Energy Saving Tips

eTips

Winters in Canada can be extremely harsh, when temperatures can drop below zero degrees. What can provide the much-needed warmth in harsh weather conditions is natural gas, which is a critical resource in the biting cold season. However, given the high natural gas prices, you need to look for a Canada energy supplier with the lowest rates so you can keep utility bills under control. But your focus should be on the conservation of energy, because low gas prices won’t help your cause if you continue to waste natural gas. Here are a few tips on energy conservation so that your energy use is pocket friendly and that your utility bills do not go out of control.

Energy Saving Tips

How do you go about saving energy? It could be as simple as switching off lights when not in use or shutting the windows when the air conditioner is on. All you need to do is a few simple changes to control your energy consumption. When you know how to conserve energy, you can save big on utility bills.

• Did you know a majority of homes waste electricity by keeping lights on when not in use? When it comes to energy saving, you may want to turn off lights during the day.
• You may want to spotlight your work space to save energy. Use a small lamp to light up your study table and focus light on the book.
• It’s a good idea to use sensors or timers. This would beep if you forget to turn off light.
• A motion detector can come in handy as a security tool and can substitute outdoor lights without compromising security.
• When it comes to energy conservation, it is in your best interest to remove window air conditioners. During cold winters, such conditions can cause extreme heat loss. You may want to caulk around the external windows and doors to prevent the loss of heat. This will prevent the outdoor air from seeping in and the conditioned warm hair from going out.
• You may look for ways to wrap hot water pipes with foam to prevent the cost of heating water in the winter. This will also help prevent freezing of pipes during the cold season.
• Leaky ducts can cause a loss of 20 percent of heated air.
• If you use draft stoppers, don’t forget keeping an opening for vents, pet doors, and other points where cold air can enter.
• Adding the right type of insulation to your attic can help keep your abode warm during winters, so you do not end up wasting energy. If there are cavity walls, you may want to use wall insulation to reduce heat loss by almost 60 percent.
• A well-fitted, good quality chimney cap is one of the best ways to conserve energy, improve energy efficiency, eliminate drafts, and keep rain and critters away, thus helping you save money.
• Canadian bone-chilling winters call for reversing your ceiling fan. This means running a fan in reverse or clockwise motion. This direction will create a gentle updraft, pulling up cool air and pushing down warm air.
• When it comes to energy conservation in Canada, it’s a good idea to hang thermal drapes all over your house. Similar to regular drapes but more long-lasting than the former, thermal drapes feature an additional lining for insulation. This helps prevent the loss of heat.
• When you are looking to cut down utility bills, it is a good idea to look for a lower rate Canada energy supplier.

Energy Saving Tips – Make Your Home More Energy Efficient & Smarter

Optimizing Your Furnace and Using It

Besides keeping your furnace clean, you should work to keep the filters and ducts free from any obstructions, dirt, or debris. Annually check the air filters and remove any debris build-up, which will help improve efficiency of the heater, improving circulation and effectiveness of the equipment. Annual checks will also help eliminate potential fire hazards.

Annual furnace checkups and maintenance goes a long way in optimizing your furnace health and improving its efficiency and life. As a result, this will amount to cost saving.

It is a good idea to turn down your thermostat by a few degrees when there is nobody at home. Even a slight 4 to 5 degree temperature difference can affect the way your furnace is running.

Keep a tab on the insulation in your attic. You might be surprised to find that old insulation can cause your heating bills to spike due to poor insulated walls, which will result in cold air infiltrating through easily.

Additionally, the furnace may not work to its optimal level if ductwork passes through unheated areas, including basement. Such lack of insulation will adversely affect the furnace’s ability to heat.

You may do a test on your drafts coming from weather stripping and seals. The idea is to look for signs, including shifting curtains and wavering cobwebs.

Tips on Efficient Use of Water Heater

• Do not set your water heater at a higher temperature than 50 degrees. This is important for energy conservation. This single step can bring your overall water heating costs by almost 10% on a monthly basis.
• Make sure the pipes connecting your water heater to your abode are properly insulated. If the pipes are exposed to outside weather, they tend to lose more heat, so it takes longer to heat up water.
• Make it a point to set your water heater on vacation mode when you plan a vacation away from home.
• Upgrade your water heater if it is more than 10 years old.
• Get your hands on low-flow shower heads to reduce water usage and thus bringing down water heating costs.
• Do not wash clothes in hot water, as many detergents work only with cold water.
• Clean up the lint trap in the dryer.

Benefit From Energy Conservation

The aforementioned tips on energy conservation can help you save money by lowering your gas usage. It’s a good idea to spread the word about energy conservation among peers and employees. The best way is to practice what you preach. Adopt good practices, save energy, and make huge monetary savings, which could be otherwise lost in paying utility bills.