According to Statistics Canada, the average household in Alberta spends over $5000 operating their homes every year. Home operation includes using utilities like electricity, natural gas and water. There are some things you can do to improve your home’s efficiency, reduce energy use and ultimately lower you’re home’s operating cost.
Update your Insulation
If you live in an older home and have never updated your insulation, chances are you are losing an incredible amount of heat through your attic and walls. Take a look in your attic. If you see wood chips or newspaper-like insulation that means your insulation has an R-value of 4 to 8. In Alberta, Climate Change Central suggests your attic’s R-value should be an R50. Contact one of Edmonton’s best insulation contractors for an upgrade. There are way more options on the market for eco-friendly, high efficiency insulation and a professional company will be able to blow it in your attic over the old insulation. Depending on you home, they could even use upgraded spray foam insulation in your walls. That will greatly improve you home’s ability to keep in the heat!
Seal drafty windows and doors
Broken seals and weather stripping will cause a leak in your door and window frames, allowing the heat to escape and a chilly draft to enter your cozy home. If your window and door frames are warped or damaged, you might need to replace them with new windows and doors. Alternatively, it might be a simple fix that includes installing new weather stripping, or if you want to wait another season before replacing your old windows, you could cover them with plastic. These kits are available at your local hardware store.
Switch to LED light bulbs
Incandescent bulbs use a lot of energy to light your home. Replacing your bulbs with Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) can save you up to 80% on your electricity cost and they last a lot longer too. The initial purchase will be more expensive then old incandescent bulbs, but are well worth the investment as they will save you money over time and will not need to be replaced as often. Reducing the number of bulbs that end up in the garbage is also contributing to a more eco-friendly way of life.
Replace furnace filters regularly
Furnace filters are important part of your heating system Having clean filters will not only boost the performance of your furnace, but will also ensure cleaner air is blowing into your home. Having a dirty filter means your heating system has to work harder to get through the debris and heat your home. You should replace your furnace filter every 2 to 3 months and check it regularly. Learn more about replacing your furnace filter.
Invest in furnace and duct cleaning
If you are not ready to upgrade your old furnace with a high efficiency furnace, then have one of Edmonton’s best furnace and air conditioning companies inspect your furnace and duct work. Having your furnace and duct work inspected and cleaned can improve efficiency, air quality and ensure your system is working safely..
Get ENERGY STAR appliances
ENERGY STAR is the mark for high efficiency products in Canada. Your old appliances could be contributing to your high energy bills. Appliances like stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers and dishwashers that have the ENERGY STAR stamp will help reduce your monthly bill.
“ENERGY STAR certified products meet strict technical specifications for energy performance—tested and certified. They save energy without compromising performance in any way. Typically, an ENERGY STAR certified product is in the top 15 to 30 percent of its class for energy performance. Saving energy saves you money and reduces your impact on the environment.”
Contact an appliance retailer in Edmonton to upgrade your old appliances.
Improving home efficiency with RenovationFind:
To get started on making your home more energy efficient, check the listings on the RenovationFind directory. All of these companies have been screened for high quality work and customer service.
