Do any of these apply to you?
- Your electricity and gas bills keep rising
- You’re confused about all the energy rebates
- You don’t know what you should do first
- Your neighbour says, “Get a heat pump!”
Quick wins
It can be overwhelming to figure out what to do and when. Here are a few tips to help you make decisions on what to do right away for very little cost and maximum savings.
- Replace your light bulbs (yes, even those fluorescent ones) with LED bulbs. They now fit any type of light fixture or lamp.
- Make sure your doors and windows have good weather stripping or are properly caulked to keep cool air in during summer and out in winter.
- Install aerators on your taps.
- Check your toilets. You can waste hundreds of dollars a month if your toilet is constantly running. Ask me, I know!
OK, you’ve done all that. Now what?
Did you know the best payback is insulating your attic? Yep! It isn’t costly and can be done very quickly with blown-in insulation or batt insulation. Just remember to keep your vents clear so air can circulate to prevent condensation.
Next on the list is windows and doors, followed by insulating your basement. Both have good payback periods. What you save on your energy costs will help you payback what you spent on the upgrades in the least amount of time.
Thinking about changing your furnace? A heat pump is an option but make sure you properly investigate if it is the right decision. Ottawa is at the limit of heat pump winter operation so you need a cold climate heat pump that could cost you more, not less.
For bigger projects, start with an energy audit
Certain programs may be available to help you pay for qualifying retrofits.
For example:
- The federal government has grants of up to $5,000. Information is at Greener Homes Grant – Ontario
- Through the City’s Better Homes Ottawa – Loan Program, homeowners can get a zero-interest loan of up to the lesser of $125,000 or 10 per cent of the current value of their home to cover the cost of home energy improvements.
- Enbridge has money for qualifying households too.
To participate in any of the programs, you must first get an energy audit, but you can use the same audit to apply for more than one program and $600 is available towards the cost of the audit (Information is also at Greener Homes Grant – Ontario.)
Note: If you want to participate in the refund programs, it’s important that you do the energy audit first before you start your major retrofits.
Still confused?
Here are more great websites to check out:
Leave a Reply