At the County, we recommend easy-to-do, low-cost or no-cost energy saving measures that results in quick savings with shorter payback. Low-cost/no-cost measures help you to save energy and reduce your utility costs without doing major retrofits/system upgrades such as replacing your old furnace, installing solar panels, and buying energy efficient appliances.
Below are some DIY low-cost, no-cost energy saving tips that you can implement as home/business owner:
* Use thermostat setbacks. Turning down the thermostat when your home is not occupied or at night can save about 1 percent for each degree the thermostat is lowered for an eight-hour period.
* Turn off appliances when they’re not being used. Appliances still draw energy even when they are off or in standby mode if they have a clock or light to tell you they are powered up. Appliances actually have two costs: purchase cost and the cost to operate the appliance for its lifetime. When purchasing new appliances, you need to consider both costs. Energy-efficient models cost less to operate when on and in standby mode. This saves you money in the long term.
* Turn off lights when you leave the room. Five 100-watt incandescent light bulbs left on for five hours a day cost $91.25 to run for a year at 10 cents per kilowatt-hour. Lights also have an additional cost in the summer. They produce heat. If left on, they cause your air conditioner to operate more to cool the house.
* Let the sun heat your house for free. In winter, open drapes or shades in the morning on south-facing windows and then close them at night. In the summer, make sure the drapes or shades are closed during the day to reduce cooling costs.
* Shut off air conditioning at night. Open the windows to allow the cool night air into your house. Close the windows and window treatments in the morning to maintain the cooler temperatures.
* Wash only a full load of dishes in the dishwasher. Do not use the dry cycle. Allow dishes to air dry or towel dry them instead.
* Use cold water with cold-water detergents to wash clothes. Wash only full loads.
* Hang clothes to dry. Be careful if hanging clothes indoors to avoid excess moisture and mold issues.
* Heat only the rooms or zones in your house that are being used. Close off heat in rooms that are not occupied. Energy experts do not recommend thermostat setbacks and zone heating for homes using heat pumps.
* Set the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 °F (49 °C). If you leave the house for long periods of time, turn the water heater off. You don’t need to have hot water in the house when you are on vacation.
* Keep the cooling coils on the refrigerator clean. Make sure air can flow around the refrigerator and freezer freely. Keep the refrigerator and freezer fully stocked; they use less energy when full.
* Use smaller appliances when possible. Use a toaster oven or microwave whenever possible.
* Keep lids on pans when cooking. Think about this old adage: “A watched pot never boils.” Water will boil faster, and food will cook faster when covered because heat is not lost to surrounding air, saving you money.
* Close the flue damper on fireplaces. Leaving the damper on a fireplace open is like leaving a window open.
* Replace incandescent light bulbs with LED: LEDs use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. Replace a 60W incandescent with a 9W LED and save up to $4 in electricity per year.
* Install smart thermostat: Use a smart thermostat. They can be controlled remotely to set and adjust the climate of your home. It can also learn from your schedule and sense when you are home and adjust the temperature accordingly
* Install insulation on the hot water pipe that leaves the water heater. Insulating can raise hot water temperatures in pipes 2 °F to 4 °F, allowing you to have a lower setting on the water heater. It also will help conserve water by lowering waiting times for hot water at the tap.
* Reduce air leaks into and out of the house. One of the largest heat losses in a home is air leaks. Install a fresh bead of caulk or weather-stripping around the windows and doors. Install insulating gaskets behind outlet covers and switch plates.
* Ensure your furnace is running as efficiently as possible. Have a certified technician service the furnace periodically. Check the filter at least once a month and clean or replace it as needed
There are grant programs and useful tools available for residents and businesses that can be considered in addition to the energy saving tips shared above.
Please review the below mentioned tips and programs to understand how much energy is used by different appliances in your home and how much does it cost you to run it. Utilizing the energy saving tips and grant program funding would enable you to do energy efficiency retrofits, help you to cut down your utility costs and do your part to reduce global emissions.
The grant programs are summarized below:
Utilities Consumer Advocate
The Government of Alberta has provided an information hub that help consumers to potentially access all the information about electricity, natural gas and water services. Consumers can understand their energy bills, compare cost with different retailers, see historic rates and more. These resources help consumers make informed choices about their electricity, natural gas, and water services