reduce heat loss from the building to the outside. This can reduce the amount of fuel consumed for heating by approximately 50% to 70%. As a result, your energy bills will also decrease proportionally.
• Insulation measures are less costly. Considering the construction cost of your building, insulation requires a maximum of 3% of the cost.
• When using your hermetic boiler in closed balconies, leave the ventilation vents open.
• When using your hermetic boiler in open balconies, always keep it stored in a protective cabinet.
• Have your chimneys cleaned by authorized agencies once a year.
• When replacing your doors and windows, choose insulated materials. Since the majority of heat loss occurs through windows and doors, cover the gaps around your uninsulated doors and windows with foam.

Cooking:

The kitchen is one of the most frequently used areas in our homes. By paying attention to certain details during cooking, you can prevent waste in your natural gas usage. For example:

• Avoid frequently opening the oven or pot lid while cooking. Consider the cooking time and temperature instructions.
• Do not use the stove and oven for heating purposes.
• Avoid preheating your oven.
• Opt for pressure cookers when possible.

We are leading the industry forward with Bursagaz and Kayserigaz

The establishment of a secure and efficient natural gas network connection in your buildings or workplaces holds significant importance for safe natural gas utilization. Bursagaz and Kayserigaz, which became part of the SOCAR Türkiye family in 2019, continue their operations under the management of the Natural Gas Business Unit. With a distribution network serving over 1.8 million subscribers in Bursa and Kayseri, we stand out among the leading companies in the energy sector due to our world-class service quality and growth-oriented development strategy. At SOCAR Türkiye Doğal Gaz, we prioritize pioneering innovation and reliability in our approach.

We are diligently working towards a brighter future fueled by today's energy.