• Visit 10 Smart Meter Lane and learn how shifting your electricity use makes sense.
  
  

Tips For Saving Electricity and Money

HEATING & COOLING

• Set your thermostat back. For each 4 degrees you lower your thermostat each night, you will save up to 10% in energy costs.
• Install & use a programmable thermostat that will turn down the heat when you are not at home or are asleep.
• If you’re chilly, don’t turn up the heat, put on a sweater.
• Avoid the use of portable electric heaters, they are big energy users.
• Keep blinds, shades and drapes closed during the hottest part of the day in the summer.
• Use area rugs on cold floors.
• Install ceiling fans and use them to supplement or even as a alternative to air conditioning.
• Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing air downwards in summer.
• Plant leafy (deciduous) trees on the sunny side of your house.
• Plant pine or fir trees on the north side to provide an energy-saving windbreak.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter every three months during the winter. A clogged filter reduces the flow of air & will make your furnace run longer.

WATER

• Fix leaky faucets – that little drip can add up to 95 litres of water per faucet per month.
• Install a low flow shower head. This can save you up to 15% of your home’s hot water use. A 5-min shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
• Drain a pail of water from your natural gas hot water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that prevents heat transfer, lowering the units efficiency.

REFRIGERATOR

• The refrigerator is one of the biggest electricity guzzlers in most homes. Look for ENERY STAR qualified refrigerators.
• Don’t keep that old, inefficient refrigerator running in the basement for occasional refreshments. It could cost you $150 or more per year in electricity.
• Check your refrigerator’s door seal by closing the door on a $5 bill. If it’s held tightly in place, the seal is OK.
• Clean your refrigerator’s coils and air intake grill every 3 months.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers out of direct sunlight.
• Allow hot foods to cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
• Go into your fridge & freezer knowing what you need & close the doors quickly.

STOVE/OVEN

• Use small appliances such as a microwave, slow cooker, or toaster oven instead of the oven when possible.
• Generally, thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator before cooking, unless the label says otherwise.
• Turn off the oven just before finishing – the oven will remain hot long enough to complete the job.
• Use the right size pot or pan for the burner and cover pots when you boil water or cook.

DISHWASHER

• Don’t waste hot water by pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Air dry your dishes – you can save 10% of the cost of operation.
• Load dishes according to manufacturer’s instructions to allow for proper water circulation.
• Check and clean drains and filters regularly to ensure efficient operation.
• If you are planning to buy a new dishwasher, consider investing in an ENERGY STAR qualified model, which is at least 25% more efficient.

CLOTHES WASHER & DRYER

• Make sure clothes are effectively wrung before putting them in the dryer.
• Separate loads into heavy, medium and lightweight items – lighter loads will take less drying time than a mixture of items.
• Dry consecutive loads to utilize otherwise wasted heat from the dryer.
• Get some fresh air! Consider using a clothesline to dry your laundry.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water…full loads only & don’t over-dry your clothes. Clean the dryer after each use.

HOME OFFICE & OTHER SAVINGS AROUND THE HOME

• Consider energy-efficient computer systems and monitors when you replace a system.
• Be sure to shut off the computer screen, as 60% of the power used by a computer is used by the monitor.
• Put your home entertainment systems on a power bar and turn off the bar when you are not using them.
• Unplug infrequently used TV’s, as many continue to draw power even when turned off
• Put swimming pool pumps on a timer.
• Use a solar blanket to keep swimming pool water warm overnight.

LIGHTING

• You can lower overall energy demand by concentrating bright light where you need it.
• Opening your blinds is a free way to brighten up a room.
• Decorate your home with illumination in mind.
• Keep light fixtures clean.
• Replace your most frequently used incandescent bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs. They use about a third as much electricity, and last 10 times longer.
• Replace outdoor lighting with motion-detector equipped bulbs or fixtures instead of leaving outside lights on for long periods of time.