![\"WinterHomeEnergy1\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/WinterHomeEnergy1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPhotos: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n Canadian winters are long and hard on our homes and our pocketbooks. We all know that with dipping temperatures comes higher heating costs, so with several months of winter ahead of us, there\u2019s no better time to ensure your home is in tip top shape and running at its most efficient.<\/p>\n For advice on how to increase your home\u2019s efficiency while decreasing your monthly hydro bill, we turned to Paula Doyle, District Sales Manager at Enercare Inc<\/a>. Here she shares her top 8 energy-saving tips.<\/p>\n 1. Use a programmable thermostat<\/strong><\/p>\n Running your home\u2019s heater all day is both inefficient and unnecessary. By using a programmable thermostat, homeowners can set the temperature for different times of the day to ensure that the heater isn\u2019t operating while nobody\u2019s home or while you\u2019re asleep. Smart thermostats add the ability to control your home\u2019s entire HVAC system right from the palm of your hands via a smartphone app.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the cold weather hits, homeowners naturally begin to turn on their furnaces, which becomes the top energy user in the home during winter months,\u201d says Doyle. \u201cA lower temperature at night and after you leave for work can save up to 10 percent on your heating bill.\u201d<\/p>\n 2. Furnace maintenance saves energy<\/strong><\/p>\n Ensuring your furnace is running at top efficiency can save you money on your next hydro bill. \u201cA tune-up from a licensed technician can save you 3-10 percent in heating costs,\u201d says Doyle. \u201cYour furnace filter also affects the air quality of your home so a good rule of thumb is to clean or replace it every three months, all year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n 3. Install a humidifier<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the biggest benefits of proper humidification in the home is a financial one. Using a humidifier allows you to turn the thermostat down one or two degrees while still maintaining a comfortable feeling, thus lowering your heating bills.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the air inside your home contains the proper amount of moisture, you can comfortably turn the furnace down a notch without noticing,\u201d explains Doyle. \u201cAs an added bonus, a humidifier helps eliminate dry air that can cause damage to your home and health.\u201d<\/p>\n 4. Take advantage of free heat!<\/strong><\/p>\n There are easy, low-budget ways homeowners can conserve energy without having to make any major modifications to their homes. \u201cOpen drapes during the day to let the sun\u2019s rays warm your space,\u201d says Doyle. Hosting family or friends for dinner? \u201cWhen entertaining or when the house is full, turn down the thermostat as body heat will help warm the space.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Manage light usage<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember when your parents would nag you to turn the lights off when leaving a room? They were onto something. \u201cIt costs about $2.55 per year to light one room for one hour,\u201d says Doyle. \u201cSwitch off the lights when you leave a room and install automatic timers, motion sensors, dimmers and solar cells to help you conserve energy.\u201d<\/p>\n Switching from traditional bulbs to energy efficient ones like LEDs can help you use up to 40 percent less energy indoors and out.<\/p>\n 6. Find and seal leaks<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cUp to 30 percent of the heating and cooling costs in a home can be lost through poorly fitted windows and doors,\u201d explains Doyle. \u201cCaulking and weather stripping around existing openings or installing new energy-efficient windows can save home owners about $150 a year on their energy bills.\u201d<\/p>\n How can you detect air leaks? \u201cPlace your hand against doors\/windows from the inside. If it feels cooler than the inside walls, install a door\/window that\u2019s better insulated,\u201d says Doyle.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n