Be a PeakBuster
- If you have a central air conditioner, enroll in your municipal utility or Hydro One’s peaksaver program. Click here for details on current programs.
- If you use air conditioning, keep your thermostat set to 26 degrees; use a programmable thermostat to ensure you’re not chilling an empty house; and use natural cooling like blinds and cross ventilation as much as possible. More tips
- If you are purchasing or replacing an air-conditioner, be sure to purchase a unit with an EnergyStar label and a SEER rating of at least 14.5. Make sure to size the unit properly – an oversized unit will just waste energy and won’t keep you any cooler. (Click here for more on what to look for in purchasing a new air conditioner). You could qualify for an up to $450 rebate from the Ontario Power Authority`s Cool Savings program if you choose a high efficiency unit. See http://everykilowattcounts.ca/residential/coolsavings/ for details.
- Get a home energy check up through the ecoENERGY home energy assessment program. You could qualify for a provincial grant (federal grants no longer available) to help offset the cost of energy efficiency improvements.
- Purchase EnergyStar-rated compact flourescent light bulbs and reduce your electricity consumption by 75%. Download money-saving coupons from the Every Kilowatt Counts website at everykilowattcounts.ca.
- Install EnergyStar-rated ceiling fans and spend less energy on keeping cool. Download money-saving coupons from the Every Kilowatt Counts website at everykilowattcounts.ca
- Whenever you are purchasing an electric appliance be sure to purchase an EnergyStar qualified model, which can reduce your electricity consumption by 50% or more. Many new appliance models also have a “delay” function that allows you to easily set them to run in off-peak hours (e.g., late at night). Remember that residential electric appliances are responsible for 14% of Ontario’s electricity demand at the time of system peak.
- Purchase a solar water heater and reduce your electricity or gas use by 40-50%. Check the offer from Bullfrog Power / Enbridge Gas Distribution at www.bullfrogpower.com/solar. Also check out OurPower.ca for information on community buying groups that can help you with your purchase.
- Purchase a geothermal heat pump and reduce your electricity consumption for cooling and space and water heating by 60% or more. Find out more from the Canadian GeoExchange Coalition or Next Energy
- Switch to natural gas for water heating, cooking or drying. By using gas for these heat-intensive applications you reduce peak electricity demand and save money -- it costs up to 30% less to use gas for these uses. Check out Enbridge Gas' incentive programs for gas appliances and water heaters. You can also get information on natural gas appliances and water heaters from Union Gas. For water heating, getting an on-demand system is a great option with up to $600 in incentives ($300 from Enbridge Gas and $300 from the ecoENERGY program) now available.
- Take the energy conservation message to your workplace. Your company may also be eligible to participate in demand reduction programs, which can help its bottom line. See our PeakBusters Business page for more details.
