Lighting

Contrary to popular belief, less energy is consumed when lights are turned on and off as you come and go than if a light is left on all the time.

Even better, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They cost more than old fashioned light bulbs, but can use 75% less electricity and last longer. One compact fluorescent bulb can save you several times its cost in electricity.

Tips For outside lighting, install a motion sensor that turns the lights on automatically when somebody walks by, then turn the lights off automatically after 1 to 5 minutes. You can lower overall energy demand by concentrating bright light where you need it rather than evenly lighting the entire room - this is called 'task lighting'. Opening your blinds is a free way to brighten up a room. For any light that must be on all night (e.g., stairways), replace the bulbs with the lowest wattage bulbs that you're comfortable with or consider a compact fluorescent or a nightlight. Decorate your home with illumination in mind - lighter colours reflect light, so use them in areas you want to be bright. Keep light fixtures clean - a cleaner bulb is a brighter bulb.

Cooling

To save more on central AC costs, try cooling your home to only 24 or 25 °C instead of the low 20's. Each degree below 26 °C will noticeably increase your electricity use!

Turn off the AC when you leave for the day. Contrary to popular belief, this method uses less electricity than having the AC constantly maintain a cool temperature! Your savings can easily pay for the cost of a thermostat (as little as $50) in the first year by varying the temperature just a few degrees at night or when you're away. Just think of the savings over 5 or 10 years!

Tips Keep blinds, shades and drapes closed during the hottest part of the day in the summer. (And open southfacing blinds on sunny winter days!) Turn off unnecessary lights in the house (they produce a lot of heat which works against the AC.) Install ceiling fans and use them to supplement or even as an alternative to air conditioning - ceiling fans generally use very little electricity. Make sure your fan is blowing air downwards in summer.

Heating

Heating and cooling your home accounts for about 60% of your energy costs.

Install a programmable thermostat with a built-in timer. You can set it to lower the heat by a few degrees at night and when you're away.

Tips To save money on heating costs, reduce the temperature of your home a few degrees at night and when you're away. Use area rugs on cold floors - if your feet are cold, your body will feel cold. If you feel cool, put on a sweater rather than simply turning up the thermostat Clean or replace the sir filter on your furnace every month to improve efficiency.

Water Heater

On average, water heaters use the most energy in the home after heating.

Water Heater On average, water heaters use the most energy in the home after heating. A family of three with an electric water heater can use up to 6000 kWh per year at a cost of over $700. Tips Be sure to use the vacation setting or turn off the water heater when you are out of town. Fix leaky faucets - that little drip can add up to 95 litres of water per faucet per month, and cost you 7 kWh per month. Installing low flow aerators on faucets can save water and energy. Drain a pail of water from your natural gas hot water tank every 3 months, or as recommended by the manufacturer, to remove sediment that prevents heat transfer.

Appliances

Refrigerator

Look for the EnerGuide label when making your next refrigerator purchase, also, look for ENERGY-STAR® qualified models. ENERGY STAR-qualified refrigerators exceed minimum federal energy efficiency standards for energy consumption by at least 10%, which will save you more money in the long run. Tips Set the temperature for only as cold as you need; check manufacturer's recommendations. 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. Don't overfill the refrigerator, as this blocks air circulation. Conversely, a full freezer will perform better than an empty one. Check your refrigerator's door seal by closing the door on a $5 bill. If it's held tightly in place, the seal's OK; if not, the door should be adjusted or the seal replaced. Clean your refrigerator's coils (back) and air intake grill (below the doors) every 3 months. Keep refrigerators and freezers out of direct sunlight, and allow at least 5 centimetres all around (or as recommended by the manufacturer) to allow heat to escape from the compressor and condensing coil. Allow hot foods to cool before putting them in the refrigerator. Don't let freezers build up more than 6 mm of frost. Defrost regularly to keep freezers working their best.

Stove/Oven

Microwave ovens use up to 75% less energy, so whenever possible, use a microwave instead of your stove or oven. Tips Use an electric kettle to boil water - not the stove, which is less efficient. Generally, thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator before cooking, unless the label says otherwise. If you put aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven to catch drippings, make sure the foil does not block any of the oven's circulation holes and don't put foil on the oven racks. Turn off the oven just before finishing - the oven will remain hot long enough to complete the job. Don't use a bigger pot than you need, and match it to the right size element. A general rule: for smaller cooking jobs, use smaller appliances (i.e., instead of your range or cooktop, use the electric kettle, toaster oven or microwave.)

Clothes Washer & Dryer

Check the EnerGuide labels when you shop for appliances - the lower the kilowatt/hour number shown, the more energy-efficient the appliance.Front-loading clothes washers cost a little more than conventional washing machines, but they use roughly half the water per load, and are more effective at squeezing the water out of the clothes - which lowers the electricity costs for drying them! Also, clothes washed in front-loading washers last longer because they are gently tumbled rather than twisted around an agitator. Washer Tips Run full loads whenever possible but don't overload the machines. Wash your clothes in cold or warm water. A whopping 85-90% of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water! You can save a lot of energy by lowering the water temperature. Try using cold or warm water for the WASH cycle, instead of hot water. Hot water shrinks and fades your clothes, and wears them out more quickly. Dryer Tips Make sure clothes are effectively wrung before putting them in the dryer. (Front-loading washers are the best at squeezing the water out!) 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. Clean the lint filter after every load. (A clogged lint filter can increase energy use up to 30%, and may be a fire hazard!) Get some fresh air! Consider using a clothesline.