Energy Saving Tips for Winter

October 31, 2017

12:00 am

Energy Saving Tips for Winter

 

  1. Let the sun shine in! During the day open the blinds to heat your home naturally. Close them again at night.
  2. Set your thermostat between 18°C and 20°C before bed and 16°C when you’re away. Every degree lower saves up to 3% on heating costs!
  3. Only heat the rooms you use. Shut off air registers and keep doors closed in any others.
  4. Entertaining over the holidays? Lower the thermostat a few degrees to account for the extra body heat.
  5. Take advantage of the lowest-priced off-peak winter hours and all-day weekends and statutory holidays.
  6. Batch cook over a weekend – it saves time and keeps your oven from working overtime.
  7. Roasting a turkey over the holidays? Pass on preheating – it’s only necessary for baking.
  8. Set your electric water heater temperature to 48°C (120°F) to save energy and avoid scalding.
  9. When you turn on your furnace, don’t switch your thermostat to a hotter setting than you need. It will not heat the room any faster.
  10. Watch out for air leaks! Use weatherstrip around windows, doors, outlets and vents to prevent heat loss.
  11. As days get shorter, put outdoor lights on timers to save energy and make your home look occupied when you’re away.
  12. Choose LED holiday lights when decorating for the season – they use 80% less than standard lights.
  13. Clean and replace furnace filters once a month during heating season. Be sure to schedule a tune-up, too.
  14. Use a slow cooker to make hearty stews and soups this winter – it uses far less electricity than your oven.
  15. Shorter days means lights are on longer. Switch to ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs to save up to 75% on lighting costs.

 

Tips from Torontohydro