Here are some low or no-cost tips to help you save energy, save money and do your part for the environment!
Heating
- Keep your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted with annual maintenance. If your furnace is working at peak efficiency it will use less energy and cost less to operate.
- Install programmable thermostats, this alone can save you over 90$ per year.
- Lower your thermostat by 4 to 5 degrees (C) at night or when no one is home.
- Consider purchasing a new ENERGY STAR® qualified furnace with a variable speed motor. An average home can save up to $650 in natural gas and electrical costs annually when upgrading from a standard 60% efficiency natural gas furnace to a 95% efficiency furnace with a high efficiency variable speed motor.
- Apply weather-stripping to operable windows, exterior doors, garage doors, and doors that lead to the attic or any un-insulated space. Use plastic covers to reduce heat loss through windows.
- If you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace, check for leaks by looking for spider webs. If there is a web, there is a draft. A large amount of heat is also lost from an un-insulated basement.
- Get a timer for the block heater on your car. A recent study shows that only 4 hours of pre-heating is required. This can save you over 20$ per month.
Cooling
- Consider using ceiling fans and opening windows instead of running your air conditioner. The change in temperature is hard on your system and you will reduce your summer energy bills to near nothing!
- Proper maintenance of your air conditioner can increase its efficiency by about five per cent.
- Replace the air filters that keep dust out of the duct system – usually every three months for most models.
check the SEER number (an energy efficiency rating) of an air conditioner before you make this important purchase. An energy efficient air conditioner may be more expensive but it could pay for itself during its lifetime. - Following instructions and safety precautions from your air conditioner’s manufacturer, you can also clean the grilles and fan blades, clean and lubricate the fan motor, and clean the coil fins. You can clean the compressor with a garden hose to remove debris and increase air flow.
- Raise the thermostat by 1 C and lower your electricity bill up to five per cent.
- Plant trees or shrubs to shade the house. Deciduous(broad leafed) trees provide shade in the summer and let in the sun during the winter when they drop their leaves.
Power
Using electricity wisely means using it at times of the day when demand is typically lower. Peak hours are in the late afternoon and early evening. Delaying your energy use during these times reduces the rate you pay. Consider having a home energy audit done. There are several grants available for green renovations.
- Turn off lights, TV's and other appliances when not in use.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescents, which are four times more efficient and last about eight times as long.
- Install dimmer switches to control light levels. A bulb dimmed by 25% uses 10% less energy.
- Try to avoid high power use during extreme hot or cold spells. Your heating system is consuming more energy at these times.
- Keep an eye on the Ontario Demand and Price Information Page
(http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/siteShared/demand_price.asp?sid=ic)
for up to date prices and peak times. - Always wash a full load in your dishwasher and use the air-dry setting.
Water
- Install low flow shower heads and fixtures. Low flow shower heads reduce water consumption by 15%. An aerator installed on your faucet can also reduce its use by 10%
- Switch to cold water detergent for colors. 85 – 90% of the energy used to wash your clothes is used to heat the water. Several detergents are now designed for cold water use.
- Front loading washing machines use 40% less water than top loaders.
- Air dry your clothes, it uses less energy and they will last longer!
- Take short showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
- Consider a home energy audit to find out how energy efficient your home is and the best way to spend your home-improvement dollars. There are several government incentive programs coming out in the new budget that offer rebates for energy efficient renovations.
Energy Saving Links
Natural Resources Canada
www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/index-eng.php
Environment Canada
www.ec.gc.ca
Independant Electricity System Operator
www.ieso.ca/default.asp
Ontario Power Authority
www.powerauthority.on.ca
Ontario Energy Board
www.oeb.gov.on.ca