Here's how to stay warm and lower costs this winter.
Spot price hunting
The new morning routine In Sweden 2025, it's not the weather app that's checked first thing in the morning, it's the electricity price app. Thanks to smart electricity meters and hourly pricing contracts, the Swedes have learned to "surf" the electricity grid. This "gamification" of electricity consumption has drastically lowered costs for many.
Heat - insulation before Inspiration
November marks the start of the real heating season. Here, the Swedish strategy differs significantly from many other countries. Seal before heating: A Swedish villa is built like a thermos (often with triple-glazed windows). In countries like England and parts of the US, houses often leak heat.
Zoned heating
Instead of heating the entire house to 22 degrees, many Swedes lower the temperature in bedrooms and hallways. Cultural hack: The Swedish "slippers and wool sweater" fashion is not just a style statement, it's an economic strategy. Lowering the indoor temperature by 1 degree reduces heating costs by about 5%.
Cozy Lighting
"Cozy" as an energy saver Now that darkness falls at 3 pm in Sweden, the electricity bill should be skyrocketing. But the Swedes have a secret: local lighting. Turn off the ceiling lamp: Using a strong ceiling lamp is often considered "uncozy" in Sweden. Instead, people use 5-6 small light sources (LED) placed in corners and windows. This creates a warm atmosphere without requiring high wattage.
Christmas lightning
Already first Advent this past Sunday and the advent stars go up. Since almost everything is now LED, a whole apartment full of Christmas stars uses less power than a single old-fashioned incandescent bulb.
Cooking: batch cooking and residual heat
When winter arrives, eating habits change. The oven as a heating element: When a Swede cooks in the oven during winter, the oven door is often left open afterwards to let the residual heat warm up the kitchen. The electric kettle: An underappreciated hero. Boiling water in an electric kettle before pouring it into the pot for pasta is standard procedure for the energy-conscious. It's faster and uses less energy than the stove.
Saving electricity in the winter of 2025 is not about freezing in the dark. It's about being smart. By adopting the Swedish "spot price mentality", sealing your windows, and embracing the wool sweater, you can make it through the winter with lower costs and a higher "cozy factor".
