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Energy Saving Ideas
Draftproof Your Home
Wherever you feel cold air coming in, you have a leak, and warm air will escape through the same gap. Drafts are big energy wasters that inflate your bills and make your home less comfortable than it could be. Sealing the gaps and cracks with caulking and weather stripping is one of the most cost-effective steps you can take to keep the heat inside your home, reducing heat loss by up to 10%.
Manage Your Thermostat
One simple way to minimize wasted energy and reduce heating costs is to pull on a sweater and some cozy slippers and turn down your thermostat setting. Another way is to heat your home strategically, turning down the thermostat while you are out or overnight. You can do this yourself, or you can get a programmable thermostat to automatically regulate the temperature to preset levels at different times of the day.
Energy Efficient Windows
Whether in a new house, or retrofitting and older home, windows can make a significant difference in your energy consumption. For most homes in BC, the best windows are ones that will minimize heat loss and maximize solar light gains. It is equally important that windows are installed properly.
Shade Your Windows
Using blinds or drapes on your windows provides insulation winter and summer. Heat loss from windows can account for 10% to 25% of your heating bill in winter. Window coverings can be a quick and cost-effective way to cut heat loss, block cold drafts and save 5% to 15% of your energy expenses.
Annually Maintain Your Heating System
Tune up your heating equipment and continue to give it regular maintenance in order to increase its energy efficiency, cost effectiveness and the comfort it provides.
Ensure Your Fireplace is Efficient
When you cozy up to a crackling fireplace on a cold day, you might be robbing your home of heat. An open fireplace is one of the most inefficient heat sources you can use. It will actually draw warm air up the chimney and pull cold air into your home through any unsealed gaps or openings around windows and doors. For the rest of your home to stay warm while you sit by the fire, your heating system has to work harder and longer.
Add or Upgrade Insulation
Upgrading your heating system might make your home warmer, but if it can't hold the heat in, you'll be wasting energy. You can upgrade the insulation in many of the key heat loss areas of an existing house (attic, basement, etc.) without too much trouble or expense. If you are building a new home, take the opportunity to insulate it well.
Look for insulation with the appropriate R or RSI factor.
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