These energy saving tips are helpful for managing your electricity consumption is the best way to decrease your energy costs. For sub-metering customers, there are simple ways to conserve that can help you lower your electricity usage around your Waterloo-area home every day, regardless of the season.

To help you reach your energy-saving goals, Alliance Metering Solutions has a number of easy-to-implement energy efficiency tips available to assist you.

Alliance Metering Energy Saving Tips:

Energy Efficiency Tips Around Your Home:

  • Avoid Phantom Power by unplugging devices such as TVs, curling irons, gaming consoles, and computers when not in use.
  • Use smaller lamps to light work areas instead of overhead/ceiling lighting
  • Look for the ENERGY STAR label on, home appliances, electronics, and other products
  • Use fans to cool your home instead of air conditioners
  • Use a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature of your home when you are away
  • Make sure furniture, curtains, and rugs don’t block the flow of air from vents and air registers
  • Eliminate drafts in your home. There are significant savings available if you caulk and weather-strip windows, doors, dryer and other vents, and install insulated plates on electrical outlets.
  • Unplug electronics and turn off power strips when they are not in use (e.g., TVs, computers, printers, gaming consoles, phone chargers, curling irons, etc.)
  • Use a laptop instead of a desktop PC
  • Use a printer with power management capabilities (i.e., printers with automatic “power down” features)

Tips to Save Energy While Working from Home

  1. Use Natural Light As Much As Possible
    There’s no need for wasting energy on desk lamps or overhead lights if you’re getting enough natural light. Choose the brightest room in the apartment or house in which to work, and keep the curtains open to let the light pour in. It can brighten both the room and possibly your productivity since natural light is known to boost one’s mood.
  2. Avoid “Phantom Power”
    Avoid “phantom power” by turning off unused devices. Phantom power, also called standby power, refers to the energy that’s wasted around when devices are plugged in and using power, but you’re not actively using them. In fact, 75 per cent of the electricity these devices consume is used when they are not even turned on. To avoid phantom power, be sure to unplug your devices when they’re not in use.
  3. Adjust the Settings on Your Devices
    Adjust the settings on your computer and devices: Your computer comes full of energy-saving features, you just need to turn them on. Activate your computer’s power management tools and save up to $100 in energy costs per year.
  4. Rely on Ceiling Fans
    In warmer weather, ceiling fans can help lower the temperature of a room by up to 2 degrees Celsius, and they only cost pennies to operate. They can also help warm your home on cooler days by circulating warm air, allowing you to keep your thermostat a few degrees lower.

For Energy Savings Programs check out this page.

For additional energy saving tips, please visit one of the following resources:

Save on Energy’s Your Home Page

Save on Energy’s Energy Efficiency Tips