Real Estate: Small Steps…Big Savings

You can do a lot to control your energy costs. If you properly insulate your home, you can cut your energy bill by 10 to 15 per cent. You can save up to $100 a year simply by setting your house temperature to 18ºC for 16 hours when you’re at work or asleep.

Use less water by installing low-flow showerheads, and save up to $59 a year on each unit. You can install faucet aerators and insulate your hot water pipes with foam pipe wrap.

Keep the heat inside! Improve caulking and repair worn weather-stripping to insulate windows, doors, and reduce leakage. Upgrading insulation from R-16 to R-40 in the attic can save up to $100 annually, and from R-8 to R-12 in your basement typically saves up to $60 a year. Interior plastic “storm windows” keep cold air out. Use a hair dryer to shrink the plastic into place.

Make sure that return air grilles, registers and radiators are clear of furniture, rugs and drapes. A high-efficiency natural gas furnace is a good investment, and can save about $110 more than a mid-efficiency unit. Change or clean your furnace filter every two months during winter.

The Union Gas Wise Energy Guide is available for free online. It provides lots of advice and easy solutions on how to improve your home’s energy efficiency.

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