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.
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!
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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.
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.