CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND ENERGY-SAVING TIPS
The following are some energy saving tips and tips to help you shift your energy use to take advantage of Time of Use pricing:
- Cut your air conditioning costs. Making wise use of your air conditioner will have the biggest impact on your summer energy bill. Set your air conditioner a few degrees higher than you normally would, and turn it off when no-one is home. You can also help your air conditioner work more efficiently:
- Replace or clean the filters once a month.
- Use a ceiling fan to circulate the cold air. This will allow you to raise the thermostat setting by a few degrees without a noticeable difference.
- Close shades and curtains on the sunny side of the house.
- Try setting your dishwasher to start after 7:00 p.m. when off-peak prices begin. If your dishwasher has a timer – use it.
- Clothes dryers consume a lot of energy. Wait until evening or the weekend and you'll pay a third of the cost.
- Electric water heaters can really make electricity use spike as they refill and heat water. If you reduce the amount of hot water you use during peak periods, you also reduce the amount of electricity you use during these times.
- If you have a pool, install a timer to run your pump and heater during off-peak hours. The pump may only need to run half the time or less.
- Your electric stove can be a high energy user, depending on lifestyle. There are some simple ways you can minimize these costs at peak times:
- Match the pots to the element size.
- Make sure the bottoms of your pans are flat.
- Minimize the pre-heating time for your oven. In many cases you many not need to pre-heat.
- Use a crock pot, toaster oven or a small microwave – you’ll use less energy and create less unwanted heat on hot days.
- If you have electric heating, your overall heating costs may not change significantly. Some smart meter pilot projects have shown many customers with electric heat can save with Time of Use rates.
- Even the small losses of electricity add up. The average Canadian home has 25 electronic devices that use standby power which can add up to 10 per cent of household electricity consumption. Plug these devices (TVs, VCRs, etc..) into a power bar, which cuts off the supply of electricity.
- Turn your computer monitor off if you are not going to use it for 20 minutes, and turn your computer off if you're not going to use it in the next two hours.
- Fix water leaks and drafts, clean filters on air conditioners and furnaces and generally keep your appliances in good working order.
- Buy Energy Star rated products for your home. Switching to the most energy-efficient products can save you hundreds of dollars in energy costs.
Waterloo North Hydro Inc.
526 Country Squire Road
PO Box 640
Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 4A3
Phone: 519-886-5090
Employment Opportunities
General Inquires:
Customersupport@wnhydro.com
Phone: 519-885-6840
Fax: 519-746-0133
Engineering Inquiries:
eclerk@wnhydro.com
Phone: 519-888-5552
ECRA/ESA LICENCE 7004206
Standard Business Hours:
8:30am - 4:30pm (Monday - Friday)
Emergency Hours:
24 hours a day, seven days a week
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