When it comes to saving money, every little bit counts — and that’s especially true with utility bills. By making a few small changes, you can be more efficient with your home’s energy use and lower your monthly bills. Here are some practical tips for different areas of your home.

YOUR UTILITY BILL

Start by checking with your utility provider to confirm whether you’re on a fixed or variable energy plan.

With a fixed-rate plan, you pay a set price for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity and/or gigajoule (GJ) of natural gas you use. Your monthly bill will still vary depending on your household’s energy consumption, but the rate you pay stays the same. This can make it easier to budget and plan ahead, especially during seasons when energy use tends to rise.

A variable-rate plan, sometimes called a floating-rate plan, works differently. The price you pay can change from month to month based on market conditions, including supply, demand, and wholesale energy costs. When market rates are low, this type of plan may help you save money but when rates increase, your monthly bill can become less predictable.

HEATING AND COOLING

Look for the blue and white ENERGY STAR logo when purchasing utility systems and appliances for your home. This program was originally founded in 1992 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and serves as an internationally recognized seal of approval that a product is certified as energy-efficient.

A programmable thermostat can be a major money saver, as it regulates the temperature and ensures that your furnace or air conditioner runs only when needed. You can set it to automatically adjust based on your daily schedule – for example, when you’re at home in the morning or away at work during the day. Newer “smart” models can be set remotely using an app or voice commands. Keep temperature fluctuations within a range of 5°C for optimal energy efficiency.

A few energy-saving tips specifically for the spring and summer months:

Dial back the A/C a bit and help move cool air through the house with ceiling fans. The fan blades should spin counter clockwise to push the air downward.
Close the blinds or curtains during the day to keep out the heat from the sun’s rays.
Seal up any drafty spots to keep the cool air in and the warm air out.
Have your air conditioning system checked by a professional to ensure it’s working efficiently.

WATER

It’s expensive to heat water for daily tasks such as bathing, showering, and washing dishes. According to Natural Resources Canada, water heaters represent 19.3% of the total energy used in the average Canadian home. A typical household uses 75 litres of hot water every day — that’s the equivalent of four large-sized water-cooler jugs.

To cut back on your water bill, consider the following strategies:

Choose an ENERGY STAR storage tank water heater (uses 14% less energy than standard models) or an ENERGY STAR tankless water heating system (30% more energy efficient than the standard version).
Take shorter showers and shallower baths.
Fix leaky taps and toilets right away.
Check your home’s outdoor faucets (where you attach a hose or sprinkler) to ensure they are fully turned off and drip-free.
When doing laundry, use the cold-water setting.

LIGHTS

If you haven’t already, it’s time to make the switch from old-fashioned incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs to LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs. These bulbs cost a little more to purchase, but they’ll pay you back by lasting longer and being more energy efficient.

Here are a few other tactics to save money on lighting:

Turn off the lights whenever you leave a room.
Install motion sensors, timers and dimmer switches.
Use strands of LED lights outdoors for your patio, deck, gazebo, or hot tub.
Go high-tech with wi-fi enabled smart LED bulbs, which connect directly to your internet router and can be controlled via smartphone apps or voice-activated systems like Alexa and Google Assistant.

KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Once again, look for the ENERGY STAR label when purchasing new appliances. Here are some more specific tips by appliance:

Fridge and Freezer

Avoid over-filling the fridge and freezer – about 25% of the space should be empty to allow for proper air circulation.
The ideal temperature for food safety and energy efficiency is 3°C (38°F) for the fridge and -18°C (0°F) for the freezer.
If buying a stand-alone freezer, a top-load chest style unit will be 30% more energy-efficient than an upright front-loading one.
Place your refrigerator and freezer away from heat sources.
Keep an eye on older appliances to ensure they are still working properly – for example, a faulty door seal can allow cold air to escape.

Dishwasher

Check your utility company’s rates during off-peak hours and schedule your dishwasher loads accordingly. Many units come with a ‘delayed start’ feature for this very purpose.
Deactivate the ‘heat dry’ setting (which uses extra energy) and choose ‘Eco’ mode if available.
Another useful feature is the ‘half load’ setting for smaller loads.

Oven

Open the oven door as little as possible, as you can lose 25°F to 50°F of internal heat each time.
Where possible, prepare (or reheat) food using smaller appliances such as an air fryer, toaster oven, microwave or barbecue.

Washer and Dryer

Most of the energy used by your washing machine goes toward heating the water. Using the cold water setting is both budget-conscious and gentler on fabrics. Many laundry detergent brands have a version designed for cold water cycles.
Hang clothes to dry on an indoor rack or outdoor clothesline.
Avoid overloading the dryer – the drum should be filled to about 75% capacity.
Many dryers now have a built-in sensor that automatically stops the cycle once the clothes are dry – be sure to select this setting.

COMPUTER AND ELECTRONICS

In this category, you’ll want to be mindful of “phantom energy users” and “energy vampires”. These terms refer to plugged-in electronics such as TVs and video game consoles that continue to “suck” electricity, even while turned off. To counteract this phenomenon, use a multi-plug power bar with a switch to cut the power completely when not in use—especially in entertainment areas and home offices.

You can also avoid wasting power by activating your computer monitor’s “sleep” setting that automatically turns off the display after a certain amount of idle time.

If you try some of the simple tactics described above, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how the savings add up. For more information, consult this one-page printable tip sheet from the Alberta government’s Utilities Consumer Advocate department.