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Certainly, every household seeks to reduce energy use to keep electricity bills at the minimum. Unfortunately, energy consumption has only increased over the years. Case in point, energy expenditure per Canadian household increased by 4 percent between 2015 and 2018, with the national consumption being recorded at five times the global average.

Adopting energy-efficient methods goes a long way in reducing our carbon footprint, and in most cases, simple measures such as turning the heat down and upgrading dated heat sources is the most efficient way to do so.

As you weigh the best options to help improve energy efficiency in your home, consider the following helpful methods.

Switch to a heat pump

Heat pumps are known to be the best alternative to furnaces and air conditioners, since they move heat from a warmer space to a cooler space as opposed to generating heat or using fossil fuels, they can reduce electricity use by up to 50 percent. Moreover, they provide conditioning using a quarter of the cost of conventional cooling appliances, making them the ultimate money and energy savers. 

Furthermore, a high-efficiency heat pump dehumidifies relatively better than standard air conditioners and at a lower cost. Since heat pumps come in various types, you have options when it comes to picking the ideal one for your home. 

Seal and insulate your home 

An air sealed home can help improve indoor air quality while reducing your utility bills. This may require you to consult a professional to identify the areas of heat loss in your home that could be costing you in your energy bills. They will advise how you can better insulate and seal your home for minimal heat loss. Typically, leaks often happen around pipes and wires, attic hatches, window frames, fireplace dampers, poorly weather-stripped doors, baseboards, and electrical outlets.  

You can choose to do simple repairs to seal and insulate your home by: 

• Plugging large holes
• Sealing small holes 
• Sealing the attic access panel 

These DIY tricks can help to keep your home temperatures regulated at all times, thus saving you from using electricity to warm it up during cold weather or cool it in warm weather. 

Purchase energy-efficient appliances 

Appliances use up about 13 percent of household energy on average, and this figure ranges depending on the type of appliances and how often you use them. This makes it essential to pay attention to the annual operating cost when buying an electronic so as to be sure you are using the least energy possible. 

Most appliances have a label that serves as a federal guarantee that the item is energy-efficient, both when in use and in standby mode. Although most of them have a higher price, you are sure to save more on energy costs in the long run. 

Replace incandescent lights 

With lights using an average of 11 percent of household energy, you have no doubt that this is an equally important area to consider when planning on reducing energy costs. Unlike traditional lights which convert only 10 percent of energy into light, energy-efficient lighting such as light-emitting diodes (LED) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) can reduce energy use by 50-75%. Therefore, when replacing your appliances or switching to a heat pump, remember to change your bulbs as well.

Bottom line 

Choosing to adopt energy-efficient ways of living goes beyond reducing your energy bills; it can also help to conserve the environment to prevent the adverse effects of energy overuse. With the mentioned tips, you are on the right path to keeping your house comfortable, and more importantly, cutting down on electricity use. 

Coastal Heat Pumps strives to help you save on energy use by providing heat pumps, accessories and related services, including maintenance, repairs, and installations. Contact us to book an in-home heat pump estimate.