Heat & Electricity

Here are some tips to help you save on your electricity and heating bill.

1. Use an Auto-Off Surge Protector for your entertainment system to reduce standby power consumption. Most of them have a master outlet that for example, senses when your TV is off, and automatically cuts off power to peripherals that do not require electricity. They also include stay-on outlets for peripherals that need standby power.

2. Make sure your home is properly insulated so that you don’t pay more than you need to for heating and cooling. (You can do an energy audit to figure out where you have heat loss).


3. Use pipe insulation for your hot water pipes, a blanket for your water heater, or look into the option of a solar water heater to save money in the long run.

4.  Turn the lights out when you leave the room.

5.  Buy more efficient bulbs with a lower wattage, (compact florescent and LED bulbs use between 70% and 95% less than regular incandescent bulbs)

6.  Do not leave the stove or oven any longer than you need to.

7.  Turn of appliances that you are not using. If your home has electric heat, turn it down a few notches and put on some warm clothing if needed.

8.  Do not leave the hot water (or cold water) tap running unattended. It is like pouring money down the drain.

10 Responses to Heat & Electricity

  1. Sailor says:

    Ya learn something new eevyrday. It’s true I guess!

  2. leigh says:

    Great savings in heating your home is to have proper insulation in your attic. If 12 inches is the recommended amount add enough to make 14 or 15 inches deep.
    Another energy saver is adding insulation in the basement where the floor joist and foundation meet.

  3. Jennifer says:

    When I leave the house for more than a 24 hr period, I flip off all the breakers in the house, except the fridge.

    More research required, but I’ve been advised that one can realize significant savings from unplugging or flipping breakers off high draw appliances when not in use ie. washer, drier, computers and tv. Just from being aware of electricity consumption, I’ve dropped my power bill from $86 per month to $52 over the last year. Who wants to pay NS Power any more than you have too!

  4. Marty says:

    Also another interesting fact about hot water tanks is that they require routine maintenance to continue operating efficiently. Over time from hard water and minerals your tank will corrode from the inside and your power consumption will increase due to build up of sediment. To avoid this it’s as easy as adding an inline water filter, draining a bit every few months, and replacing the anode every few years. These easy steps can save you money and the hassle of replacing a hot water tank every 7 years or so.

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