Energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same result, such as lighting a room or keeping your home warm. Replacing older light bulbs with LEDs and sealing drafts around windows and doors are two examples.
Using energy efficiently can benefit the environment and your wallet. Improving energy efficiency can help reduce the amount of fossil fuel needed to produce electricity and heat homes. This can reduce the amount of fossil fuels needed to supply a community each year. If you pay for your own electricity or heating, improved energy efficiency may also lower your bills.
Whether you rent or own your home, following these five tips can help you stay comfortable while using less energy.
1. Keep heat inside your home
Reducing heat loss helps your heating system maintain a comfortable temperature without working as hard. This is especially useful during Nunavut’s long, cold heating season.
Avoid leaving exterior doors and windows open unnecessarily while the heat is on. Check for drafts around doors and windows, including worn or damaged weatherstripping—the material that seals gaps around them.
2. Keep your dryer’s lint filter clean
A clogged lint filter can restrict airflow, making your dryer work harder and take longer to dry clothes. Cleaning the lint filter after every load helps your dryer work more efficiently while reducing the risk of fire.
If clothes still take unusually long to dry, have the exhaust vent checked and cleaned if needed. If your landlord or local housing authority maintains the dryer, report the problem to them.
3. Reduce unnecessary electricity use
Turn off lights when you leave a room or do not need them. Consider Replacing older light bulbs with LEDs where possible and turn off or unplug electronics that do not need to stay on.
Using less electricity helps reduce the amount of fuel needed to generate it.
4. Use curtains and blinds to help manage heat
Close curtains or blinds during cold nights to help reduce heat loss through windows. Open them when sunlight reaches your windows to let the sun help warm your home.
Keep curtains clear of heaters, radiators and vents so they do not create a fire hazard or block airflow.
5. Use household appliances efficiently
Whenever possible, run washing machines, dryers and dishwashers with full loads, without overloading them. Follow the appliance’s instructions for load sizes.
Running fewer, fuller loads can reduce the electricity—and, for washing machines and dishwashers, the hot water—needed to clean the same amount of clothing or dishes.
Whether you rent or own your home, following these five tips can help you stay comfortable while using less energy. Consider starting with one or two actions that work best for your household and building from there.