Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

Taking steps to make your home more energy efficient Taking steps to make your home more energy efficient helps the environment and saves you money. Some helps the environment and saves you money. Some energy-efficient changes are one-time investments, energy-efficient changes are one-time investments, others are things you can do every day! others are things you can do every day! INSULATINGINSULATING Adding new or additional insulation to certain areas like Adding new or additional insulation to certain areas like ceilings, attic and walls along with using caulking or ceilings, attic and walls along with using caulking or weather stripping to make sure doors and windows are weather stripping to make sure doors and windows are properly sealed will help prevent cold drafts and help properly sealed will help prevent cold drafts and help keep warm air inside during cold weather. During the keep warm air inside during cold weather. During the summer, these same improvements will help keep the summer, these same improvements will help keep the cool air inside your home. cool air inside your home. UPDATE YOUR WINDOWS UPDATE YOUR WINDOWS Windows are a major source of heat loss in a home. Windows are a major source of heat loss in a home. Replace aluminum frames. Aluminum window frames let Replace aluminum frames. Aluminum window frames let heat transfer very easily. Vinyl frames are much more heat transfer very easily. Vinyl frames are much more resistant to heat transfer. resistant to heat transfer. Double or triple-paned argon gas-filled windows are great Double or triple-paned argon gas-filled windows are great for keeping the heat in and the cold out. for keeping the heat in and the cold out. HELPFUL RESOURCES HELPFUL RESOURCES www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/5009 www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/5009 www.gogreentogether.ca www.gogreentogether.ca www.greensaver.org/consumer/homeassistance www.greensaver.org/consumer/homeassistance www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/energystar/12519 www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/energystar/12519 REPLACE OLD APPLIANCES REPLACE OLD APPLIANCES Older appliances are less energy-efficient than newer Older appliances are less energy-efficient than newer models. Energy Star certified appliances will help save models. Energy Star certified appliances will help save energy and in turn help lower electricity costs. When energy and in turn help lower electricity costs. When it’s time to replace your kitchen appliances, the washer, it’s time to replace your kitchen appliances, the washer, dryer, water heater, or furnace, look for models that dryer, water heater, or furnace, look for models that are labeled as “Energy Star Certified” to ensure you’re are labeled as “Energy Star Certified” to ensure you’re getting an energy and money-saving appliance. getting an energy and money-saving appliance. •A high efficiency on-demand water heater only fires •A high efficiency on-demand water heater only fires when you call for hot water. It heats up quickly and then when you call for hot water. It heats up quickly and then quits burning fuel. quits burning fuel. •Get low-flow fixtures and appliances. Low-flow toilets, •Get low-flow fixtures and appliances. Low-flow toilets, shower heads, and washing machines can save a lot of shower heads, and washing machines can save a lot of water.water. •Using low-flow fixtures (eg. shower heads) combined •Using low-flow fixtures (eg. shower heads) combined with the use of a new, energy-efficient water heater with the use of a new, energy-efficient water heater can help to further decrease the energy usage in your can help to further decrease the energy usage in your home.home. FURNACE UPDATE/MAINTENANCE FURNACE UPDATE/MAINTENANCE There are a number of things you can do to increase the There are a number of things you can do to increase the efficiency of your furnace. efficiency of your furnace. •High-efficiency furnace. A high efficiency furnace •High-efficiency furnace. A high efficiency furnace burns less gas, burns hotter, and produces less carbon burns less gas, burns hotter, and produces less carbon emissions.emissions. •Change air filters. Changing out dirty furnace filters •Change air filters. Changing out dirty furnace filters makes it easier for air to circulate and thus makes your makes it easier for air to circulate and thus makes your furnace work less.furnace work less. •Seal ducts. Seal your furnace/AC duct work. Keeping •Seal ducts. Seal your furnace/AC duct work. Keeping air in the ducts until it reaches its destination will keep air in the ducts until it reaches its destination will keep your furnace from working too much. your furnace from working too much. •Add a programmable thermostat. Another furnace fix! •Add a programmable thermostat. Another furnace fix!

A programmable thermostat means that while you’re A programmable thermostat means that while you’re out, your furnace won’t come on. However, before you out, your furnace won’t come on. However, before you come back home the furnace will turn back on and your come back home the furnace will turn back on and your house will be warm. house will be warm. •Close the vents in rooms you use less frequently in your •Close the vents in rooms you use less frequently in your home, like guest bedrooms, so you’re only heating or home, like guest bedrooms, so you’re only heating or cooling rooms that are occupied. cooling rooms that are occupied. HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATORS (HRV) HEAT RECOVERY VENTILATORS (HRV) HRV systems provide fresh and improved indoor air HRV systems provide fresh and improved indoor air quality and climate control to your home, while also saving quality and climate control to your home, while also saving energy by reducing heating and cooling requirements. energy by reducing heating and cooling requirements.