Natural Resources and Renewables
  • Choose cold water for the laundry. It’s just as effective as hot water and cheaper to use.
  • When buying a new washer, choose ENERGY STAR®, which uses 60% less energy.
  • Using a clothesline to dry your clothes is energy and cost efficient — it’s free!
  • Buying a new dishwasher? ENERGY STAR® models are at least 25% more efficient!
  • Air drying dishes in your dishwasher can save 10% on operating costs.
  • Conserve your gas and slow down! Driving 120km/h burns 20% more fuel than driving 100 km/h.
  • Buying a new car? Look for a smaller, more fuel-efficient car or hybrid, or better yet – carpool!
  • Don't idle your car. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting it.
  • Reduce gas use by warming your car while driving it. Most vehicles need just seconds to warm-up.
  • Drive less by arranging to do all your errands at the same time, or use public transit.
  • A computer monitor uses about 60% of the total computer power, so turn it off when it’s idle.
  • Use the energy-saving features on your computer to cut down on such as hibernation mode and standby.
  • Unplug infrequently used TVs and computers. Many continue to draw power even when turned off.
  • Cut down on heating costs; replace that old thermostat with a more accurate electronic one.
  • Air leakage in old homes accounts for 30-40% of heat loss, so weather-strip doors and windows.
  • Open blinds and curtains to allow sunshine in. This natural heat source is free!
  • Service your heating equipment annually to maintain peak performance.
  • Use compact fluorescent light bulbs in your home, and use 75% less electricity.
  • Deck the halls with LED holiday lights that last 10 times longer and produce very little heat.
  • Lower your energy demand by shining bright light only where you need it - called task lighting
  • Vacuum your refrigerator's coils every three months, and save energy.
  • Keep refrigerators and freezers out of direct sunlight, that way they don’t have to work too hard.
  • Every time you open the refrigerator door, the air you paid to cool, escapes.
  • Take a shower, not a bath. A five-minute shower with an efficient showerhead uses half the water.
  • Wrap your electric water heater with an insulating blanket to reduce its electricity use.
  • Install one-inch-thick insulation on all of your accessible hot water pipes, keeping the heat in.
  • Conserve water by installing a low-flow showerhead or fixing that leaky faucet.
  • EPA wood stoves use less wood and heat the average new home for less than oil or electricity.
  • Have a technician certified by Wood Energy Technology Transfer (WETT) install your wood stove.
  • Check your chimney. Wood smoke is a sign your wood is not burning properly.
  • Locate your wood stove where you spend the most time, stoves in basements distribute heat poorly.

Energy Efficiency