Saving money
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7 Simple Ways You Can Reduce Energy Bills Right Now
Author
Krista Fabbro
Published
Dec 2, 2024
If you’re tired of watching your energy bills go up and up, here’s some good news—by adopting small energy-saving strategies, you can reduce energy bills for noticeable savings over time.
You don’t have to make major lifestyle changes for these methods to work. Just make simple household tweaks to lower your consumption.
These tweaks are so simple in fact, you can put them into action right after you read this!
Make Sense of Your Energy Usage
Before making changes, you have to know how energy is being used in your home. Start by carefully looking through your bill. It’s worth noting that most energy bills will fluctuate month to month for several reasons including:
Weather changes
Having additional people in the home
New appliances
Energy providers sometimes undergo rate adjustments or changes to energy fees, which can also impact your bill. These are outside of your control.
7 Tips to Reduce Your Energy Bills
In Canada, the average household spends around $2,100 per year on energy in their home. Here are some ways to keep your energy costs as low as possible.
1. Switch to LED Bulbs
LED lights use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. While they may cost slightly more upfront, LEDs tend to last 15 to 25 times longer, meaning you’ll save dollars per bulb per year in the long run.
2. Unplug Electronics When Not in Use
Devices consume power even when they’re turned off. This is called "phantom" or standby power and can account for up to 10% of a home's energy use. If we consider the average yearly Canadian household spend on energy, that’s $210 of potential savings—just by unplugging!
3. Adjust Thermostat Settings
Cold winters and hot summers mean that heating and cooling account for a big chunk of energy costs in Canadian homes. In general, this temperature range will keep your home comfortable all season long and help you save money:
20°C to 21°C while at home
16°C while sleeping or not at home
4. Use Cold Water for Laundry
Up to 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes to heating the water. Experts say that just switching to cold water can save around $60 per year on energy bills.
5. Only Run the Dishwasher When Full
A full dishwasher load uses the same amount of water and energy as a partial load. While it might be tempting to run some dishes through that have been sitting for a few days, waiting until your dishwasher is full will save on the energy needed to heat the water and run the machine.
6. Seal Drafts to Improve Insulation
There’s no point paying for heat or AC if it’s leaving your space. Check for air leaks around windows and doors and use weatherstripping or caulk to seal gaps to lower heating and cooling costs.
7. Check Government Programs
As a Canadian, you may be eligible for energy assistance programs. For example, Alberta has energy affordability programs that automatically provide eligible households with rebates. The Canada Greener Homes Grant offers incentives for energy-efficient upgrades as well.
Some provinces also have programs, like Ontario's Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, to help low-income households with their energy bills.
To find available programs and find out if you’re eligible:
Check with your local utility providers
Visit your provincial government website
Consult community service organizations
Reduce Your Consumption & Save
These easy strategies can help households significantly reduce energy bills over time. Even small changes can add up to substantial savings!
Start with simple steps and gradually incorporate more habits to see a noticeable difference in your energy consumption and costs.
Contact us to learn how to make the most out of MoneyUp Smart.
