overnight and when you’re away. This one simple habit can cut heating costs by up to 12 percent.
• Open blinds and curtains to allow sunshine in. This natural heat source is free! • Use area rugs on cold floors – if your feet are cold, your body will feel cold.
• Service your heating equipment annually to maintain peak performance. LightingSome bright ideas for saving money on lighting.
• Take advantage of NSPI's lighting retrofit programs.
• Turn off lights when you aren’t using them, even if it’s just a few minutes.
• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). They cost little more than regular light bulbs but use 75 per cent less electricity and last for at least five years.
• If you have lights that must be on all night, such as nightlights in stairways, replace with CFL bulbs. Better yet, use an LED (light emitting diode) nightlight, which costs less than 20¢ a year to run and requires no bulb changes.
• For outside lighting, install a motion sensor.
• You can lower your energy demand by shining bright light only where you need it – this is called “task lighting.”
• Keep light fixtures clean – a cleaner bulb is a brighter bulb.
Water Heating Wasted hot water is money down the drain. Here’s how to tap into savings.
• Wrapping your electric water heater with an insulating blanket can reduce its electricity use.
• Putting foam insulation on the first three meters of both your hot and cold water pipes will reduce heat loss and save energy.
• Reducing the water temperature from 60° to 50°C can cut water-heating costs by 12-14 per cent.
• Fix leaky faucets. A steady drip of hot water can cost you as much as $100 a year.
• Drain a small amount of water from your hot water tank every six months or as recommended by the manufacturer. This will remove sediment, which can build up in your tank, prevent heat transfer, and lower the unit’s efficiency. Electronics
The computer and other electronics are often left running unnecessarily. Pull the plug on energy waste!
• Computers and related components have standby features that use electricity even when they are not in use. Plug each computer component into a power bar that can be shut off.
• Make sure you enable your computer’s energy-saving features such as the sleep or hibernation mode, minimal power management, and standby.
• Buy ENERGY STAR®-qualified computer systems and monitors when you replace a system.
• Turn off your computer monitor when it’s not in use. It uses up to 60 per cent of the total power used by a computer.
• Put your entertainment systems on a power bar and turn off the bar when you are not using them. (This applies to components without clocks and timers, of course.)
• Unplug infrequently used TVs and computers. Many continue to draw power even when turned off. Driving Fill up on these simple fuel-saving tips to make driving more affordable.
• Slow down for savings. Driving 120 km per hour burns 20 per cent more fuel than driving 100 km per hour. Rapid stops and sudden braking also increase fuel use.
• When buying a new vehicle, consider smaller, more fuel-efficient cars or hybrids. You could save up to $550 a year in energy costs.
• Travel in a carpool or vanpool. Sharing a ride cuts your fuel consumption in half if you carpool with even one additional person.
• Don’t idle. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel than it would take to restart your car.
• Check your tire pressure once a month. Keeping tires inflated to recommended pressure can save you $50 a year in fuel.
• Dump the trunk. Excess weight in your vehicle will make it work harder and burn more gas.
• Warm-up your vehicle by driving it. Most fuel-injected cars and trucks only need seconds of warm-up time even on the coldest winter days.
• Drive less by arranging to do all your errands at the same time. Even better – walk to the store or use a bicycle to save on fuel and improve your health.
• Use public transit where possible. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 75 per cent.
ecoEnergy for Fleets - ecoAction offers free practical advice on how energy efficient vehicles and business practices can reduce your fleet's operating costs, fuel consumption and GHG emissions; improve productivity; and increase your competitiveness.
Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Initiative - In Canada, motor vehicle fuel efficiency standards and other transportation-related efficiency requirements are managed by Transport Canada For more information on Transport Canada's role in fuel efficiency, Google Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Initiative.
Industrial Energy Efficient Equipment - Follow the link to learn valuable information to assist in the selection and purchase of energy efficient products for your industrial facilities. |