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Home Conservation

    1. Insulate ceilings to R-19 standards.
    2. Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out.
    3. Weatherstrip around windows and doors. Those little cracks add up to big holes.
    4. Check for major air leaks in heating and cooling ducts. Wrap with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.
    5. Install energy-saver showerheads.
    6. Put an insulating blanket around your electric water heater and put pipe wrap on at least the first 2 metres of hot water pipe.
    7. Us a programmable thermostat to control heating and cooling. When you are sleeping or away from home, set the temperature much lower in winter and higher in summer to save significant amounts of money.
    8. Set the furnace thermostat at 20 degrees or lower, and the air-conditioner thermostat at 25 degrees or higher, health permitting. Three to five percent more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 15 and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 25.
    9. Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer's instructions.
    10. Set the water heater thermostat at 140 degrees F. (60 C) or "normal" if you have a dishwasher. Otherwise, set it at 120 degrees F. (48 C) or "low.". Don't set it lower than that or there is a risk of bacteria buildup.
    11. Wash full loads of clothes and use cold or warm water where practical. Always rinse with cold water. Use the "suds saver" feature on your clothes washer, if it has one.
    12. Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used.
    13. Close windows when heating or cooling.
    14. Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets. A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills, but also increases the gas or electric bill for heating the water.
    15. Wash only full loads in a dishwasher and use the shortest cycle that will get your dishes clean. Don't use the high temperature dryng option. If operating instructions allow, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
    16. Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick.
    17. Plan meals so you'll cook and bake several items at once. Preheat as little as possible.
    18. When going on vacation, shut off or turn down automatic appliances, such as your water heater and furnace. Unplug electronics to eliminate "phantom load", the electricity used just to keep the electronics on standby.
    19. Do only full loads when using your clothes washer and dryer. Be sure to clean your clothes dryer's lint trap after each use. On sunny days, hang your clothes out to dry.
    20. Wash in cold water whenever possible, saving energy and keeping your colours more vibrant.
    21. Add extra blankets or insulated padding to waterbed mattresses to retain heat. And make your bed every day. It saves on heat loss.
    22. When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient models. Look for the Energy Star label. It indicates energy efficiency.
    23. Install shades, awnings or sun screens on windows facing south and/or west to block summer light. In winter, open shades on sunny days to help warm rooms but close drapes to keep heat in during the night. Do not block radiators or warm air outlets with curtains or furniture.
    24. Use compact fluorescent light bulbs. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient fluorescent lighting.