By following these smart tips, as well as other great ideas from the smartliving
website (www.smartliving.ca), you can reduce your
home energy bills by 20 percent or more. And, of course, by reducing your energy
consumption, you can play an important role in helping reduce dangerous smog and
the effects of climate change.
1. Seal the cracks and gaps in your home's walls and windows. Experts
estimate that they typically all add up to a hole the size of a basketball. So find
them, especially on a windy day, by holding a lit candle or incense stick next to your
windows, doors, electrical outlets, ceiling fixtures, attic hatches, plumbing fixtures
and other openings for air to pass to the outside. Then stop warm air from leaking
out by caulking, sealing or weather-stripping with easy-to-use materials available at
hardware stores and shave 10 to 25% off your heating bill.
Another way to improve your
window insulation is with a transparent plastic film that seals onto the window frame
and cuts down on cold drafts. These window insulation kits are easy to install, for those
windows you don't need to open in the winter.
Note: most people are unable to identify all the areas in their home that need
draft proofing. For a thorough review of your home's energy performance, call
Green$aver (416.203.3106 - www.greensaver.org)
or go to www.energuideforhouses.gc.ca
for a list of EnerGuide agents outside of Toronto. Don't forget to ask about the
federal rebate program.
2. Install and use a programmable thermostat. Show people just how hi-tech-capable
you are by programming the thermostat for weekdays and weekends, based on your
daily activity. Suggested settings are:
- 20°C (68°F) when you're working/active
- 18°C (64°F) when you're sleeping at night,
- 21°C (70°F) when you're relaxing, and
- 16°C (61°F) when you're away for an extended period.
You can save about $50/year by setting your thermostat back by 2°C during
bedtime and when you're not at home. Programmable thermostats are available at most
hardware/home stores for about $40-70.
Get bonus bucks by visiting www.smartliving.ca and
clicking on "Resources" to learn about the Enbridge rebate incentive for the purchase of a thermostat.
3. Clean and maintain your furnace. It's easy to forget about your poor furnace
sitting in a corner of the basement, but it's important to clean it regularly so that it
operates efficiently. Check your furnace manual for suggested maintenance schedule and
instructions and do it in the late summer/early fall. If your furnace uses an electrostatic
filter (a metal-mesh filter in a metal frame or nylon/plastic mesh), clean it once per
month during the cold season, and be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions.
4. Make smart use of ceiling fans all year. Most fans come with a control
that allows you to control whether the fan pushes air downwards or pulls air upwards
toward the ceiling. Ceiling fans are usually set to push air downwards (create a breeze).
In the winter, reverse the direction that the blades spin. This circulates the warm air
that would otherwise collect near the ceiling, making the room feel more comfortable.
Note: the fan only makes your space seem warmer - that is, it does not increase the
room temperature - so it only works if you're in the room. When you leave the room,
make sure to turn it off. Try not to use the light fixtures that come with ceiling fans - they're
energy hogs.
5. Ensure that all heating elements are clear of obstructions. Allow at least 12 cm
(5 in) between vents, radiators or baseboard heaters and curtains or furniture, and while
you're at it, clean them off.
6. Reduce heat loss in rooms that you hardly use (like guest rooms or interior
garages). Close the doors, warm air vents and radiators in these rooms or lower the
thermostat it's connected to room baseboards.
7. Adjust blinds or window coverings on your windows. In the winter, open
your south-facing windows/blinds to allow the sun to warm your place and close them at
night to slow down the loss of heat.
8. Control humidity in your home. If your furnace doesn't have a built-in humidifier,
consider buying a portable unit for frequently occupied areas of your home such as the
bedroom and living room. The additional moisture will make your home feel warmer:
20ºC can feel more like 24ºC. Relative humidity in the home should be between 35 to
55 percent in the winter to help avoid condensation on your windows.
Note that if you have thoroughly caulked and sealed your home, you should first
check the humidity levels in your space before using a humidifier. A well sealed home
actually requires ventilation to remove excess humidity - a lack of proper ventilation can lead
to unwanted mould growth.
9. Turn down the temperature on your water heater to 49ºC. You could save $120
per year. If your valve doesn't have a temperature scale, you can use a meat thermometer
to gauge the temperature of the hot water.
STAY WARM RESOURCES
