simple solutions to help reduce your home energy bill

Living and working in Parry Sound-Muskoka is amazing, however we do experience cold winters and hot summers here, which directly affects our energy consumption and in turn our home energy bill.  We have some easy to implement, low-to-no cost solutions that can help you reduce your electrical costs at home.  

1. Try swapping out your standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient alternatives such as LEDs.  An incandescent bulb lasts an average of 1,000 to 2,000 hours, however the average LED bulb lasts 30,000 to 50,000 hours, almost 25 times as much!  LED bulbs have come down in price considerably in the last few years and are definitely worth the upfront investment in the long-term.  For comparison a 60W incandescent bulb @ $1.95/bulb vs a 12W LED bulb @ $4.95/bulb will give you approximately the same amount of illumination, around 800 lumens but the LED will last much longer.  Using this handy chart you can calculate how much you can save by making the switch.  For the chart you will need to know that a kWh has an average cost of about 11 cents currently in the Parry Sound area. 
2. Eliminate phantom power by plugging individual devices such as your television, satellite & surround sound system into a power bar and switching off the entire power bar when not in use.
3. Install low-flow showerheads and tap aerators to reduce hot water waste.  Make sure to fix any leaking faucets & try washing clothes in cold water.
4. Log into your account with your energy provider such as Hydro One.  Hydro One breaks down your energy usage very effectively allowing you to see when your energy usage/costs are at their highest.  Understanding and adjusting your habits like running your dishwasher or doing laundry during off-peak times can greatly reduce your energy expense.  On-peak cost/kWh can be over twice as much as off-peak cost!
5. Download and use our handy spreadsheet to become even move energy efficient. Just enter how many of each appliance/item you have and the amount of hours that is in use during a 24 hour period.  You can also adjust the wattage column to reflect your appliance's actual wattage.  Our numbers are based on averages.
6. Install smart devices such as a wireless programmable thermostat for your HVAC system.

Hopefully we've given you some good ideas to help you get that energy bill down.  Even implementing 1 or 2 suggestions can help you live a more energy efficient and less costly life!