Heat your home efficiently
Smart thermostat
A smart thermostat helps you save energy because it is designed to enable you to program the device according to your habits and preferences. A smart thermostat can be remotely controlled through a mobile app connected to a WiFi network to moderate temperature fluctuations. It also keeps track of your comings and goings in your home. Within a week of being installed, it will assimilate your routine and propose a personalized program for heating or cooling your home.
Buy and install a smart thermostat and receive a $100 cash incentive.
Let natural light heat your home
On sunny days, get a good dose of vitamin D and open the curtains to let the sun’s heat warm your south-facing rooms. When the sun sets, close the curtains to trap the heat and keep it from escaping through the windows.
Do not overload your thermostat
Do not set your thermostat higher than the temperature you want just to try to heat up your home faster. It doesn’t work. The only thing you will accomplish is to make your heating system work longer than necessary. Decreasing the temperature by up to 3 degrees Celsius when you go out or go to bed is an ideal way to reduce your energy consumption.
Change the heating system filter
A clean filter improves the performance of your heating system. If you recently did some renovations, change the filter. Otherwise change it every three months or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. A dirty filter can damage your system.
Use your ceiling fans
In cold weather, run your ceiling fan clockwise to push warm air down. In warm weather, reverse the rotation to pull warm air up. This simple adjustment will keep the air circulating in a way that benefits everyone.
Remove obstacles
If you have a forced air system, pay particular attention to warm air outlets and cold air returns to make sure that there are no objects or obstacles blocking the ducts or interfering with the air circulation.
Save water and energy
- Insulate your pipes
- Reduce the water flow
- Decrease the hot water temperature setting
- Take showers instead of baths
- Wash your laundry in cold water
- Install your washing machine near the water heater
Maintain to prevent
Replace your heating system
When looking for ways to save energy, consider your furnace’s age and efficiency. An old heating system (more than 15 years) is far less efficient than the currently available newer models. You should consider that a heating system that is 15 or more years old runs at 70% efficiency, which means that 30% of the energy it uses is lost. The new natural gas heating systems installed in residential buildings can be up to 96% efficient.
Have your heating system inspected regularly
For optimal performance, have your natural gas heating system inspected regularly by a certified technician. Check the manufacturer’s guide to determine how frequently this should be done.