(NC)-With energy costs on the rise, many Canadian homeowners are looking for easy ways to save money.
Fortunately, reducing household energy costs and saving money can be easy - just follow these five simple tips:
Add a layer to your attic insulation
Many Canadian homes are under-insulated, which means heat can
escape through the ceiling, past the roof and into the
atmosphere. Up to 15 percent of your home's energy is lost
through the attic. Adding insulation to the attic is one of the
easiest and most cost-effective ways to help cut heating and
cooling costs. To minimize heat loss, attic insulation should
be at least 12 inches thick.
Add insulation to other areas of the home
It is a simple equation: add insulation to help reduce energy
usage and increase comfort. Supplementing the insulation in
your crawl space, under floors and against basement walls is a
great way to help restrict the transfer of heat or cold through
your house.
Install a programmable thermostat
Why heat the house when nobody's home? A programmable
thermostat can automatically lower and raise your home's air
temperature when you're at work or comfortably nestled under a
comforter, resulting in significant savings.
Harness the power of the sun
During the summer, help keep your house cool by closing the
blinds during the day to block the heat of the sun.
Alternatively, during the winter, raise your blinds during the
day to make the most of the sun's natural heat.
Install energy-efficient doors and windows
Modern energy-efficient doors and windows are designed and
insulated to reduce the transfer of heat into and out of the
home, which can help reduce energy costs.
This article was written by Ken Berry, energy efficiency expert, Owens Corning Canada. Visit www.owenscorning.ca for more information on household insulation and energy savings.
