Tips For Energy Savings

Heating

Install a programable thermostat and use it. Many homes have programable thermostats installed but often they are not programmed to provide optimum heating efficency. Set your heat to a comfortable level, 20 - 21°C or 68 - 70°F, while you are at home and awake. Set it back at all other times to 15°C or 60°F.

Make sure that you read and follow the instructions carefully when you replace or install a thermostat. Forced hot air and radiant hot water heating systems have very different heating cycle requirements. A forced hot air system comes on for shorter durations but more frequently than a hot water system. This is cycle is controlled by your thermostat. It is up to the installer to make sure this setting is correct.

If you have electric heating replace older mechanical thermostats with a modern electronic model. They will use energy more efficiently and keep you more comfortable.

Service your heating systems annually. Annual service will keep your system running at its' peak efficiency. It will also alert your heating service technician to any potential problems before they might occur. Heating equipment is becoming more efficient every year. A Wilsons service technician can help provide you with the information you need to know in order to determine if it is time to replace your existing system with a new more efficient one.

Consider upgrading your heating system if your furnace or boiler is more than 20 years old or you have an old coal burner that has been switched over to oil. Again a Wilsons Home Comfort Specialist can help you determine if a new heating system is worth the investment.

If you are using a warm air furnace, clean or replace the filter every 1 - 2 months. A dirty filter reduces airflow and will force the furnace to run longer to heat your home.

Inspect and seal your ducts. Improperly or poorly sealed ducts can leak as much as 20% of the air that flows through them. These leaky ducts not only use energy but they can be an unwanted source of dust and humidity.

Make sure your warm air furnace is properly sized and the fan thermostat is properly set. If you feel cool air coming from your registers after the the furnace shots off, have a service technician check the fan delay setting.

Hot water boilers regulate the temperature of the water in the boiler using a device called an aquastat. Normally the aquastat keeps the water temperature at 160° to 180° F. In milder weather you don't need to keep the boiler that hot. The aquastat can be manually set to 140°F. Better yet contact Wilsons about installing a modulating aquastat or outdoor reset. This device automatically adjusts boiler water temperature based on outdoor temperatures.

Set your hot water heater to the normal setting or 120°F/49°C. Many hot water heaters are set too high. Also drain a small amount of water once a year. This will remove any sediment and increase efficiency.

If you have an electric hot water heater consider adding an insulating jacket to it. Many hardware stores carry these jackets. Adding extra insulation to your hot water heater and pipes leading from it can reduce the energy used to heat water by up to 15%.

Insulation

A well insulated and weatherized home is one of the best ways to reduce your energy use and save on energy costs.

One of the most cost effective methods of saving energy cost is it to add insulation to your attic. An easy way to determine if you need more insulation is to measure the thickness of the existing insulation. 6 inches of fibreglass or 5 inches of cellulose insulation is equivalent to R-20. Attics should be closer to R-50.

Most homes built before 1980 are poorly insulated. Some may not have any insulation in the exterior walls.

A simple method of determining if your exterior walls are insulated is to check behind an electrical outlet. Make sure the power is turned off to the outlet and remove the cover plate. With a flashlight check in the crack between the outlet box and the wall. You should be able to see insulation. Be sure to check several outlets throughout your home. If you do not find insulation contact an insulation contractor to determine the cost and potential payoff of insulating your walls.

Attic doors and hatches are often not insulated properly. Add insulation to the back of the door or hatch and use weather stripping to seal around the opening.

Another problem area for insulation are basements and foundations. Newer homes most likely have insulation and water sealing applied to the exterior of the foundation. Older homes do not. Un-insulated basements have been compared to walking outdoors in the winter with a hat, gloves, a scarf, a heavy coat but no boots or socks. Properly installed basement insulation can greatly increase the comfort of your home and reduce your energy costs. Insulating a basement should be done with care. Interior moisture and water infiltration must be dealt with before you proceed. Consult an insulation contractor for assistance before you get started.

Ventilation

Air movement in and out of your home can lead to significant energy loss. It can also lead moisture, mold and health problems. Newer homes should be designed to manage ventilation. Older homes may need to be assessed for ventilation requirements.

Air leakage is not a recommended method of home ventilation. It is uncontrolled and as a result may be too little or too much. Heat recovery ventilators can be used to recapture some of the heat lost in controlled ventilation during colder months. The best advice for assessing your ventilation needs is to contact a professional for an assessment. Wilsons offers this service. Contact us, we'd be happy to help.

Air Leakage

A lot of us find air leaks in the cold months when we feeling a cold draft. Chances are that if you feel a draft there is significant air leakage in your home. Even if you do not it is still a good idea to check some common trouble spots.

Bathroom and dryer vents should installed and sealed properly. Any ducting that travels through unheated attic space should be taped at all connection points and wrapped in insulation. This will prevent air leakage and reduce condensation in the duct. Moisture in ducting can lead to mould problems.

Lighting fixtures installed in the ceiling directly below an unheated attic space can be another source of air leakage. Check the insulation in the attic over any fixtures. If there is dust or discolouration in the insulation this may be a sign of air leakage. Seal around these fixtures. It is a good idea to check the manufactures instructions when doing this to avoid potentially overheating of the fixture.

Install foam gaskets on all electrical outlets on exterior walls. It is also a good idea to install plastic plug guards in unused outlets. This will further reduce air leakage.

Older windows and doors can be a significant source of air leakage. Repair or replace any damaged weather stripping. Make sure to repair or replace exterior caulking that has loosened or is otherwise damaged. If you have single pane windows consider installing storm windows. If you already have storms make sure they are functioning and sealing properly and all caulking and weather stripping is in good shape.

Use plastic shrink wrap kits available from your hardware store to help seal draughty windows. Keep warm air in and cold air out.

If your windows face south open the curtains or drapes during the day. This will let in sunlight which will heat your home for free. If windows do not face the sun leave the drapes closed.

There is some debate about the value of replacing old single pane windows with new windows or inserts. There is no question that newer windows are more energy efficient. The debate really centres around whether money is best spent on new windows or on other energy saving upgrades like insulation. The consensus seems to be that your money is best spent on insulation and air leakage upgrades first and windows next.

Fireplaces

Open hearth fireplaces can be one of the worst air leakage offenders. Some studies show that an open flue damper in a traditional fireplace can increase heating energy consumption by up to 30%. This is equivalent to leaving a 48 inch window open. Make sure the damper is tightly closed when the fireplace is not in use and the mortar in the firebox is in good shape.

Most of us love the ambiance of a traditional fireplace but believe it or not a roaring fire can actually cool your home. Air consumed during the use of a fireplace must be replaced. If your home is not sealed and ventilated properly this air can come in from outdoors. In most cases this is a net loss of heat, significantly increasing your energy consumption.

Propane, airtight inserts and wood stoves are great ways to increase the energy efficiency of your fireplace. A professional chimney sweep, fireplace or home comfort expert should assess your fireplace and chimney before any of these products are installed.

Lighting

Turn lights off when not in use. It is a myth that it takes more energy to turn on a light than to just leave it on. Same goes for electronics. Leaving a computer on all the time does not increase its' life span.

Replacing traditional tungsten lights with compact florescent lights (CFLs) is a great way to save on energy. A CFL uses 75% less energy to produce the same amount of light. This also means 75% less heat produced by the bulb, so they're safer to operate and can reduce the amount of energy used to cool your house in the summer. CFLs also last longer than traditional bulbs. Although they are more expensive, prices for CFLs continue to drop. The lifespan of a CLF is between 6000 and 15000 hours. Compare this to 750 and 1000 hours for a tungsten bulb. At worst you will replace a tungsten bulb up to 20 times more often than a CFL.

Clean your lighting fixtures. Clean fixtures and bulbs are both safer and provide more light.

Consider switching holiday lighting to LEDs. A typical strand of LED lights uses the same amount of electricity as a single traditional bulb. LED lights will last up to 10 times longer. They produce less heat and are more rugged than traditional bulbs. Newer models come in a variety of colours and whites. If you are reluctant to use LEDs because you don't like the cold white light they emit, manufactures have solved the problem. Warm white LEDs are barely distinguishable from traditional white bulbs.

Install a timer for your holiday lights. Many models are available that can turn your lights on at dusk and off after a set period of time.

Appliances

Make sure you read and follow the instructions that come with all of your kitchen appliances. Manufactures have spent a great deal of time designing your appliances to be efficient and safe. It is up to you to make sure their recommendations are followed. It will save you money and keep you and your home safe.

Consider replacing old appliances with ENERGY STAR rate ones. That old beer fridge in the garage may be chewing up a lot more power than you think.

Use cold water in your washing machine. Up to 90% of the energy used to wash laundry is used to heat water. There are detergents specifically made for cold water washing. Check at you local grocery store for a cold water brand. Only run your washer with a full load.

When replacing a washing machine consider a front loading system. Not only do front loading machines use 40% less water but they also use up to 50% less energy.

Check the seal on your refrigerator door. If it cannot hold a $5 bill while closed the door should be adjusted or the seal replaced. Try to be organized when opening and closing your refrigerator. Every time you open the door you are loosing all of the cold air you just paid to produce.

Keep about 3 inches of space around your refrigerator. This allows heat to escape from the coil and compressor increasing their efficency. Make sure you regularly clean the coils either behind your refrigerator or underneath it. Use a vacuum to remove dust and other debris.

You may be pleased to know that using a dishwasher can save you money over hand washing. A modern dishwasher typically uses about 20% of the water and energy used to wash the same amount of dishes by hand. Only run your dishwasher when you have a full load. Use it's energy saving feature and air-dry option if there is one.

Don't rinse your dishes before loading them into the dishwasher. This will save you time and energy. If your dishwasher is not completely cleaning all but the most baked on food there may be a problem with it. Inadequate drainage or water that is not hot enough are common problems with poorly performing dishwashers. Read the installation instructions that came with the dishwasher or contact a plumber to assess the problem.

Use an electric kettle to boil water. An electric kettle is faster and more efficient than using the stove.

Home Electronics

Look for and buy home electronics with the ENERGY STAR rating. ENERGY STAR rated electronics are tested to conform to strict energy usage limits. When you buy an appliance with this rating you are getting the most energy-efficient product. This will save you energy and help save the environment.

Phantom draw from home electronics can significantly add to your energy use. Phantom draw is electricity used by an appliance while it is turned off in standby mode. Some studies suggest that up to 75% of the electricity used by our household electronics is consumed while they are turned off. Consider unplugging infrequently used electronics or using a power strip with a shut off switch to cut all of the electricity to an appliance while you are not using it. Unplug all power adapters and battery chargers when they are not in use.

Turn on the energy saving features on your computer. Most newer computers and operating systems come with these features. If you are away from your computer for an extended period it will shut down all but the essential functions. This will save you power and maintain most of the convenience of leaving your computer on.