As it gets colder and darker in BC, we’ve gathered some no-cost power tips from BC Hydro to help save you money on your electricity bills this Fall and Winter.
Basic
- Lower the temperature in your home and put on a sweater to compensate for the change
- Unplug unused electronics (they can account for 10% of your annual electricity use)
- Take shorter showers
- Keep your fridge and freezer at their ideal temperature (for your fridge this is between 2°C and 3°C and your freezer should be at -18°C)
Laundry
- Throw a dry towel into your dryer with your wet clothes to reduce your drying time
- Clean your lint filter so your dryer doesn’t have to work so hard
- If your dryer has one, use the moisture sensor drying option so it automatically shuts off when your clothes are dry
- Avoid multiple cycles and try to combine household laundry
- Whenever possible, wash your laundry in cold water
- Hang dry your laundry
Lighting
- Instead of ceiling lights, use table lamps, track lighting, and under-counter lighting (plus the ambiance is better that way)
- Switch to LED
- Use natural light by opening your blinds and curtains
- Remember to turn off lights you’re not using
DIY projects
Here are some examples of ways to save with DIY projects at home:
- Read BC Hydro’s step-by-step guide to installing water-saving showerheads
- Reduce drafts by sealing any spots where cold air can enter. Read BC Hydro’s DIY projects on four ways to do this to your home.
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About Consumer Protection BC
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Have been doing all these things for years now. Cannot turn the heat (electric) down anymore since I discovered that some leather shoes went mouldy. I track my humidity as well as temperature daily.
And still my hydro bill goes up every year! And I’m on a fixed income so this is getting really scary.
Hi Barbara, thanks for your comment! I’m happy to hear you are conscientious when it comes to saving money on power. I know it can be tricky. I’m sure BC Hydro would be receptive to feedback and I know they have a lot more information on ways to save money on power on their website. Perhaps you should get in touch with them? Here’s their contact information if you’re interested: https://www.bchydro.com/toolbar/contact.html. I hope this is helpful!
•Remember to turn off lights your not using
Should be “you’re”
On the other hand, you know I read every word each time you send me something. Thanks, I enjoy these emails.
Hi P Mckee! Thanks for letting us know! I must have missed that. I’m happy to hear you enjoy our newsletter – comments like that make my day! If you ever have suggestions for content or consumer information you would like to learn more about, please reach out – we love feedback from our community.
We learned about energy consumption when we started using solar power. We went from 27 kilowatts a day down to 5-7 kilowatts a day. All we did was put every electric on a power bar to shut off when not in use and unplug everything else when we weren’t using them. Even the microwave. Amazing how much you can save. We have been doing this for at least 18 years now. Every light in the house is LED. We also open up every curtain on the sunny side of the house for radiant heat. It cuts down on the furnace use on sunny days.
Hi Gail! Thanks so much for sharing those tips. That’s amazing you were able to to lower your consumption by so much. Very inspiring! 🙂
Maybe BC hydro should give back the donation they have given themselves to start with as when I want to donate to a worthwhile cause I will…. having them butting in my business is not ok with me…. also as a senior we r also on a fixed income and already do the stuff u mentioned…. maybe BC hydro should try some cutbacks
Well said and I agree.
The Catch 22 with newer homes, is they are so tight that humidity and mould become problems. We live in on the island. Our house was built in 2010, before passive ventilation was required. We ran a dehumidifier, but it spiked our hydro bill because it’s a compressor. We then resorted to opening windows in the front and back of the house, and running exhaust fans in the bathrooms to keep the humidity down during the day, but for security, they had to shut down at night. It was still cheaper that running the dehumidifier.
We finally created passive ventilation by installing two adjustable ports in closets in the front and rear of the home, drawing air from the attic, with vents in the floor to the crawl, and a fan in the crawlspace to extract air from the attic 24/7. This has lowered our humidity from the mid sixties to the mid to low fifties. Also added a high capacity portable HEPA filter to reduce inside pollutants and dust. The downside is that it will require more hydro to heat the home, but the trade off is worth it, for a healthier mould free residence.
Hi Gary, thanks for sharing your experience with your home. Sounds like you had done a lot of work to make it more efficient.