Make MakeYour YourHome Home More MoreEnergy EnergyEfficient Efficient
REPLACE REPLACE OLD OLD APPLIANCES APPLIANCES Older Olderappliances appliancesare areless lessenergy-efficient energy-efficientthan thannewer newer models. models. Energy Energy Star Star certified certified appliances appliances will will help help save save energy energyand andin inturn turnhelp helplower lowerelectricity electricitycosts. costs.When When Taking Taking steps steps toto make make your your home home more more energy energy efficient efficient it’sit’s time time toto replace replace your your kitchen kitchen appliances, appliances, the the washer, washer, helps helpsthe theenvironment environmentand andsaves savesyou youmoney. money.Some Some dryer, dryer,water waterheater, heater,ororfurnace, furnace,look lookforformodels modelsthat that energy-efficient energy-efficientchanges changesare areone-time one-timeinvestments, investments, are are labeled labeled asas “Energy “Energy Star Star Certified” Certified” toto ensure ensure you’re you’re others others are are things things you you can can dodo every every day! day! getting getting anan energy energy and and money-saving money-saving appliance. appliance. INSULATING INSULATING • A• Ahigh highefficiency efficiencyon-demand on-demandwater waterheater heateronly onlyfires fires Adding Adding new new oror additional additional insulation insulation toto certain certain areas areas like like when when you you call call forfor hot hot water. water. It heats It heats upup quickly quickly and and then then ceilings, ceilings,attic atticand andwalls wallsalong alongwith withusing usingcaulking caulkingoror quits quits burning burning fuel. fuel. weather weather stripping stripping toto make make sure sure doors doors and and windows windows are are • Get • Get low-flow low-flow fixtures fixtures and and appliances. appliances. Low-flow Low-flow toilets, toilets, properly properlysealed sealedwill willhelp helpprevent preventcold colddrafts draftsand andhelp help shower shower heads, heads, and and washing washing machines machines can can save save a lot a lot ofof keep keepwarm warmairairinside insideduring duringcold coldweather. weather.During Duringthe the water. water. summer, summer,these thesesame sameimprovements improvementswill willhelp helpkeep keepthe the • Using • Using low-flow low-flow fixtures fixtures (eg. (eg. shower shower heads) heads) combined combined cool cool airair inside inside your your home. home. with withthe theuse useofofa anew, new,energy-efficient energy-efficientwater waterheater heater UPDATE UPDATE YOUR YOUR WINDOWS WINDOWS can can help help toto further further decrease decrease the the energy energy usage usage in in your your Windows Windows are are a major a major source source ofof heat heat loss loss in in a home. a home. home. home. Replace Replace aluminum aluminum frames. frames. Aluminum Aluminum window window frames frames letlet FURNACE UPDATE/MAINTENANCE UPDATE/MAINTENANCE heat heattransfer transfervery veryeasily. easily.Vinyl Vinylframes framesare aremuch muchmore more FURNACE There There are are a number a number ofof things things you you can can dodo toto increase increase the the resistant resistant toto heat heat transfer. transfer. efficiency ofof your your furnace. furnace. Double Double oror triple-paned triple-paned argon argon gas-filled gas-filled windows windows are are great great efficiency •High-efficiency •High-efficiencyfurnace. furnace.A Ahigh highefficiency efficiencyfurnace furnace forfor keeping keeping the the heat heat in in and and the the cold cold out. out. burns burns less less gas, gas, burns burns hotter, hotter, and and produces produces less less carbon carbon HELPFUL HELPFUL RESOURCES RESOURCES emissions. emissions. www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/5009 www.nrcan.gc.ca/node/5009 •Change •Changeairairfilters. filters.Changing Changingout outdirty dirtyfurnace furnacefilters filters www.gogreentogether.ca www.gogreentogether.ca makes makes it easier it easier forfor airair toto circulate circulate and and thus thus makes makes your your www.greensaver.org/consumer/homeassistance www.greensaver.org/consumer/homeassistance furnace furnace work work less. less. www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/energystar/12519 www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/products/energystar/12519 •Seal •Seal ducts. ducts. Seal Seal your your furnace/AC furnace/AC duct duct work. work. Keeping Keeping airair in in the the ducts ducts until until it reaches it reaches itsits destination destination will will keep keep your your furnace furnace from from working working too too much. much. •Add •Add a programmable a programmable thermostat. thermostat. Another Another furnace furnace fix!fix! AA programmable programmable thermostat thermostat means means that that while while you’re you’re out, out, your your furnace furnace won’t won’t come come on.on. However, However, before before you you come come back back home home the the furnace furnace will will turn turn back back onon and and your your house house will will bebe warm. warm. •Close •Close the the vents vents in in rooms rooms you you use use less less frequently frequently in in your your home, home, like like guest guest bedrooms, bedrooms, soso you’re you’re only only heating heating oror cooling cooling rooms rooms that that are are occupied. occupied.
HEAT HEAT RECOVERY RECOVERY VENTILATORS VENTILATORS (HRV) (HRV) HRV HRVsystems systemsprovide providefresh freshand andimproved improvedindoor indoorairair quality quality and and climate climate control control toto your your home, home, while while also also saving saving energy energy byby reducing reducing heating heating and and cooling cooling requirements. requirements.
2222 | Buyer’s | Buyer’s && Seller’s Seller’s Guide Guide
