Energy-saving tips for spring and summer

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Homeowners and renters often think most about their energy use during the winter when temperatures fall and the sun sets early in the evening. In these cold and dark conditions, there’s a clearer need to keep our homes warm, comfortable, and well lit. As a result, the cost of maintaining a home also becomes more apparent!

However, spring and summertime bring their own unique opportunities to save money and energy. To guide you in your energy saving journey, we’ve compiled 18 ways to save energy and remain comfortable all season long.

Draft proof your home

To remain comfortable on a hot summer day, you might rely on fans and air conditioning. This takes time, energy, and money, so it’s best to maximize the benefits, and your efforts! Even though you’ve cooled your house, sometimes the air can escape through small cracks in your windows and doors; it’s important to prevent this.  

Sealing is the process of avoiding unnecessary energy loss by closing these gaps or cracks in your windows, doors, and other seams in your home with weather stripping, such as foam tape, door jambs and sweeps, or window insulating film. When your home is properly sealed, you can save on heating and cooling expenses.

Window of opportunity

If cooling the inside of your home using as little energy as possible is the goal, then opening and closing windows during different times of the day is a great strategy to control indoor temperature in the spring and summertime. Close your windows during daylight hours when the outside air is hot. In contrast, open your windows in the evening or nighttime when the air is cooler. Just be sure to close them again the next morning when the air begins to warm! Always remember to watch out for storms, smoke, or other poor weather conditions before opening your windows.

Curtain call

Even when windows are closed, the sun can shine through and heat the interior of your home. Closing blinds, drapes, or curtains when the sun is at its greatest intensity prevents the sun from streaming through and heating up your home. Remember, every measure you take to keep your home cool without using energy helps lower utility bills.

Ceiling fan = counter-clockwise

Ceiling fans help airflow in your home and help you cool off on warm days. In the summer months, ensure your fan rotates counter-clockwise, as the blades are designed to suck hot air up and push cold air down when they spin in this direction. The opposite is true in the winter; a clockwise rotation will help to warm your home.

Clean air filters and ventilation systems

Get your air ducts serviced and cleaned annually. Dust and debris make your home’s heating and cooling systems work harder to regulate your home’s temperature. The harder they work, the more energy they need to operate.  

Beyond getting these serviced by a professional, you can also learn to change your own HVAC air filter. This is something you should do for any air conditioner or furnace every one to six months, or as the manufacturer recommends. An air filter is the screen that stops dust and debris from circulating throughout your home through your HVAC system. As the filter does its job, however, the screen begins to fill with debris, making the HVAC unit have to work harder and harder to push air through the system. This means that the HVAC system becomes less efficient and uses more energy.

Learn how to replace your air filter by watching this video: Furnace Air Filter - How to Change It Properly

Fire up the barbeque

Cooking appliances like your stovetop and oven generate lots of extra heat that only add to discomfort in the already warm temperature of spring and summer. Rethink your summer menus to favour cooking outside on the BBQ or an outdoor cooking appliance. You can also make more cold dinners such as salads.

Shorter showers/cold showers

Heating water uses a high percentage of energy in your home, so the warm weather during spring and summer may be the perfect occasion to attempt cold – or cooler – showers! Lowering the temperature of your shower can help to lower your energy use and bills, but it may also give you the refreshing break you need during a hot day.  

Cold water wash

Avoid using your water heater when possible.. Washing laundry in cold water, using a cold-water laundry detergent (available wherever you buy your laundry detergent) is a good way to do this, and you won’t even notice a difference!

Hang dry clothes

With subzero temperatures throughout much of the year, Canada doesn’t often afford the opportunity to hang dry clothes, unless you enjoy frozen t-shirts. Take advantage of the warm weather while you can and save water by putting up a clothes line and hang drying your laundry instead of using the dryer. Plus, your clothes won’t shrink and they may even last longer!

Light of day

Canada has especially long summertime daylight, lasting well into the evening. This presents a perfect opportunity to turn off the lights in your home in favour of natural sunlight. However, sunlight getting into your home can increase the heat, so be mindful of the tradeoff.

Unplug

Even when they’re not in use, plugged in electronics use a small amount of energy. Over time, however, this small amount adds up and negatively contributes to your energy bills. Consider unplugging appliances when they’re not in use, especially if they are easily accessible. You can implement this practice any time of the year.

Lightbulb moment

Consider replacing any incandescent bulbs in your home with LED lightbulbs. LED lightbulbs are up to 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, they last 15 times longer. The key here for summertime? LEDs also produce less heat than incandescent bulbs!

Install energy-efficient appliances and products

Look for Energy-Star rated appliances for maximum energy efficiency. When you buy an appliance in Canada, they come with a sticker that tells you how energy efficient the appliance is compared to other models. It also tells you approximately how much energy they use each year and how much you’ll pay (on average) in that energy to operate.

Channel your inner detective

Many energy providers offer online billing and bill tracking so you can clearly view your energy usage and see how daily activities affect your bills. Perhaps, your energy bills increase on the days you do laundry, or you notice that a spike in your water bill corresponds to the long showers your children have begun taking after playing outside. Having this knowledge allows you to make small adjustments to your energy use habits and lower the cost of your bills over time.

Get outside

You can save energy by spending more time outside in your yard, the community, or in nature during the beautiful spring and summertime weather. Ensure you’ve turned off any appliances, electronics, and cooling systems before leaving so they don’t run while you’re gone, and have an adventure!

Connected and wifi, smart appliances

Turning off your home’s heating and cooling system before going on summer vacation is a great way to save energy since you won’t be home to notice the difference and there is little to no chance of pipes freezing in the warm weather. To avoid the discomfort of coming home to a home too hot or cold, you can turn on your home's temperature systems on your way home with a smart thermostat. Or, monitor other smart appliances, such as fridges, or smoke alarms for greater peace of mind.

Apply for energy rebates

If you plan to do upgrades to your home, you may qualify for energy rebates in B.C. and Alberta. These rebates support home upgrades that increase energy efficiency or lower your home's carbon footprint. You may qualify for anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars by investing in your home's energy efficiency through new appliances and environmentally friendly upgrades.  

To learn more about energy rebates, visit Energy Champion’ Rebate Programs section.

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