Canadians are no strangers to high energy costs in the home. Some months it seems like every bill that comes in is higher than the month preceding it. While our northern climate and dispersed population can explain away some of these high expenses, ultimately our energy consumption boils down to a lack of frugality and innovation.
All too often we’re told that computers, washers or dryers, and other appliances suck the energy out of our homes and the money from our wallets. Heating and cooling your home is arguably the biggest expense you will get hit by monthly, yet people still have old furnaces or A/C units that have far surpassed their designated lifespan.
In order to make educated choices and to adopt simple energy saving plans, we need to first understand where our money goes how energy is being consumed.
Home Appliances
Appliances account for a large chunk of your home energy costs. Approximately 10% of your energy needs are tied up in household appliances like hot water heaters, fridges, stoves, microwaves, and the plethora of gadgets that we use in our daily lives.
The good news is that Energy Star certified refrigerators can save up to 20%. High-intensity light bulbs and other updated appliances also increase energy efficiency and can be a simple “plug and play” way of saving you money.
Lighting
Many new styles of energy efficient light bulbs are on the market, and the cost has been driven down due to competition. That’s a good thing because almost 90% of the energy used to light our homes is lost as heat.
LED lights use at least 75% of the energy compared to standard incandescent lighting use.
Home Heating And Cooling
Almost 25% of the heat lost in your home comes from improperly sealed doors and windows. Older home construction methods were notorious for leaving gaps between walls and the outside structure. Older windows made of a single pane of glass are extremely ineffective at protecting the inside of your home from the outside elements. Simply replacing your windows can yield cost savings up to 20% of your home heating.
Furnaces and other items tied into your HVAC system account for a large amount of your home energy use – 60% to be exact. Simple having your furnaced replaced can save you 20% on this expense alone. If you’re looking to replace your furnace, expect almost complete efficiency, or somewhere around 95-97%.
Where To Go From Here
Before running out and getting new appliances or having a home energy efficiency test done, stop to consider the little things. Water usage and lights being left on when nobody is home are easy thing to look at when trying to curb your energy usage. Of course, if you’re looking to start over with a completely fresh, energy efficient home, check out our green home models that offer something for every energy conscious homeowner.
