Everyone wants to spend less on their energy. Sometimes this comes from simply using less energy, but other times, this means being smart about the energy that we do use. Here are 5 quick tips to help you save energy.
1. Use energy during off-peak hours.
Try washing dishes and doing laundry during non-peak hours. You’ll save significant amounts of money on your next bill and will also be reducing the strain to the power grid. Peak hours do change based on the season, so stay up to date with your city’s
Time-of-Use Pricing.
See Toronto Hydro’s here. Toronto Hydro Time-of-Use Pricing
2. Take advantage of savings when you’re away.
If you’re going on a vacation, lower your hot water tank to its lowest setting. Some tanks even have a special vacation setting. This will keep water heated at a minimum level. You could even shut the heater off entirely.Remember to unplug small appliances like microwaves, coffee makers, and slow cookers. Those little clocks or instant “on” features use energy that you could be saving.Turn off the lights. As a security feature, install timers or motion sensors so that it still looks like there is some activity in your home without needing lights on constantly.¹
3. Do some draft proofing.
You might have cold winter drafts blowing through windows, doors, baseboards, electrical boxes or outlets. A good comprehensive draft proofing can save you 20% on your heating bill, which could equal over $400/year.²
4. Use programmable thermostats.
A thermostat you can program will automatically turn down your heat after you go to bed and warm the house back up before you wake. You can also program it to turn the heat or air conditioning down before you leave for work and back up before you return. This simple and convenient tip reduces heating and cooling bills by up to 10%.³
5. Find your phantom power and reduce it.
15% of an average home’s annual energy use is quietly drained through phantom power. This energy loss comes from household appliances and electronics that stay plugged in when not in use. An easy way to combat this loss is by plugging these kinds of electronics into a power bar and then turning the power bar off when not in use. An average Ontario household loses $100/year to phantom power.⁴
Want some more tips? Download our 20 Energy Saving Tips to learn even more!