June 12, 2020
Increasing energy efficiency in our homes and businesses comes with many advantages, including lowering our energy bills and reducing our environmental impact. There may even be some government incentives available to help offset the costs of renovating or retrofitting.
To improve energy efficiency in your home or building and save money on energy, here are some tools, tips and tricks to help you get started:
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Make Small Improvements to Your Home
Simple steps you can take to improve energy efficiency include weather-stripping doors and windows, sealing leaks with caulking, and cleaning gutters regularly. Let the natural sunlight help heat your home during the cooler months by opening curtains during the day and closing them when it gets dark.
Some home experts suggest that you remove screens from your windows during the winter months, as this will allow as much as 40% more natural light to enter your windows. Re-installing them in the summer is an effective way to block out solar heat. Finally, don’t waste energy while you sleep—set your thermostat to lower the temperature to between 18 and 20°C overnight.
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Upgrade to High-Efficiency Appliances
According to Build with Propane, there are five appliances that can significantly increase efficiency and comfort while reducing carbon footprint. They are space heaters, water heaters, kitchen ranges, clothes dryers and fireplaces. Compared to electric, propane appliances typically offer higher efficiency ratings to save you money. An Energy Star certified propane water heater, for example, can reduce propane costs by 13 to 20%.+ When it comes to space heating, propane furnaces typically have efficiency ratings at 90% or above.
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Use a Clean, Low-Carbon Fuel
Comfort and long-term energy savings are the top reasons homeowners choose one fuel type over another. Some homeowners also consider the effect their homes have on the environment. Propane systems are able to operate at a lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions rate than systems running on electricity or heating oil.
Using a cleaner fuel like propane will help you reduce your carbon impact and ultimately avoid having to pay higher carbon tax in comparison to some other fuels. Because there are fewer CO2 emissions from consuming propane versus other energies, the total cost for carbon is less than what you would pay if you consumed those other fuels.
Monitor Your Energy Consumption
Monitoring your consumption and paying attention to historic usage can help you with forecasting and budgeting for your energy bills. Superior Propane customers can simply log into their mySUPERIORTM account anytime to view consumption history and previous bill payments. Learn more at mySUPERIOR.ca or download the app today.
