With inflation and household costs increasing, many homeowners are looking for ways to cut costs around the home this summer.
When we get a heat wave that lasts weeks in Ontario, energy costs can get expensive. Combine that with other summertime utility increases like water, and electricity for electronic devices the kids are using while at home for the summer holidays, and bills can soar.
So if you are looking for some energy saving ideas, we've get several to share.
1 - Ensure your home is energy-friendly
Your air conditioning unit works hard to cool down your home on those hot Ontario summer days, but it has to work even harder if your home isn’t energy-friendly. Cool air will leak out through open gaps in window frames, doors and the roof, and warm air will enter the same way. Make sure your home is energy-friendly by doing some building envelop improvements, such as weather-stripping doors and windows, sealing leaks with caulking and ensuring your insulation is up to scratch.
Another idea is replace ordinary sheer curtains with special coated/ heat reflective curtains. The sunlight streaming through windows can be intense and carry a lot of heat. Black out curtains can keep the room much cooler by reflecting out the heat.
Some older homes may need new roofing and insulation. If you are taking on those improvements this year then be sure to ask your contractor about options that will help keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
2 - Cook more meals on your barbecue
Did you know that using the barbecue (especially if it’s propane powered) to cook your meals will save you money each month?
Not only are you using energy to cook when you turn on your oven, but you’re also heating your home up. This means your A/C unit has to work even harder to cool down your home, using even more energy. By using a barbecue you are able to use cheaper fuel such as propane, and, at the same time, by cooking outside you’ll avoid those additional energy costs required to cool your house back down.
3 - Optimize your thermostat settings
If you have air conditioning in your house then it’s likely you have a programmable thermostat, allowing you complete control over when it comes on and the temperature that you want to maintain. There are ways to optimize this thermostat to save money on your energy bills each month.
It’s generally accepted that for every degree you raise your thermostat above 22° you can save up to 3 percent on your cooling expenses. By setting it at around 25°, it's possible to achieve savings of around 8-10 percent.
4 - Monitor your energy consumption
Most utilities now offer smart metering and the ability for consumers to read real-time analytics of their energy usage. If you want to make a proactive effort to save money each month, why not monitor your energy consumption on a regular basis? This will give you an idea of how much energy you are using and where you may be able to cut down and save money.
5 - Use clotheslines instead of dryers
Running a clothes dryer not only adds to your energy costs, but the dryer generates heat in your laundry room. Hanging clothes outside to dry can save dollars on your monthly bill. And besides that, clothes dried in the fresh air and sunshine have a fresh clean scent. It can be a lot of work with a young family, but even if you just dry heavier items like towels and sheets outside you can save a few loads in the dryer.
6 - Make the transition to residential propane
Residential propane isn’t just for powering your barbecue. Propane is one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions to power your home or cottage, compared with conventional gas and electric systems - best of all, it can be used for a huge variety of appliances.
Propane is traditionally less costly than other energy sources, and can be used to heat your water, power your appliances, fuel gardening equipment, provide backup power in the event of electric power outages caused by summer storms and much more.
The best thing is that you get all of these benefits, while still saving a significant amount of money on your monthly energy bills.
Want to learn more about propane and how it can be used to power appliances at your home or cottage? Contact Budget Propane today. We would love to answer any propane-related questions that you may have.
Like the article?
Share it with your friends!
