energy_saving_tips
Health

Energy Saving Tips Good for Your Wallet and the Environment

Energy saving tips can help you make your wallet and the environment healthier. While these energy saving tips are great for anyone looking to make the world and their pocketbook a better place, they’re especially good for those living in Ontario.

The Government of Ontario recently began its Cap-and-Trade Program in an effort to limit greenhouse gases emitted by homes and businesses. The emission cap decreases over time, AND there is a added $03.3 per cubic meter charge to natural gas customers. That money will be used to promote low-carbon energy solutions.

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Believe it or not, I really like that the government is trying to show environmental leadership. But I also know it’s hard to see extra charges on your utility bill. So, I want to ensure that I and my family are as efficient as possible with our energy usage. I love the environment, but I don’t want to jeopardize my family budget either! To that end, I’m sharing these energy saving tips that I’ve been using to help my family save.  You can use them to save, as well!

Energy Saving Tips to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Your Bill

These energy saving tips can help you reduce your bill and your impact on the environment. And bonus. They’re easy!

Tighten Up the Home

First things first. Tighten up your home. Look for any areas that are letting in cold air and close them up. Chronic offenders include doors and windows. Weather stripping is your friend here. Apply weather stripping to the doors to block the drafts. If you have the funds consider upgrading your windows. This is a large upfront expense that will pay for itself over and over in the long run.

Keep it Cool

I know we all love the toasty warmth of our climate controlled heating, but do you really need to have it SO toasty? My family has started getting our cozy on with blankets and sweaters and dropping our thermostat setting by a couple of degrees. It’s not uncomfortable, and it saves money to keep the heat set a little lower. Plus we use our NEST learning thermostat now and that helps save heating cost, especially when we are out or traveling.

Change Your Filters

One of the easiest energy saving tips on the list is changing your furnace filters. Filters that are clogged increase the workload of your furnace. That decreases your furnace’s capacity to heat efficiently. That, in turn, causes you to burn more natural gas.

Decrease the Shower Time

That hot, 45 minute shower that feels so good doesn’t feel so great when your gas bill arrives. You can save a ton of money if you just get in and get out. Another way to save a few more pennies in the shower is turning the water off in between lathering and rinsing. When you do this, you save gas on heating the water and you get a little bonus of savings on the water bill, too!

Update Your Insulation

It pays to have a home inspector, or your spouse, climb up into the attic to see what’s going on with your insulation. Many homes – especially older homes – have little or inadequate insulation. That causes you to waste a ton of gas and money. It’s easy enough to lay down better insulation in the attic. Many times, you can actually lay the new insulation over the old.

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Energy Saving Tips for You and Your World

Of course, saving money is the name of the game with these energy saving tips, but it’s nice to know that you’ll also be helping the environment as well. Remember, the more kind we are to our planet, the longer it will be kind to us. So follow these energy saving tips to be king to your wallet and the environment.

 

Mom of two beautiful active girls, traveller, fitness junkie, social media consultant, and keeper of the sanity.

19 Comments

  • robin Rue

    I keep my heat on 75 and for me, it’s worth the extra money. I don’t feel like I should have to be uncomfortable (cold) in my own home 🙂

  • Alli Smith

    I also use blankets and throws to stay warm instead of turning up the heat. Thankfully, we’ve had a really mild winter so far. When it comes to showering, I’ve never liked a long, hot shower. Once I’m done, I’m done. These tips are all great ways to save money and are great for our environment.

  • Jeanette

    These are all great ideas! For us in the wintertime I am always very very cold so I usually like it warm. In the summertime we keep the air conditioning at a temperature that’s warmer than normal just so we can save.

  • Katie Kinsley

    we’ve been fairly consistent (as much as we can) for our current weather needs. Last weekend we had the windows open and the air on, but, like this morning, we had to kick on the heat because it was too cold to get out of bed. Severe weather fluctuations are difficult to plan for when trying to save money.

  • Angelic Sinova

    These are great energy saving tips for the environment. I used to talk SUPER long showers but after I found out how much water I was wasting, I immediately shorted my showers.

  • Jacqui @FlightsFancyMom

    These are great tips! I moved into an apt last year that is a house, converted to 4 apartments. I have the only 2 floor one. My apt is the one side of the 2nd floor and the 3rd floor. I’ve taken to putting plastic over one window that is extremely drafty and in the steps to the 3rd floor, I took insulation that is normally used for window AC units and stuffed the side of the steps that were open to the hallway. There is a bottom to the steps, so it’s not open to the hallway. But, it gets cold!

  • Annemarie LeBlanc

    Great tips! I think spending shorter time in the shower will help a lot. Saves on heating cost, lowers the water bill and saves the environment too. Layering up is also a good way to save on heating costs.

  • Pam Wattenbarger

    These are great tips for keeping your home warm while saving money and helping the environment. We try to keep our thermostat around 68.

  • Amanda

    We just recently moved and have realized how important insulation and filters are. They can make such a difference not just in terms of comfort, but also in terms of money.

  • Destany

    It’s hard having people with varying opinions of “perfect” in the house. My son and I usually end up with blankets during the summer because my husband keeps the house so cold!

  • Chubskulit Rose

    Good insulation is one great way to save on energy bills especially during summer and winter. Our gas bill for the last couple of months was so high so we will be working on insulating this new home way better this year.

  • ANosa

    This is hitting two birds in one stone or another win-win situation. We enjoy some monetary savings as well as saved energy, the thought that we were able to help the environment is such a rewarding experience. We can say that we are socially responsible persons.

  • Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai

    Great tips for saving money and energy. Keeping things tight and changing filters, are easy things to do. We keep the thermostat turned lower and use blankets and throws to cuddle up with too. THere’s nothing wrong with being cozy. 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

  • Dee

    These are some awesome tips! I really try to save money on my energy bill. I do need to work on changing my filters out on a regular.