- Let the sun shine in! During the day open the blinds to heat your home naturally. Close them again at night.
- 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!
- Only heat the rooms you use. Shut off air registers and keep doors closed in any others.
- Entertaining over the holidays? Lower the thermostat a few degrees to account for the extra body heat.
- Take advantage of the lowest-priced off-peak winter hours and all-day weekends and statutory holidays.
- Batch cook over a weekend – it saves time and keeps your oven from working overtime.
- Roasting a turkey over the holidays? Pass on preheating – it’s only necessary for baking.
- Set your electric water heater temperature to 48°C (120°F) to save energy and avoid scalding.
- 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.
- Watch out for air leaks! Use weatherstrip around windows, doors, outlets and vents to prevent heat loss.
- As days get shorter, put outdoor lights on timers to save energy and make your home look occupied when you’re away.
- Choose LED holiday lights when decorating for the season – they use 80% less than standard lights.
- Clean and replace furnace filters once a month during heating season. Be sure to schedule a tune-up, too.
- Use a slow cooker to make hearty stews and soups this winter – it uses far less electricity than your oven.
- 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