A  larger savings          B  moderate savings          C  smaller savings        +  easy to do

$  you need to buy something      -  you need to keep doing it      © health or comfort benefits

 

Fridges and freezers

C +       Turn up the temperature to the point that food still lasts as long as before. If applicable, turn OFF the butter warmer and turn ON the energy saver switch.

C -        Vacuum the coils on the back of or under the fridge, make sure there is enough air space between it and the wall, and clean the door seal so that it closes tightly.

C -        Don’t overfill the fridge but keep the freezer as full as possible; when you need to defrost food, put it in your fridge, instead of on the counter.

 C -        Don’t let frost in the freezer exceed ¼ inch. Defrost it regularly but don’t use a sharp object to remove ice as you could puncture the walls.

 

Space heating and cooling

 A $ ©   Install programmable, digital thermostats and program them to lower the temperature when you are not home or are sleeping.

 A $ ©   If you know your house is too drafty, seal up the cracks and holes that let hot air OUT during the winter and muggy air IN during the summer. Caulking and weatherstripping are cheap and effective ways to save energy but should not be used in homes with inadequate ventilation. 

 A $ ©   Use plastic window film or removable caulking on windows you won’t open during the winter. You can remove both in the spring and re-use them in the fall.

 A $ ©   Cover unused windows with two layers of aluminium foil bubble wrap when it gets too hot or cold outside.

 B $ ©   Use heavy curtains, especially ones with insulated liners, that go all the way down to the floor. Ensure they won’t interfere with heaters or vents.

 C – ©    In the winter, open curtains during the day to let in the sun and close them at night to keep the heat in.

 C – ©    In the summer, open your windows at night and close them and any curtains during the day to keep the sun out.

 B + $    Use fans instead of air conditioners. If you must use an air conditioner, turn the temperature setting up so that it runs the least amount of time possible.

 

Taps and Showerheads

 A + $    Install low flow showerheads and encourage everyone to take short showers instead of filling up the bathtub with hot water. 

 B +       Tighten leaky taps or replace the gasket if necessary, especially for hot water taps.

 C + $    Install a faucet aerator to save on both water and water heating costs

           

Cooking

 B – $     Use a microwave or a toaster oven instead of the oven to heat up, toast or cook small amounts of food.

C – $     Use an electric kettle for boiling water, instead of a pot on the stove. Boil only as much water as you need each time.

C + $    If buying an electric kettle, get one with a water level indicator as it makes boiling the right amount of water easier.

C          Turn off the stove top or oven before you’re finished cooking as the retained heat will keep things cooking for several minutes.

C          Use pots the same size as the element, always use covers, and keep the trays underneath clean so that they reflect the heat up towards the pots.

 

Dishwashing   

A          Washing dishes by hand in a sink (without the water running) and rinsing them in a basin of cold water is the most energy-efficient way.

C -        If you use a dishwasher, scrape excess food off dishes, don’t pre-rinse, use the shortest cycle (econo) only when the dishwasher is full, and air dry dishes instead of using the heating element.

 

Laundry

 A -        Use the cold or warm water setting on the washer whenever possible and always rinse with cold water.

A – ©    Dry your clothes outside or use an indoor rack set near a sunny window that you can open during the summer. The extra humidity will make your house more comfortable in the winter.

C -        If you use a clothes dryer, clean the lint trap after every load, and make sure the vent isn’t blocked. Add a dry towel to help spread the moisture around and dry similar thickness clothes together.

C -        Avoid putting really wet clothes in the dryer. Run the spin cycle again or wring them out by hand. If drying more than one load, do the second load right away so the dryer doesn’t cool down.

 

Lighting

 B + $    Use compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) in fixtures that are on more than four hours per day.  They are more expensive to buy but will save you money in the long-term.

C + $    Use non-dimming motion sensors or timers for exterior lights instead of leaving them on all night.

C +       Use lower wattage lights where you need them instead of lighting up the whole room.

C – ©    Take advantage of natural light as much as possible.

C + $    Use LED holiday lights instead of incandescent ones.

 

Other Things

 A +       Avoid using electric space heaters.

A +       If you have a pool, put the pumps on timers so they don’t run more than they should.

A +       If you have an outdoor hot tub, make sure it is well insulated, turn the temperature down, and put it on a timer. 

C -        Unplug power adaptors when not in use because they keep using electricity even when the appliance is turned off.

C -        Devices that can be turned on with a remote, have digital clocks, or a little coloured light can use up to 50 watts all the time, so unplug them when not in use or shut them off with a power bar.

 

Electric Hot Water Tanks

A + ©   If your water comes out steaming hot and you rarely run out of hot water, lower the temperature setting to a safer level ONLY AFTER turning off the power.

B + $    Wrap your hot water tank with an insulating blanket, especially if it is in an unheated space, and insulate the hot and cold water pipes leaving the tank.

C +       Drain a bucket of water from the bottom of your tank once a year.

C -        Turn the tank off at the breaker if you are going to be away for more than a few days.

Calculating the Real Cost of Using Appliances 

Find out how many kilowatt hours (kWh) your appliance uses from its label. If it doesn’t have a label showing how many watts it consumes, use a Watt meter to find out.  Multiply the watts (W) by the number of hours it is used per year to get watt-hours (Wh) and divide by 1,000 to get kWh. Multiply this number by 0.11 to get the estimated cost in dollars.

A 5 W digital clock plugged in all the time would consume and cost:

5W x 24 hrs x 365 days ¸ 1,000 = 43.8 kWh x 0.11 cents = $4.82 / year

Save More by Paying more for your light bulbs!

Although a compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb costs more than an incandescent bulb, the much lower cost of operating CFLs results in substantial savings. Replacing higher wattage incandescent bulbs in fixtures that are used more than 4 hours per day with CFLs yields the most savings.  Due to their long life, CFLs are excellent for areas where it is hard to replace the bulb.

Cost Comparison of a 60-Watt Incandescent Light Bulb with a 15-Watt CFL
	60-Watt Incandescent	15-Watt CFL
Initial cost (a)	$0.50	$5.00
Light output (lumens)	800	800
Life (hours)	1,000	9,000
Replacement light bulbs (b)	8 x $0.50 = $4.00	0
Lifetime electricity cost (c)	9,000 hrs x 60 W x $0.11/kWh = $ 59.40	9,000 hrs x 15 W x $0.11/kWh = $14.85
Total lifetime cost (a + b + c)	= $ 63.90	=  $19.85
Savings	–	$44.05

 This table is provided as a guide only. It also does not take into account the crossover effect of heat generated by incandescent lighting, which can increase your air conditioning costs in the summer but add a little heat in the winter. Replacing higher wattage incandescent lights yields even greater savings.

It is important to note that the quality of a CFL is important and that not all bulbs are created equal.  To ensure a pleasant quality of light, ensure the bulbs you purchase say “Soft White”.  The return on investment for compact fluorescent light bulbs is outstanding.  It is recommended to begin the changeover by installing CFLs in the locations where the lights are on most often but do not use them in places – like closets – where you want the light to come on quickly for just a few minutes.