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Conserving Energy in Your Home This Summer
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Apr 29, 2007, 11:48

(NC)-The warm Canadian summer is quickly approaching and many Canadians are looking for ways to stay cool at home and reduce energy costs at the same time. The energy management team at Canadian Tire has the following tips for beating the heat without breaking the bank:

. Thermostat timer - A programmable thermostat timer will allow you to minimize the number of hours your air conditioner is running, but still keep the house cool. There's no need to keep the air conditioner running if no one is home. Program it to turn on about an hour before you get home so it's comfortable when you get in. A programmable thermostat can save up to 33 percent on energy costs.

. Dimmers - Install dimmers on all your lights. They can reduce energy consumption by 20 percent and with the long summer hours of daylight, you don't need the full strength of bulbs.

. Motion sensors on exterior lights - Installing motion sensor lights on the exterior of your home means the lights will automatically turn off when not detecting motion.

. Energy efficient light bulbs - CFL bulbs use up to 78 percent less energy and save money on your electricity. CFL bulbs have the advantage of lasting up to ten times longer than traditional bulbs and, because you won't have to replace them as often, you'll create less landfill. This quick and easy solution will pay off in the long run - both in your pocket and for the environment.

. Low flow items in the bathroom - Switch to a low flow toilet and showerhead and save up to 52,000 litres of water per year. Fixing any leaky faucets can also reduce wasted water.

. EnergyStar appliances - When purchasing new appliances look for the EnergyStar symbol.

. Research - You can learn more about ways to save energy, money and the planet online at canadiantire.ca/ advancegreen.

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