Electricity Tips
Plug all home electronics (e.g. TVs, computers, printers, gaming consoles, phone chargers, etc.) into power bars.
Make sure furniture, curtains, and rugs don’t block the flow of air from vents and air registers.
Unplug electronics and turn off power bars when not in use.
Hold a ribbon or feather up to windows and doors to check for drafts.
Use a laptop instead of a desktop PC, as laptops can cost up to 3x less per hour than desktops.
Plug all home electronics (e.g. TVs, computers, printers, gaming consoles, phone chargers, etc.) into power bars.
Turn off your computer. It uses electricity, even if you’re not using it.
If possible, shade your air conditioning unit.
Use a printer with power management capabilities (i.e., automatic “power down” features).
Use fans to cool your home instead of air conditioners.
Use smaller lamps to light work areas instead of overhead/ceiling lighting.
Cool your room and circulate air by soaking a thin t-shirt and attach it to a fan.
Replace your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.
Only use your dryer when you have a full load.
Plug all home electronics (e.g. TVs, computers, printers, gaming consoles, phone chargers, etc.) into power bars.
Clean the lint filter thoroughly after each dryer load.
Turn the thermostat down 10–15 degrees when you’re not at home.
Separate drying loads into heavy and lightweight items; lightweight items take less time to dry, so the dryer doesn’t have to run as long.
Never turn a thermostat high or low to quickly heat or cool a home.
Water Tips
Look for the WaterSense label on showerheads, dishwashers, and other appliances.
Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods.
Set the water heater thermostat to 49°C.
Defrost your food overnight in the refrigerator or use the defrost setting on your microwave.
Install a booster in your dishwasher to increase the water temperature to 60°C.
Keep a container of water in your refrigerator instead of relying on letting the faucet flow to get water cold enough.
Wait until you have a full load to use your dishwasher and clothes washer.
Designate a refillable container for drinking water instead of washing or disposing of several containers.
If you can’t wait for a full load, use the right water level to match the size of the load.
Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean.
Use cold water to wash clothes. Save washing in warm water for whites and hard-to-clean items.
When doing dishes, fill your second sink with clean water for rinsing instead of using running water to rinse.
Replace your incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs.
Minimize the amount of rinsing you do before loading the dishwasher. Most modern dishwashers do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, pots, and pans all by themselves.
Take showers instead of baths.
Reduce your use of the garbage disposal.
Shorten your shower by 1–2 minutes.
Start a compost pile or throw away any garbage scraps to avoid using water with your disposal.
Limit showers to 5 minutes.
Use a rain barrel to collect rain and help water your plants.
Install a low-flow showerhead.
Plant a rain garden to add beauty to your yard, while absorbing and filtering runoff.
Repair toilet leaks, which can be detected by adding a few drops of food colouring to the water in the toilet tank. If coloured water appears in the bowl, the tank is leaking.
Repair or replace leaking faucets.
Make sure there are water-saving aerators on all of your faucets.
Turn the water off while you brush your teeth.
Seasonal Tips
Make sure furnace filters are changed twice a year.
Once a year, drain one gallon of water from the faucet at the bottom of your water heater to get rid of the sediment in the water and increase the efficiency of your water heater.
Summer Tips
Run your ceiling fan counterclockwise to force the colder air down and draw hot air up.
Avoid using appliances that give off heat during the hottest times of the day as they will make your cooling system work harder.
Keep the curtains and shades closed.
Do your cooking, washing, and clothes drying in the early morning or late evening.
Set your thermostat at 25.5°C and leave it there.
Winter Tips
Open the curtains and shades to warm your home naturally.
Set your thermostat at 20°C and leave it there.
Keep the curtains and shades closed.
Run your ceiling fan clockwise to pull cold air up and force warm air down.
Remote Work Tips
Unplug unused devices. Phantom power is still power.
Use power bars, but turn them off when devices are not in use.
Only connect your laptop to an outlet if the battery is low or charging.
Most modern operating systems have built-in energy-saving settings that can be enabled and adjusted.
Use natural light or lamps to light your workspace.