Conserving Energy at Home
While we’re all spending more time at home during this global crisis, we’re also using more energy. Taking small steps to save energy can make a big difference for the environment and your electric bill. Here are some helpful tips for conserving energy and saving money on your bill.
Electronics
- Plug devices into one power strip and power off when not in use.
- Stream media on small screens like cell phones and tablets.
- Turn down brightness features and utilize “eco” modes.
- Utilize sleep and hibernate features on devices.
- Charge your mobile phone for a few hours (that’s all that’s needed), rather than overnight.
Appliances
- Turn off and unplug appliances when not in-use. This includes easy-to-forget items like lights, coffee makers and printers.
- Use your microwave instead of your stove when cooking.
- Avoid opening the oven while it’s on - the temperature can drop 14℃
- Run full loads of laundry and dishes and do so at night, or hand wash instead.
- Wash clothes in cold water rather than warm or hot.
- Switch to energy-efficient lightbulbs such as halogen incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent lights, and light-emitting diode bulbs, which use anywhere from 25-80% less electricity and last longer than traditional bulbs.
- Turn off lights when not in use.
- Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
- Open blinds and windows for natural lighting, which is also good for your health.
- Run bathroom or kitchen ventilation fans only as long as necessary.
Heating & Cooling
- Weatherize your home by sealing air leaks around doors and windows and checking for any leaky faucets.
- Use small lamps, fans and space heaters rather than overhead lights or running central heat and cooling.
- Clean or replace filters regularly. Dirty filters make your system work harder and run longer than necessary.
- Set your thermostat to 20℃ in the winter and 25.5℃ in the summer.
We hope these tips help you stay energy-conscious now and well into the future. Together we can change the way our world is powered.
