13 Energy Saving Tips for Heating & Cooling Your Home

Did you know that heating and cooling accounts for as much as 50% of a home’s energy use?. It’s true! So being as energy efficient as possible is important to lower your home energy bills, and also to help protect the environment.

Living in a country with hot summers and cold winters (and everything in between!), it’s important for homeowners to follow effective ways to heat and cool their home.

ENERGY STAR designated heating and cooling equipment, when properly installed, can save you 15 percent or more on your heating and cooling bills each year, depending on where you live, and how much you pay for your energy source.

Here some quick tips to help you reduce your home heating bills even more.

6 Quick Home Heating Tips

1. Set your thermostat back. For each 4oC you turn back the thermostat each night, you save up to 10% in energy costs.
2. Before each heating season, have your furnace serviced by a qualified technician.
3. Clean out and seal your heating ducts. Duct cleaning should be done every three to five years to keep your home’s heating and cooling systems working efficiently.
4. Keep your basement reasonably warm since heat rises to the rest of the house.
5. Keep window curtains open during the day to allow solar energy into your home.
6. Use heat that is already there. Plenty of household activities like showering and cooking generate warmth which you can use to help heat your home.

7 Easy Home cooling tips

1. Maintaining your air conditioner can increase its efficiency by about five percent.
2. Make sure the coils in your air conditioner are straight and kept clean. If they are clogged or dirty, you can clean them with a vacuum cleaner.
3. Raising your thermostat by 1oC can lower your electricity bill up to five per cent.
4. Use fans to cool your room. You can cool the main floor of a house by using a fan to blow cool air up from the basement.
5. Planting the right vegetation can lower your energy consumption. A tree or shrub that shades your central air conditioner can improve its efficiency by up to 10 per cent.
6. Use a programmable thermostat for central air conditioners. This will allow you to set the timer so your home will be cool when you arrive, and while you sleep.
7. Replace worn or missing caulk around outside doors to help stop cold drafts and heat loss and avoid having doors open longer than necessary when entering or exiting your home.

Using efficient methods of heating and cooling your home will not only help you to save some money, but it will help to lessen your household’s impact on the environment as well.

Related Rebates

• Ontario Home Energy Audit Program
• ecoENERGY Home Retrofit Program
• RST Exemption for EnergyStar Household Appliances