No-Cost Ways to Save Energy
It's an interesting time in the world of electricity right now - from the emerging popularity and mainstream acceptance of electric cars, to broad spanning use and increasing affordability of solar and wind technology - slowly but surely, we are making effective and innovative strides toward a cleaner grid.
That said, the electricity we use day in and day out comes at a cost. Of course, there is the monetary cost - rising hydro bills month after month, but the environmental cost to maintain the average North American lifestyle is also significant.
Whether your motivation is to save money or you are just hoping to tread a little more gently on the earth, below are a few tips that will help you achieve both with minimal cost or effort.
Hang dry your laundry – during the warmer months, capitalize the warmth of the sun by setting up a clothesline in the backyard or hanging clothes on a portable drying rack. Hang drying clothes indoors is also doable during the colder, winter months.
Look for phantom loads – a phantom load is the energy used to keep many household appliances in 'standby' mode - think the clock on your microwave or the screensaver on your computer. Upwards of 75% of the energy used by many household electronics is consumed when the device is turned off. Look at connecting TVs, DVD players, stereos, computers, and small kitchen appliances to a power bar that can be switched off, effectively killing the phantom load. Or - simply get in the habit of unpluging items when they are not in use.
Switch to LED's – Perhaps a bit of an obvious suggestion, but an effective one. LED's use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs.
Optimize your dryer – if you choose to use your dryer, be sure to remove any lint from your dryer trap after each and every load to maximize your dryer’s efficiency. Also, a dry towel added to your dryer load can significantly reduce drying times.
Clean your refrigerator coils – if your fridge has exposed coils on the back, its a good idea to vacuum away any dust that accumulates on them every few months. If your coils are dirty, it's harder for fridge to cool properly, meaning more energy is used to do the work. Also, keep your fridge and freezer at their ideal temperature - Between 2°C and 3°C for your fridge and -18°C for your freezer.
Use your ceiling fans – keeping the air circulating in your home means that your air conditioner will not have to work as hard. Ceiling fans are also great during the winter months - reversing the blade rotation and running a slow speed works to distribute heat throughout your home (read more about that here)
Install motion sensors – used both inside and out, motion sensors are great for security purposed, but also for ensuring lights are only used when they are needed.
As always, get in touch if you have any questions or would like a hand getting any of these systems up and running in your home or business. We are always here to help!
Blais Electric | Guelph, Ontario | 519-766-2940 | info@blaiselectric.ca
Proudly serving clients in Guelph, Kitchener/Waterloo, Cambridge,
Milton, and neighbouring Southern Ontario communities.