If your attic is much warmer than the outside air, your home may be leaking heat. Seal gaps and air leaks around light fixtures, pipes, ducts and exhaust fans in ceilings to save up to $20 a year.
Basement
Retrofit your basement to improve your home's comfort and add to its livable area. You will also lower your energy bills. VIDEO – How to insulate a basement
Maintain your heating system through regular servicing to ensure that it will run at peak efficiency throughout the winter.
Clean or replace furnace filters frequently during the heating season and clean or replace your filter prior to the cooling season.
Maintain your cooling system through regular servicing to ensure that it will run at peak efficiency throughout the summer. The outside condensing unit should be cleaned at least once a year.
Apply pipe insulation on the hot and cold water lines of your water heater.
Use cold water for the wash and rinse cycles. Do full loads and if possible hang your clothes outside to dry.
Turn your water heater to vacation mode when you are on vacation.
Lights
Consider installing a motion sensor or a timer in areas where you can't use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
Consider LED lights when buying holiday decorations. They use 90 per cent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent light strings.
Try low-wattage nightlights instead of leaving the hall light on at night. If full lighting is required at nighttime, use compact fluorescent lamps for energy savings.
Use low-wattage bulbs where possible.
Look for appropriate light fixtures when building or renovating your home. One 100-watt incandescent bulb produces more light than two 60-watt bulbs.
Use lighting sets that have been approved by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) only when decorating with lights.
Use indoor lights inside and outdoor lights outside.
Clean your light fixtures regularity to ensure that your lights are as bright as they can be.
Turn off the lights when not in use.
Laundry room
Use the shortest drying cycle or the automatic dry cycle. Overloading and over drying increases drying time and energy consumption.
Clean lint filters after each load to allow free airflow and efficient drying.
Reduce household heat loss by ensuring that the outside dryer vent has a working hinged cover.
Car plugs
Use an automatic car timer to save energy and money. A timer on your block heater can reduce energy. A block heater only needs to be turned on a maximum of three hours before starting your car, even on the coldest nights.
