Using less energy in your home will result in saving on your monthly bills. Electricity cost money, but it also is costly on the environment. By reducing your electrical consumption, you can also reduce your impact on the environment too. Core Electric Services Ltd. in North Vancouver can help. Here are some things you can do to your electrical that will make your home more energy efficient:
Install a programmable thermostat.
Having the ability to program the thermostat gives you more control over your home’s energy use. You can program the heat to come down when you’re at work, at night and when you are away on vacation. Though the initial cost of a digital thermostat is more than an old-fashioned manual one, you will make up the cost on reduced energy bills. Plus, it’s a relatively simple electrical procedure so an electrician should be able to have it installed in no time. If you need multiple thermostats installed, get a quote to have them all installed at once to save money.
Switch to LED light bulbs.
Consider replacing your old incandescent lightbulbs with high efficiency LED bulbs. LED bulbs have come down in price over the years and after the initial investment, you will start seeing savings on your electrical bill. Not only do they use less electricity to light up, they also last longer.
If you find LED bulbs too expensive, consider the middle-of-the-road compact fluorescent (CFL) lights. They are much more efficient than traditional incandescent lightbulbs and can save you up to $57 over the bulb’s lifetime, according to Consumer Reports.
Invest in energy efficient appliances.
If your older appliances are ready to be replaced, consider installing energy efficient models for your dishwasher, washing machines and refrigerator. ENERGY STAR certified products are the best for energy efficiency. Typically, ENERGY STAR certified products are in the top 15 to 30 percent of their class for energy efficiency.
Use dimmer switches.
If you’re doing a home renovation, ask the electrician about dimmer switches. Not only will dimmer switches allow you to set the mood at certain times of the day, they can also mount up some major energy savings and can extend the life of your lightbulbs. Dimmers work by reducing the flow of electricity to the bulb and allowing lights to operate with lower power outputs. According to SaveOnEnergy, incandescent bulbs use about 20 per cent less energy when dimmed. If you have LED bulbs on dimmer switches, you will maximize your energy savings.
Be more efficient with your electric baseboard heaters.
If you heat your home with baseboard heaters, they make up a big part of your electrical bill. According to BC Hydro, as much as 44 per cent! They give some tips for operating your baseboard heaters that can help you save money:
- Turn down the heat when you go out of the house and at night when you’re sleeping.
- Don’t crank the thermostat when you feel cold, it won’t make it heat up any faster and will use more energy to heat up.
- Make sure your heaters aren’t dusty. This can block heat from being distributed throughout the room and you’ll end up running the heaters longer, thus using more energy.
- Unlike a forced air system, baseboard heaters can only heat the room they are in. Cranking a baseboard heater in one room and leaving the door open will not help to heat other rooms.
Commercial Electrical Savings
Core Electric Services also specializes in commercial electrical systems and lighting. By changing to energy efficient florescent lighting at your commercial facility, you can save up to 50 per cent on your electrical bill. Facilities that will benefit from this energy-saving change include warehouses, athletic centres and large retail stores that usually use high-pressure sodium lamps for lighting. These types of lighting usually account for 50 to 70 per cent of your overall electrical costs.
Florescent lamps are more efficient, last longer, are more reliable and they actually provide better lighting which means better working conditions. They also don’t have that annoying delay when you switch the lights on and off.
Plus, BC Hydro has implemented a new Power Smart High-Bay Lighting initiative that offers financial incentives for making this switch. When you contact electricians in Vancouver, ask them if you qualify for this program.
Read to save energy? Contact Core Electric Services today!
