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Conserve Energy
Year Round | Summer | Winter
Two Fan Challenge | Appliances

Electricity, oil or natural gas; conservation is a great way to keep your lower your energy bills!   Here are some quick suggestions, but be sure to look at our tips for summer cooling and winter heating for more ideas.

Level One: the easy steps
Saving energy can be as simple as flicking a switch.

1. Turn it off. Get in the habit of turning lights and appliances off when you are finished with them.  We don't need to keep all the lights on in the house when we are sitting in one room. Watch out for appliances that are always sucking up electricity, even when they are turned off (a "phantom load").
   
2. Buy 10 compact fluorescent lights. The average home has at least ten high use lights that can easily be switched from the old incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). What are you waiting for?
   
   Print off our pamphlet as a guide to finding the right places in your home for at least 10 CFLs.

Level Two: investing in conservation
Don't buy pigs.

1. Buy energy efficient appliances.  Look for the Energuide label on all appliances and make sure you are buying an efficient model. See our Appliances page for a list of the energy consumption of major home appliances
    
2. Audit your home.  It's a simple step that will start you on the road to energy savings and a more comfortable home.  See our winter heating page for information.

Level Three: a lifestyle commitment
Air conditioning adds up to over 35% of the peak electricity demand on hot summer days.  Take our Two Fan Challenge to keep your home cool without air conditioning.
 

Links and Resources

• www.electricitychoices.org has a wealth of ideas and links.
• www.smartliving.ca has tips for homeowners and tenants.
• The Clean Air Foundation runs special programs to promote energy conservation, including a rebate on old air-conditioners.

Government

• The Office of Energy Efficiency in Natural Resources Canada has been promoting conservation for years and has some excellent resource material.
• The provincial Ministry of Energy has a booklet on energy saving tips for the home that can be downloaded, as well as information on the provincial sales tax rebate for new Energy Star appliances

Utilities

• Hydro One has some excellent resources, including an energy cost calculator for home appliances