Seasonal Energy Saving Tips

There are ways to save energy for every season!
  

Spring
  • Vacuum your refrigerator's coils regularly to keep it operating efficiently.
  • Clean your electric water heater. Dissolved minerals accumulate over time as sediment, making it more difficult to heat your water.
  • Get rid of that second fridge. Old refrigerators use twice as much electricity as newer models and cost around $150 or more per year in electricity.
  • Inspect and service your air conditioning system before the cooling season.
  • If purchasing new draperies, look for insulated panels to keep the sun out in the spring and summer, and the heat inside in the fall and winter.
  • Adjust outdoor light on timers to account for daylight and daylight savings.
  • Put up a clothesline for big savings.
  • Install new ENERGY STAR® qualified windows to reduce heat penetration in the summer and heat loss in the winter.
Summer
  • Need an air conditioner? Use ceiling and portable fans instead. During hot weather a ceiling fan will create a cool breeze and keep the air circulating in your home.
  • Change the direction of air flow for your ceiling fan. The blades should spin in a counter clockwise direction to create a gentle wind.
  • Open windows to allow for more air flow throughout your house.
  • Replace air filters on your air conditioner every month. The more build-up in your filter the harder the air conditioner has to work.
  • Turn off the air conditioner when no one is home.
  • Install the correct sized air conditioning unit for you house. An oversized unit will waste energy. ENERGY STAR® air conditioners will help you save energy.
  • Try using your stove less. Using the microwave or toaster oven will help you save energy and reduce the amount of heat being produced.
  • Fire up the BBQ. Your oven or stove uses a lot of energy and can generate indoor heat on an already hot day.
  • Place plastic covered water-filled containers in your freezer. A freezer works best when it is filled to capacity. Do not overfill as cool air still needs to circulate.
Fall
  • Adjust timers on outdoor lights for length of day and daylight savings.
  • Turn off your computer, monitor, printer and speakers when not in use. Computers do not use large amounts of energy when starting up and constant start-ups do not damage your computer.
  • An inexpensive way to improve a conventional one pane window is to apply a thin layer of plastic film over the entire window and frame with an insulation kit.
  • Ensure there is adequate insulation in your attic to keep the heat in your home. This also helps in the summer to keep heat out of your home.
  • Cover or remove any window air conditioners you may have. This will allow for tighter seals around your windows.
  • Install a low flow showerhead. Low flow showerheads use about half as much water as a traditional showerhead.
  • Shorten your showers for even more savings.
Winter
  • Trim the tree with LEDs. Make your holiday displays smart and fashionable with LED decorative light strings – they use about 90% less energy and last up to 10 times longer.
  • Turn down the heat in unused rooms. This will help maintain comfortable levels throughout your home and use less energy.
  • Change the filters on your furnace regularly for better heating efficiency and savings.
  • Lower the thermostat. If you have baseboard electric heaters, turn your thermostat down 4 – 5°C at night and when you are out, or use a programmable thermostat for your oil-fired furnace.
  • Ensure your heating vents aren't blocked by furniture or curtains. This will allow for better air flow and your furnace will run more efficiently.
  • Open curtains on sunny days to allow heat in your home. Close them at night to help maintain heating levels.
  • Change the direction of ceiling fans. A clockwise motion will push warm air back down from the ceiling.
  • Check for leaks around windows and doors. Sealing leaks can add up to big savings.
  • Eliminate standby power. Plug your TV, DVD player and game console into a power bar and switch off at night or during the day when no one is home.