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Everyday Savings Tips

There are simple steps you can take every day to reduce the amount of energy you’re consuming. Start by calculating your monthly energy costs to find areas where you can improve and start saving!

Here are some ways you can save on energy costs every day

  • Keep your showers to five minutes or less.
  • Put on a sweater and drop the thermostat by a degree or two.
  • Turn off the lights when you leave a room and especially when you leave your house.
  • Consider purchasing fixtures with timers so your lights will always switch off if you forget to turn them off.
  • If your fan has a timer, consider setting it to switch off after you fall asleep.
  • Reduce phantom power by unplugging electronics and appliances when they aren’t in use.

In the home office

  • Use the low power or battery saving mode on your laptop and phone so you have to charge it less frequently.
  • Never turn off your computer’s sleep mode, which can offer continued savings.
  • Consider purchasing an all-in-one printer, scanner and photocopier instead of having multiple pieces of equipment plugged in.

In the kitchen

Dishwasher
  • Use any energy saving features or settings on your dishwasher.
  • Only run the dishwasher when it's full because it uses the same amount of energy whether it's full or half empty. Avoid using the heated dry cycle and set the dishwasher to air dry.
  • Scrape food scraps off your plate instead of running water to rinse dishes.
Oven and Stove
  • Turn the oven off a couple of minutes before your food finishes cooking. Many dishes will continue to cook while the oven is cooling.
  • Avoid opening the oven door as much as possible when cooking or baking to prevent heat from escaping.
  • Thaw frozen foods before cooking or baking. Food will cook faster and you’ll save more energy.
  • If you’re planning to clean your self-cleaning oven, turn on the self-cleaning mode right after you’re done cooking so you don’t need as much energy to heat it up.
Refrigerators and Freezers
  • Set the temperature inside your refrigerator to the mid-level setting, usually 4°C, and set your freezer to -18 °C.
  • Vacuum your refrigerator coils regularly to keep it operating efficiently (make sure to read your owner’s manual for tips on how to do this safely).
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer at least 5 to 7 cm away from the wall to allow heat to circulate. If the heat cannot escape, the unit’s cooling system will have to work harder to keep the inside cool.
  • Keep your refrigerator and freezer away from any heat sources such as an oven or dishwasher. If you have a standalone freezer, keep it in the basement where it is cooler.
  • Make sure the seals around the doors are airtight and keep them closed as much as possible.
  • Get rid of that old energy-guzzling second refrigerator for even bigger savings!
Clothes Washer and Dryer
  • Try and run the washer only when it’s full since it will use the same amount of energy regardless of the size of the load.
  • Wash clothes in cold water, as heating the water consumes about 90% of the energy it takes to run the washer.
  • Use a high spin cycle on your washer to reduce the amount of time required to dry your clothes in the dryer.
  • Opt for a drying rack and let your clothes air dry. This will also increase the life span of your wardrobe!
Small Appliances
  • Use a microwave or toaster oven instead of your stove - smaller appliances use less energy and take less time to do the same job!
  • Use the kettle to boil water for cooking, instead of heating a pan on the stove – it’s quicker and uses less energy.