Although Canadian energy bills have been rising, you could actually save money by using energy more efficiently throughout your home. Most of us are not used to thinking about how we use the energy that powers our homes. But simple changes to your daily habits can have a huge effect on the gas and electricity bills that drop through your door. The energy saving tips and information on this site are designed to help you control the impact of rising energy bills and reduce emissions without affecting your lifestyle.

Heating Tips

• Set your heating to go off 30 minutes before you leave the house, and come on again 30 minutes before you expect to return.
• Turn the room thermostat down by 1 degree (more is better). This can save you around 3 percent on your heating bill each year.
• Make sure your heaters are not obstructed by curtains or furniture.
• Draw your curtains at dusk to help keep the heat generated inside your rooms.
• Insulate your loft space and consider cavity wall insulation too.

Electrical Appliances

• Use energy efficient light bulbs which use less energy and last up to ten times longer than standard bulbs.
• Turn off household appliances such as microwaves, TVs, videos, music systems, and computers when not in use, as they continue to use energy when they are left on standby.
• Read your products instruction booklet, alot of electrical devices have energy saving options like turning the digital display down, led lights off or a sleep timer option.
• Look for the Energy Star Symbol when buying electrical products.
• Remember if it has a light on it's using energy.

Refrigeration

• Don't leave the fridge door open and try to avoid putting hot or warm food straight into the fridge as this increases the energy required to keep the contents cold.
• Defrost your fridge frequently and check the door seals. Avoid putting your fridge next to heat generating appliances such as an oven or boiler. If possible, keep the freezer in a cool room or garage.

Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers and Dishwashers

• Use a low temperature setting and only wash full loads or use a half-load or economy programme.
• In summer, dry your clothes outside rather than using a tumble dryer.
• When drying your clothes indoors, use a clothes rail instead of a radiator as this stops the heat from reaching the rest of the room.
• Modern dishwashers use less energy and water than washing up by hand.

Cooking

• Use a pan which is the same size as the cooker ring to prevent heat loss.
• Use a lid on saucepans where possible, so the contents heat up faster and require less energy.
• Consider using pressure cookers, steamers and microwaves which use less energy.

Hot Water

• When using a kettle, only boil as much water as you need.
• If you live in a hard water area, lime scale can affect the efficiency of your kettle. Look out for a build up of lime scale in your kettle and treat with vinegar or descaling solutions.
• Consider turning the thermostat on your hot water tank down to 60 degrees centigrade which is a comfortable temperature for most people and will save on your heating costs.
• If you have a standard shower it will use around 40% of the water required for a bath.