Utility bills getting out of control? Then take a look at our energy savings tips below. Following some or all of these tips will help reduce the amount of electricity you consume, which reduces how much you pay!
- During the daytime, keeping your blinds or curtains open allows natural light to enter, reducing the need for having lights turned on.
- Only run your dishwasher when it is full.
- When doing laundry, try not to over-wash the clothes and rinse them in cold water.
- Turn off any lights that you do not need on.
- Turn off any electronic equipment, such as your computer, when you are not using it.
- During our cold winters, have your block heater plugged into a timer.
- When possible, use Light-Emitting Diode (LED) light bulbs. These bulbs typically last around five times longer and use less electricity than their traditional counterparts.
- Consider replacing older appliances with newer, more efficient ones.
Summer Energy-Saving Tips:
- Give your dryer a break and try hanging your clothes to dry.
- When it is cooler in the mornings or evenings try opening up windows to cool your home down instead of turning on an air conditioner.
- Shelter sun-exposed windows with awnings and shrubbery.
- Consider shutting off some appliances when you are on holidays.
- Ceiling and floor fans are a great investment. They circulate the air to cool the room and cost pennies per hour to operate.
- Why heat up your home by using the stove? Go outside and use your barbeque or fire pit.
Winter Energy-Saving Tips:
- Make sure walls, attics and floors are filled with adequate insulation.
- Install a setback thermostat that controls heating costs by automatically lowering the heat when no one's home. For every degree you lower your thermostat, you save three percent on your bill.
- Close off heat and doors to unused rooms. Keep closet doors closed - you don't need to heat them.
- Caulk, weather-strip and use foam to seal air leaks. Pay special attention to the areas around windows and doors; where pipes enter walls; around light switch and outlet boxes and anywhere two materials meet.
- To help reduce home heating demand, consider using motorized air intake and outlet dampeners, minimizing the exchange of air through openings and ducts.
- Keep your furnace clean. Change or clean your filter monthly during the heating season. Washable filters should be completely dry before replacing them in the filter rack.
- Have your system checked yearly by a professional. Regular maintenance helps keep it working efficiently and safely.
Members are free to purchase electricity services from a retailer of their choice. For a list of retailers, visit http://www.ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310.4822 (toll free in Alberta).