Here are a few helpful tips to save money on your monthly energy bills this season.
1. Do a home energy audit. This survey analyzes your home’s structure, appliances and insulation, as well as your family’s lifestyle. Various companies throughout the GTA can provide home energy audits, with a full report and recommendations about how your family can save energy.
2. Have your heating system inspected regularly – especially if it’s natural gas. A preventative maintenance annual tune-up, can help reduce your heating costs by up to five percent. The cleaner and more efficient your heating and air conditioning equipment are, the more you’ll enjoy energy savings.
3. Install a Programmable Thermostat
Why heat the house when nobody’s home? A programmable thermostat can automatically lower and raise your home’s air temperature when you’re at work or heading to bed for a good nights sleep. For every 1°C (2°F) you lower your thermostat, you save two per cent on your heating bill. A reduction of 3°C (5°F) at night and when you’re away during the day provides optimal savings. If you don’t have a programmable thermostats (source: www.climatechange.gc.ca)
4. Turn on the Humidifier during the heating season. Adding moisture to the air in your home will make it feel warmer. If your furnace doesn’t have a built-in humidifier, you can place a portable unit in frequently used areas. Make sure the humidistat settings are appropriate for outdoor temperatures so that condensation doesn’t build up on windows.
5. Close Vents to Guest Rooms. By closing the vents to just one spare bedroom in your house, you’ll likely see a difference in your heating bills. But don’t put away your welcome mat; you can open the vents when guests stay over. Be sure to monitor closed-off rooms to ensure that moisture doesn’t build up in corners or closets.
6. Change or clean your furnace filter once a month. Dust and dirt can quickly clog vital parts, making your furnace run harder and eventually break down.
7. Keep curtains and blinds closed at night to keep cold air out, but open them during the day to let the sun warm the room.
8. Set the fan on your central air conditioner to “on” rather than “auto.” This will circulate air continuously, keeping the temperature more even throughout the house and aiding in dehumidification.
9. Don’t set the thermostat higher than you actually want it. It won’t heat your home any faster, and it will keep your furnace running longer than necessary.
10. Upgrade your heating and air conditioning products to energy star rated units. Units such as [LINK] Carriers Infinity 21 Series [LINK] can help reduce your energy bills (on A/C) by up to 52%.
