Summer is a period of high energy use. Here are some tips that will help you play a part in conserving energy.
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Use fans
Use fans as your first line of defence against summer heat. For example, a 60-watt ceiling fan costs between 8¢ and $1.50 to operate monthly, while an air conditioner can cost between $6.75 and $40.50 a month.
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Keep blinds, curtains and windows closed during the day in summer
This helps keep your home cooler.
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Set your air conditioner at 24°C (75°F)
Set your air conditioner at 24°C (75°F) and raise it when you go out, or set your programmable thermostat to do this. For each degree set below 24°C (75°F), you use 3% to 5% more energy. This recommended setting will give you the most comfort at the least cost.
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Take a quick shower
Take a quick shower instead of a bath. A five-minute shower, for instance, uses up to 50% less hot water than a bath.
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Water your garden or lawn early
Water your garden or lawn early in the morning, after the dew has dried, to reduce losses due to evaporation. More than half of the water applied to lawns and gardens can be lost due to evaporation or run-off because of overwatering. As a rule, most lawns and gardens require little more than two to three centimetres of water per week.
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Practise “grass cycling”
Leave grass clippings on your lawn where they quickly break down and add needed nutrients to your lawn. Keeping grass out of your garbage can save 0.1 tonne in GHGs.
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Turn off all sources of heat
Turn off all sources of heat, such as lights, appliances and electrical equipment, when not in use. In summer, if you can, do your baking, washing, drying and ironing early in the morning or in the evening.
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Shut off the pilot light
Shut off the pilot light of your natural gas fireplace or wall heater during summer months. If you don’t know how to relight the pilot light, ask your heating contractor to show you during your next servicing.
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Turn off lights and equipment when a work area isn’t being used
Even better, if you don’t need them, don’t turn the lights on in the first place. Natural light saves energy and is easier on your eyes. And a computer that runs 24 hours a day uses between $75 and $120 worth of electricity each year. You can save about $15 on your annual energy bill with an ENERGY STAR®-qualified computer in standby mode.
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Use more-efficient light bulbs
The amount of electricity needed to light a Canadian home results in almost one third of a tonne of GHGs each year. By replacing five of the most used standard bulbs in your home with ENERGY STAR®-qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs, you can reduce your GHGs and save about $30 each year. Answers to your frequently asked questions.
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Avoid running the tap
Avoid running the tap while shaving, brushing your teeth or doing dishes. Partially fill the sink with water and stop about 80% of that clean water from going down the drain – along with your money.
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Avoid over-drying clothes
Clothes should dry in 40 to 60 minutes. Better yet, hang clothes outdoors to dry when the weather permits. If you are buying a new dryer, look for one with a moisture sensor. It will turn off automatically when clothes are dry.
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Rinse in cold water and wash in warm
Clothes rinsed in cold water come out as clean as those rinsed in warm water. Washing in warm rather than hot water uses 50% less energy, and your clothes will come out just as well rinsed and, depending on the fabric, less wrinkled.
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Select the dishwasher’s no-heat or air-drying cycle
Turn off the electric element that heats the interior of the unit and causes the water to evaporate. It is easy to do and will save on your hydro bill. Scrape off your dishes instead of rinsing them and run the dishwasher only when it is full.
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Avoid using chemical pesticides or fertilizers
Avoid using chemical pesticides or fertilizers on your lawn and garden. Chemical fertilizers are a source of nitrous oxide, a GHG. Try using organic products – they are better for our environment and healthier for your lawn and your family.
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Capture rainwater for your garden
The water you use for your lawn doesn’t have to come from a tap. A cistern or a rain barrel will capture and store rainwater for irrigation. Make sure your barrel is covered with a tight-fitting lid or screen to keep disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding there.
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Turn off your cottage’s water heater when you leave
It wastes energy to keep water hot when it isn’t needed. It doesn’t take long to heat up when you return.
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Use your vehicle’s air conditioner sparingly
Minimize your use of air conditioning to improve your fuel efficiency in summer. To stay cool at highway speeds, use your car's flow-through ventilation. When driving in the city, open a window.
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Maintain a steady speed
Aggressive driving in city traffic saves very little time but greatly increases fuel consumption and emissions. The safer, more fuel-efficient option is to accelerate smoothly and maintain a steady speed.
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Don't Idle
If you are going to be stopped for longer than 10 seconds, except in traffic, turn off the engine. More than 10 seconds of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it again. Idling wastes fuel, it's hard on your vehicle, and it's damaging our environment.
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Measure your vehicle's tire pressure
Properly inflated tires will help your vehicle run more efficiently. With properly maintained tires, the average Canadian driver could save the equivalent of two weeks worth of gas every year.
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Don't buy more than you need
Four-wheel drive, all-wheel drive engine size, vehicle weight and tire size influence the amount of fuel your vehicle uses. Options such as power windows and power seats also add weight to cars, making engines work harder and burn more fuel.
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