Fall & Winter
Get your home ready for the change in temperature.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Properly set, it can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10%. Set your thermostat at 20°C when you’re at home and 18°C when sleeping or away.
- Check for gaps in weather-stripping around doors, fireplace dampers, attic hatches and air conditioners. By reducing drafts, you could save up to 30% a year on heating costs.
- Change your furnace air filter monthly. Have a licensed HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professional service your furnace yearly to ensure it is operating at maximum efficiency.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils to make them more energy efficient.
- Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
- Don’t waste heat. Close off heat to unused rooms by closing doors and heating vents. Keep closet doors shut too.
- Turn it off. Remember to turn off the TV, computer, stereo, DVD players and lights when you’re not using them. Install a power bar with an integrated timer to shut off all your devices at the end of day.
- Use it during off-peak hours. Run your dishwasher, washer and dryer in the evening or on weekends when electricity demand is lower. With time-of-use pricing in place, electricity prices will vary, based on when it is used. This includes by time of day, by day of week (weekdays versus weekend), and by season (winter or summer).
Spring & Summer
Spring cleaning includes making your home energy efficient. Make an impact on your electricity costs and make a difference to the environment.
- Install a programmable thermostat. Properly set, it can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10%. Set your central air conditioner for 25°C when you’re at home and 28°C when you’re away. Better still, use ceiling fans to circulate air. The blades should rotate to move the air down to help produce a cooling breeze.
- Install the necessary device (either a thermostat or switch) enabling your CAC to receive a signal that will cycle it down which may increase your home’s temperature by only 1°or 2° C for short periods of time. The adjustment will only occur during week days (never on weekends or holidays), most likely between 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Clean or replace your air conditioning filter monthly. Dirty filters can restrict air flow and reduce your system’s efficiency.
- Vacuum or brush refrigerator coils to make them more energy efficient.
Keep the heat out. Close your blinds and curtains during the day. - Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs).
- Turn it off. Remember to turn off the TV, computer, stereo, DVD players and lights when you’re not using them. Install a power bar with an integrated timer to shut off all your devices at the end of day.
- Use it during off-peak hours. Run your dishwasher, washer and dryer in the evening or on weekends when electricity demand is lower. With time-of-use pricing in place, electricity prices will vary, based on when it is used. This includes by time of day, by day of week (weekdays versus weekend), and by season (winter or summer). When you can, use a clothesline and let the sun and breezes naturally dry your clothes.
To check pricing in your area of the province, please visit your local electric utility website.