Control Energy Use For Green Savings
Live Green By Controlling Your Energy Use
You can save thousands of dollars and improve the environment by reducing your energy needs. Here in Toronto, Toronto Hydro can help you reduce your energy consumption with a number of different programs.
Save Money
Reduce your operating costs by making your home energy efficient. Whether you’re renovating, updating a condominium or starting new green home construction, there are energy-efficiency improvements available for roofing, plumbing, windows and wall treatments, flooring, heating and light fixtures.
Here a few fast tips you can apply right away to reduce your energy needs.
Your Furnace
Keep your furnace well maintained. It’s easy and something you should regularly schedule on your home calendar. When it is operating at peak efficiency it saves money because it uses less energy.
Replace and or clean the filters every quarter to ensure there’s peak air flow which reduces the amount of time required to heat your home.
If you have an older model furnace, consider updating to an Energy Star® rated model with a variable speed motor. Updating your equipment can see changes from 60% efficiency in your current furnace to 95% efficiency with a new furnace.
Control That Thermostat
Consider lowering the thermostat by 3-4 degrees every night, and especially when you’re on holiday. If your family is away during office hours, it makes sense to install a programmable thermostat.
You can save up to 2% on your heating costs for every 1 degree you turn down your thermostat. Think about those 8 hours you’re away from home during the day, and the extra 7-8 hours you’re asleep.
Update Your Laundry Habits
Stop using hot water for laundry. It’s just no longer needed. Did you know 80-90% of the energy used to wash clothes is needed to heat the water?
Try to wash full loads only, and if it’s appropriate, update your machines to the newest Energy Star® rated models. Big shopping hint: front loading machines surprisingly use about 40% less water and 50% less energy.
Weather Strip Doors & Windows
Yes, it seems like the same old advice, and it is. Weather stripping works. And at the DIY big-box stores there’s a multitude of choices to get the job done.
Of course, installing new windows and doors will make significant improvements to your energy savings. But if the budget isn’t quite there yet, install weather stripping.
Update The Bathroom
Here’s a fast fix and very good investment; replace all your faucets & shower heads with low-flow models to reduce your hot water consumption.
And don’t forget the toilet. If your budget allows, replace your toilet with modern low-flow, dual flush mode models which reduce your annual water consumption.
These are just a few tips for greening your home and life in a few practical, easy to implement steps.
When you’re considering renovating there are hundreds of energy and resource saving actions you can build into your home. Need to know more about it? Call Paul.
