10 Ways to make your home
more energy-efficient
1 Conduct an energy audit. If you're serious about improving your home's efficiency, start with an energy audit by an NRCan certified energy advisor - you can search for an advisor in your area at
www.nrcan.gc.ca. You'll get a list of recommended upgrades to help you plan, and you may qualify to receive up to $2500 from the
Home Reno Rebate by Union Gas. According to Natural Resources Canada, the average retrofit may yield a 30% reduction in energy use.
2 Seal up those drafts. Drafty windows and doors can be a major source of energy loss. If an upgrade isn't currently within your budget, you can still save energy and make your home more comfortable by using simple weather-stripping and caulking as an economical way to reduce air leaks.
3 Upgrade your heating system. In older homes, the savings over time from installing a new high-efficiency condensing gas furnace may be the best investment you can make. Talk to a certified heating contractor (Like
COAD) to help research which heating system is best for your home and climate, and use the search tool at
www.nrcan.gc.ca to find the handy "Home Heating System Cost Calculator".
4 Add insulation. An uninsulated basement in a home can increase annual heating costs by 10% to 30%, since base concrete conducts heat outward. Call Ritchie's Insulation & General Contracting 519-633-3461 for insulation information!
5 Curb your hot water use. In a typical Canadian home, water heating can account for up to 20% of total utility costs. Switch out an older water heater for a more energy efficient model, or consider a new tankless water heater that warms water on demand, only as needed.
6 Replace energysapping appliances. If you've got an old clunker or hand-me-down appliance in your basement or kitchen, it could cost you hundreds of dollars in extra operating costs over the years. Clothes dryers are about...
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Subject Line "More Energy Tips"
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