Residential tips & resources

Be friendly to the environment. Look for phosphate-free laundry soap. 

Wrap your electric water heater with an insulating blanket to reduce energy loss by up to 40 per cent. Be sure it’s CSA certified.

Self-cleaning ovens generally have upgraded insulation. This is convenient and also more energy efficient for regular cooking.

Use the timer on your stove so your oven will turn off immediately at the end of the cooking time you have selected.

Microwaves use approximately 50 per cent less energy than conventional ovens; they are a very efficient appliance for defrosting and cooking small meals.

Use an energy-efficient humidifier to keep your home feeling warmer. Keep humidity levels no higher than 30%.

Schedule a tune-up! Regular maintenance of your air conditioner can increase its efficiency by about 5 per cent. Clean and change the filters as necessary.

Once water reaches the boiling point, it doesn't get any hotter. You can turn down the burner and still maintain a boil.

Thaw frozen foods before cooking; they will require less cooking time and less energy.

Install a smart thermostat to reduce heating costs up to 10% – just keep it away from drafts and direct sunlight.

Install a smart thermostat to adjust automatically and avoid overcooling. Install it away from direct sunlight.

Set ceiling fan blades to spin counter clockwise. This draws warm air upward and circulates cool air.

Set the temperature of your fridge at about 3° C (37° F), your freezer at -18° C (0° F). Colder temperatures are unnecessary and just waste energy. Place a quality thermometer inside and adjust the dial accordingly.

Plug electronics into power bars with timers or auto shut-off to reduce phantom power.

Fireplaces let heat escape up the chimney. Keep the damper closed or insert an inflatable chimney balloon when it’s not in use.

Use a slow cooker to make hearty stews and soups this winter – it uses far less electricity than your oven.

As days get shorter, put outdoor lights on timers to save energy and make your home look occupied when you’re away.

Roasting a turkey over the holidays? Pass on preheating your oven– it’s only necessary for baking.

Take advantage of the lowest-priced off-peak winter hours and all-day weekends and statutory holidays.

Freezers should be located indoors in a cool spot to improve energy efficiency. Avoid porches or garages. Variable outside temperatures may cause compressor damage.

Keep the heat in – use heat-shrink plastic on windows you aren’t going to open.

Insulate the first two metres of hot water pipes extending from your tank – it brings hot water to the shower faster.

Never place your fridge beside your oven, dishwasher or other heat sources. It will have to work harder to stay cool.

Entertaining over the holidays? Lower the thermostat a few degrees to account for the extra body heat.

Only heat the rooms you use. Shut off air registers and keep doors closed in any others.

Set your thermostat as high as possible in the summer. As a rule of thumb, the smaller the difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. 

Set your thermostat between 18°C and 20°C before bed and 16°C when you’re away. Every degree lower saves up to 3% on heating costs!

Set your ceiling fan to spin clockwise – it will gently push hot air downwards to keep rooms cozy.

Let the sun shine in! During the day open the blinds to heat your home naturally. Close them again at night.

Turn heating or air conditioning down or off when you’re away.

Sliding balcony door? Clean dirt and debris off the tracks to keep air from escaping.

Use dryer balls. They can reduce drying time from 30-50%.

Don't open the refrigerator door more often than necessary. The cool air escapes quickly.

An uncrowded fridge works more efficiently than a crowded one. However, freezers work best when they are two thirds full.

Use dishwashers, washers and dryers efficiently. Wait for full loads before running,   use cold water whenever possible and take advantage of off peak rates.

Unplug chargers once devices have finished charging to reduce phantom power.

Install your central air conditioner in a shaded area or plant a shrub near it. This can improve the unit’s efficiency by up to 10%.

Install patio covers or awnings to shade your home and reduce cooling costs. You can also strategically plant trees and shrubs.

Check to make sure your fridge and freezer doors are properly sealed. Close the door on a piece of paper and then try to remove the paper. If it slides out or moves easily, adjust the door or replace the seal.

Every few months, vacuum your refrigerator's condenser coils as dust and dirt can impede its performance.

Do you have a swimming pool? Put your pump on a timer to save you up to $50 a month on electricity.

Set timers on indoor and outdoor light fixtures to account for more daylight hours in the summer.

Never vent your dryer indoors. It can be very dangerous due to moisture, fibres, and chemicals in the dryer exhaust. (Source: ENERGY STAR)

Fire up the grill on hot summer days. It’s a quick way to cook and reduces the need for air conditioning.

When showering, use the bathroom fan to remove heat/humidity from your home.

Set your thermostat between 24°C and 26°C before bed and 28°C when you’re away.

If your refrigerator has an energy saver switch, adjust it to provide maximum energy savings without causing condensation on the outside of the unit.

When you turn on your furnace, don’t switch your thermostat to a hotter setting than you need. It will not heat the room any faster.

Swap old bulbs for ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs – they stay cool to the touch, which can reduce the need for air conditioning.

Switch to LED bulbs. They last up to 25,000 hours and use up to 75% less electricity. 

Shorter days means lights are on longer. Switch to ENERGY STAR® certified LED bulbs to save up to 75% on lighting costs.

Use the sensor cycles instead of timed dry and save energy while extending the life of your clothes. This will help you avoid over-drying. If you have manual timing controls experiment until you've determined how long it takes to do a typical load. 

All electronics with a digital clock (i.e. microwaves) continue to use electricity even when switched "off." Use a power bar to ensure "off" is really "off." Phantom load accounts for about 10 per cent of all electricity used in Canadian homes.

Reheat leftovers in the microwave – they use up to 50% less electricity than electric stoves and won’t heat your home.

Scrape your dishes before loading them into your dishwasher instead of using hot water to rinse them. 

Many people have kept old fridges running either in the basement, a storage room, or at the cottage. If your second fridge is usually empty, you could save over $150 per year on your electricity bill.

Choose more efficient certified products, including laptops, PVRs, televisions and sound systems, to save.

An energy efficient appliance may cost more to purchase, but can save you money and energy over its lifetime.

On appliances, the EnerGuide label shows the energy consumption in kilowatt-hours (kWhs) per year. The lower the number, the more energy-efficient the appliance.

For major appliances, an indicator arrow on the left side of the EnerGuide Label's bar scale means lower operating costs and long-term savings.

The EnerGuide label shows how much energy an appliance consumes in a year of normal service, so you can compare the energy efficiency of each model.

Drying two or more loads in a row makes the most of the heat already generated by your dryer. 

Keep the filter at the bottom of your dishwasher clean to keep your machine running efficiently. 

Always use the energy saver option on your dishwasher. 

Only cool the rooms you use. Shut off air registers and keep doors closed in any others.

Use the right size pots and pans and element size for the job. The pots and pans should have clean flat bottoms, straight sides, and tight fitting lids. Cook with the lid on.

When doing laundry, avoid partial loads and don't overload. Try to organize your washing and drying so you are doing full loads.

Cooking just a small quantity? Consider using a microwave, toaster oven or slow cooker. They are much more efficient.

Always select your washing machine's cold water rinse - rinsing in hot or warm water won't make your laundry any cleaner. 

Remove and clean the washer's agitator once a month. Clean the filters of both water hose inlets on the back of the machine once a year. 

Clean the filter every time between loads. A clogged filter can damage your dryer, lower its efficiency, and become a fire hazard. 

Sliding door? Dirt and debris can obstruct the seal and let cool air escape – use a soft brush to clean the tracks.

A clean oven is more efficient and accurate.

Clean and replace furnace filters once a month during heating season. Be sure to schedule a tune-up, too.

Clean debris and leaves from your central air conditioner’s outdoor fan, compressor and condenser.

Choose LED holiday lights when decorating for the season – they use 80 per cent less than standard lights.

Choose ENERGY STAR® certified windows to reduce condensation, improve comfort and save about 8 per cent on electricity costs.

Give a ceiling fan a spin to reduce the need for air conditioning. You can raise the thermostat by about 4°C and still feel comfortable.

Block the heat. On summer days, draw the blinds on south or west-facing windows to limit the amount of sunlight you let in.

Batch cook over a weekend – it saves time and keeps your oven from working overtime.

Avoid streaming content through your game console. It uses much more energy than other options.

Avoid running small loads in your dishwasher. 

Remember: appliances have two price tags -- the purchase price and the operating price. The less energy efficient an appliance is, the higher its operating price will be.

If your dishwasher has the option, choose air drying rather than heat drying. If not, stop the machine before the drying cycle starts and open the door to let dishes air dry. 

Make sure oven and refrigerator doors fit tightly and gaskets are in good condition.