The weather in Toronto can range from cold to sweltering summer heat, and throughout the year, you’re likely to be spending a lot on heating and air conditioning to keep your home as comfortable as possible.
However, that doesn’t mean that your bills have to be through the roof. If you’re wondering why yours are so high, take a look at the five main contributors listed below and see how they can be used to save you money.
The average energy cost per household in Ontario can be well over $2,000 per year. Toronto in particular experiences fairly dramatic winters and summers, making heating and air conditioning bills in Queen City especially high.
In today’s world, it’s obvious to everyone that wasting energy is not going to lead anywhere good; either for our wallets, our planet, or the world, our kids will inherit. Thankfully most people have heard the call and responded by instituting measures to curtail energy loss in their homes. But there’s almost always more that could be done and typically it’s just a matter of awareness.
In this post we’re going to go over some common but perhaps lesser-known ways that heating and air conditioning energy is wasted in the average Toronto home.
Your HVAC system is the most energy-intensive component of your house, accounting for roughly half of your overall energy consumption. An old or badly maintained heating and cooling system will work harder than necessary, increasing your energy bills.
✅ How To Reduce Your HVAC Costs:
If your home isn’t properly insulated, you’re effectively paying to heat or cool the outside. Air leaks and insufficient insulation cause up to 30% of a home’s energy loss.
Common Energy Leaks:
✅ How to Improve Insulation and Reduce Energy Losses:
Older appliances are less energy-efficient than newer models. Even when switched off, certain appliances continue to use power in standby mode, resulting to energy waste.
Appliances that use the most energy:
✅How to Reduce Appliance Energy Use:
Lighting accounts for around 12% of a home’s energy use, and inefficient bulbs or needless lights left on can increase expenditures.
✅ Top Tips to Save on Lighting and Electricity:
Water heating accounts for 14-18% of your energy bill, making it one of the most significant home energy costs.
✅ Top Tips to Cut Water Heating Costs:
It’s not uncommon for folks to leave the windows or door open while doing yard work or just going about your day. It may be convenient but all that heated or cooled air that’s leaking out will need to be replaced. Even folks who don’t leave the back door open while shoveling the deck often leave the door between the kitchen and the garage open while they’re doing things in the garage like cleaning the car or looking for something that’s stored there.
Just about everyone has gone out at some point and left the computer, printer, TV, DVD player, cable box, etc. powered up. Instead of letting these vampire appliances suck the lifeblood of energy out of your home make sure to turn off the computer properly and plug the rest of your devices into power strips. Just flip the switch on the power strip before you leave the house and you’ll be doing the planet a favor.
● Lighting an entire room when task-specific lighting would suffice.
● Opening windows because a room is too hot or too cool.
● Not programming the thermostat to a lower temperature at night.
● Using electric appliances when manual ones will do the job just fine.
We conserve energy for several reasons. Some of them selfish, some of them selfless. Saving money can be considered a selfish motivation; we want more cash to spend on things other than heating oil, like maybe a vacation. The selfless part of energy conservation is when we act on the knowledge that the energy well is not bottomless and that our kids and grandkids have a right to the same quality of life we’ve enjoyed.
The energy (dot) gov website has some valuable information regarding how you can turn your home from an energy waster into an energy saver by following a few reasonable suggestions.
Routine maintenance is critical to your HVAC system’s efficient functioning. Regular check-ups can detect and resolve small abnormalities before they become severe problems. A well-maintained system runs more effectively, resulting in energy savings and longer equipment life.
Replacing filthy air filters with new ones might result in substantial energy savings. For example, if your energy bill includes $100 for air conditioning, keeping your filters clean might save you up to $15 every month.
Ceiling fans improve air circulation, enabling you to crank up your thermostat a few degrees in the summer without losing comfort. This approach minimizes the effort on your air conditioner, resulting to energy savings.
Proper sealing and insulation keep drafts out and interior temperatures stable. Making sure your windows and doors are properly sealed and insulated might help you save money on heating and cooling.
Investing in energy-efficient HVAC systems can lead to significant long-term savings. Modern units are intended to use less energy while giving maximum performance. Furthermore, certain energy-efficient models may be eligible for rebates or tax breaks, offsetting the original expenditure.
Programmable thermostats enable you to set particular temperatures for different times of day, ensuring that your HVAC system only functions when necessary. This tailored strategy decreases energy waste and lowers power expenses.
Blinds, curtains, or shades may block off heat in the summer while retaining warmth in the winter. This easy procedure lessens the load on your HVAC system and increases energy efficiency.
Using ovens and stoves raises interior temperatures, making your air conditioner work harder. Choose cooking techniques that produce less heat, such as using a microwave or grilling outside, especially in hot weather.
Proper ventilation regulates humidity and enhances interior air quality. Exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms may remove extra moisture and pollutants, therefore lowering the load on your HVAC system.
Even while in “standby” or “sleep” mode, many electronic gadgets consume power 24 hours a day to connect to networks and run clocks, timers, and remote controls. This low-level usage can account for 5–10% of your power cost.
Take the opportunity of the changing seasons to challenge yourself. When you find you must use your heating or air conditioning system, start by setting it a few degrees hotter or cooler than you think you can stand. Just a ten-degree difference can make a great impact on your bill. If you find yourself faltering, bundle up or lose some layers rather than mess with the dial. If you stick to this, you may find that though the summer has grown hotter or the winter harsher, your tolerance for this temperature change has increased.
As you’re dusting and mopping your way to household bliss, don’t forget some of your most important assets! Give your heating and air conditioning systems some love. Just like anything in your home, furnace systems run best when clean and up to date on maintenance. Install fresh filters, call for a routine maintenance check, and ensure that all vents and fans are clear of dust and debris.
You’ll hear it a lot when it comes to HVAC maintenance but keeping all components free of obstructions is crucial to their efficient performance. While getting the air conditioning system installed ensure outdoor units should be free of plants, bushes, tree branches, and other obstructions while basement units should never have boxes stacked against them or things hanging or leaning on them that could cause a restriction in airflow.
If your home has a fireplace you could be losing a lot of heat up the chimney. Whenever it’s not in use make sure the flue is shut and keep the fireplace doors closed tight.
A short visit by the HVAC technician once a year can keep things clean and clear. They’ll do a thorough cleaning and fix any minor issues that might have otherwise developed into major problems. One short visit per year can extend the life of your system and ensure your warranty obligations are met as well. This should be the foundation of your heating and air conditioning maintenance plan.
If your heating and air conditioning system is more than 10 years old you should consider replacing it with a new energy-efficient system. In the meantime, take these tips to heart and take the pressure off your HVAC system, which has to work hard enough as it is in the extreme climate of Toronto.
No matter what kind of heating and cooling system you have in your house, you can save money and increase your comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your equipment. But remember, an energy-efficient furnace alone will not have as great an impact on your energy bills as using the whole-house approach. By combining proper air conditioning service tune-ups and furnace equipment maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can save about 30% on your energy bill while reducing environmental emissions.
The “whole house” approach is one that often is overlooked. Homeowners will install new windows but continue to use incandescent light bulbs. Or they’ll replace their drafty old front door but leave the TV on all night. To make the most of your energy conservation efforts you’ll need to examine all the elements in your home that consume energy, not just heating and air conditioning.
And what are those elements?
Finding areas where you can save energy is the easy part. The real challenge is turning knowledge into new habits. After all, it’s bad habits that got us into the energy mess we’re in and it will take the cultivation of good habits to get us out of it.
While replacing wasteful appliances and taking cool showers will help the cause of energy conservation around the home, the heart of the matter still lies with the heating and air conditioning system. Failure to address inefficiencies there will undermine your overall conservation efforts to a significant degree. For that reason, you’ll want to consider replacing your old, inefficient furnace with a high-efficiency furnace from Toronto HVAC Company.
A standard furnace can be expected to convert approximately 80% of the fuel it consumes into heat. By contrast, a high-efficiency furnace will convert up to 97% of that fuel into heat, meaning you can keep your home at the same temperature while using nearly 20% less heating oil. Turn the thermostat down a bit and you’ll enjoy even more savings!
Energy bills seem to be ever-rising and count for a large chunk of most people’s expenses. Assessing the main factors listed above could help you reduce those bills, so you can spend your hard-earned money on something more enjoyable.
Reducing your energy expenditures does not have to imply losing comfort. You may reduce your utility expenditures while increasing the energy efficiency of your house by tackling these five major energy wasters. Simple efforts like as increasing insulation, maintaining your HVAC system, and utilizing energy-efficient appliances can result in considerable long-term savings.
If you’re seeking for energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions, call Tropic Air if you are looking for furnace repairs/tune-ups, AC repairs and maintenance, Boiler repairs or installing heat pumps.