SEVEN TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR HEATING BILL INEXPENSIVELY

In collaboration with Sean Olivier, trained in architecture technology and communications manager for ERE132, Écohabitation offers a series of around fifteen bi-monthly chronicles on lessons learned from the experience of ERE132, as well as on issues sustainable development and interesting initiatives in the Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspé regions. The salty winter energy bills can motivate more than one to look for ways to reduce their heating expenses and improve their ecological footprint at the same time. And their motivating power is not trivial! Hydro-Québec estimates that the energy consumption of residential heating represents 54% of the consumption of the average household. Fortunately, there are easy ways to do this.

1. Do not overheat

The most simple and economical? Put on a woolen sweater. It's winter, after all! Dressing warmly lowers the comfort room temperature (the temperature at which one feels comfortable), thereby reducing the need for heating. Reducing the thermostat setting by one degree saves at least 5% on heating costs. A space heated to 19 ° C will require almost 15% less energy than if it is heated to 22 ° C. Annual savings of around $ 200 for an average single-family home.
Do not miss to test this thing this Thursday, February 4, during the National Day of the little wool 2016!

2. Control the room temperature

Does your home still have old mechanical thermostats? The electronic thermostats can help you reduce your heating bill by about 10%, and more if you install programmable thermostats, according to Hydro-Québec. If you are a low-income tenant or owner, you could get one for free through the Éconologis energy efficiency program.

read also save on heating cost

3. Optimize your outbreaks!

Do you heat with wood? Wood heating can have a very variable yield depending on the users. A good combustion technique reduces the consumption of wood and the formation of creosote, and therefore the need for sweeping and the pollution caused. Avoid covered fires and favor open fires. Learn about methods for both efficient and prolonged burning. In addition, EPA high-efficiency stoves can improve combustion efficiency, but most importantly, they greatly reduce pollutant emissions.

4. Adapt your interior design

Avoid placing furniture in front of a heat source as much as possible. The heat distribution will be more efficient.

5. Take advantage of the solar heat

During the day, let the sun in, open the curtains! The sun provides a lot of free energy. A principle that is also widely used in high-performance buildings of solar-passive design, as is the case for the ERE132 house.

6. Bet on waterproofing

Unless you live in a high-performance building, sealing your home can save you a lot. About 25% of the heat loss from a home is usually due to air leaks. Simple sealing means exist, without it being necessary to embark on major works. Note, however, that if you have significant humidity problems in winter and your home does not have a mechanical ventilation system, it is necessary to address this problem before undertaking sealing measures...

Installing heat-shrinkable plastic wrap or temporarily caulking openings are effective and cost-effective ways to deal with ineffective windows, as are insulating foam sheets designed specifically for electrical outlets. For more information and for more durable and permanent waterproofing work, the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency's guide to " Imprisoning the Heat " is an interesting resource, as is the technical sheet Waterproofing: for an eco-energy and sustainable house prepared by Écohabitation!

7. Dress your windows

Have you ever heard that closing curtains or blinds at night can reduce energy loss through windows? In fact, it seems to be very limited. However, the presence of curtains will reduce the feeling of discomfort.

Other occlusion systems can save energy. The National Research Council of Canada compared different products to assess their performance. Roller shutters, which are installed outside the openings, are the most efficient, although the investment recovery period (PRI) is long. To learn more about roller shutters, read the detailed article on Ecohabitation on this subject.