By doing these, we are not only saving money on energy bills but the environment as well. The daily increasing use of energy has a high impact on climate change and we can all do our part by following these tips. In this article, we will take a look at some tips on energy saving, to somewhat help Ontarian homeowners create a better understanding of energy efficiency and hopefully make them take action today. 

Home Insulation

Home insulation is the gold standard of energy efficiency. As aforementioned, you can expect to save up to 45% on energy bills when insulation is added to your building. There are several insulation methods and each creates an effective air barrier that prevents heat flow. When insulation is added to your building walls, attic, basement, it can seal all gaps and cracks, making this way a more comfortable living, working, or storage space that also necessitates less energy for heating and cooling. 

And insulation also serves as a sound barrier, insect and rodent repellent, fire retardant, and it can increase your property value by a whopping 3 up to 6%. What to know more about insulation? Well, keep in mind that different insulation methods deliver different R-Values. In short, R-Value is the standard that measures the performance of insulation material. The higher it is, the lower your energy bills will be. 

With that said, spray foam can lower your electricity bills by up to 45% which is quite impressive when compared with fiberglass insulation (25%) and cellulose insulation (25 up to 30%). What you will also need to know is how to hire an insulation contractor. See, the installation process is key to enjoying the benefits of insulation for decades to come and if it is not completed successfully, you will more likely lose money rather than save. Before hiring a Toronto moving company and relocating, make sure to check if the new house has the insulation installed or not.

Energy Efficient Gadgets

Although energy-efficient gadgets are more expensive in the beginning and for some might also be cost-depriving, you can expect the initial investment to pay off with the passing of years by saving on energy. Understandably, energy-efficient gadgets use less energy for the same tasks without compromising the quality. Since heating and cooling “is to blame” for 60% of your electricity usage, a smart/programmable thermostat is where you can start.

 You can further increase your energy preservation efforts by switching to LED light bulbs and using low-flow showerheads (more about them below). Other energy-efficient gadgets we recommend using are modern boilers (can avoid heat loss that escapes up the flue) and solar panels. You can significantly save on energy with the latter, but the installation and maintenance cost can be too much for the average homeowner. And to further guarantee the functionality of your home insulation, you can choose to install new and energy-efficient doors and windows. 

Easy Practices to Save on Energy at Home

Use energy-efficient light bulbs

Switching your conventional light bulbs to LEDs can lower your monthly energy bills significantly and that can be an advantage in the long run. The old traditional incandescent light bulbs need anywhere from 25-80% more electricity than light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs), Halogen incandescent bulbs, and compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Although energy-saving light bulbs are more expensive, their longer lifespan and energy conservation will pay off. 

Use natural light more

Use natural sunlight as much as you can. One south-facing window, for example, can illuminate anywhere from 20 up to 100 times its area. And during this time of the day, turning off one 60-watt bulb for 4 hours can save you up to $8 over a year. 

Take shorter showers

Hot water is expensive. If a family of two would cut their shower time by 1 minute, they could save up to $40 a year on electricity. Switching to low-flow showerheads can also lower water consumption and eventually decrease water bills significantly. 

Maintain your AC unit

For your air conditioner to run smoothly and efficiently, it needs to be maintained continuously. What you can do is swap out the old air filters with new ones every at least 90 days. You can also decrease its energy consumption significantly by removing anything that might be blocking the vents. 

Turn off not in use electronics, appliances

Turn your appliances off standby mode and you can save up to $50 a year. Rest assured as many electronic devices (TVs, printers, computers, fax machines) can be plugged off without compromising their functionality. 

Fix any leaky plumbing fitting

Leaky faucets can waste up to 11.000 liters of water each year. Fixing them can save you up to $40 a year. 

Turn off the AC on your way out

That’s a no-brainer! Turning off your air conditioner when not needed can save on energy bills. In addition, a programmable thermostat can further help you lower energy use for heating and cooling.

Draft-proof your house

Last but not least, take a survey on your house perimeter and check for any drafts. You can apply weatherstrips for your doors and windows, re-caulk where necessary, and install new door sweeps. 

Why Choose Eco Spray?

Eco Spray Insulation team is proud to be operating in the Greater Toronto Area and the suburban communities since 2008. Throughout the years, we have established ourselves as experts in energy-efficient building practices like insulation systems are. Whether be a small maintenance issue or a basement to attic project, our team of professionals serves every customer with the highest standard of workmanship. Contact us to receive a free estimate.

The energy could be lost from:

• drafts, 
• air leaks, 
• openings around windows and doors, 
• or from an outdated heating or cooling system.

It is these losses that need to be reduced by doing energy efficiency upgrades. 

The improvement of energy efficiency will help you:

• Reduce energy consumption
• Save you money
• Create a home comfortable environment.

One of the most important home improvement projects you should be thinking about is insulation upgrade or replacement. Insulation that works efficiently will reduce electricity bills, increase home comfort and also help the environment. 

Start with an Energy Evaluation

It is known differently as an home energy audit. This process is the first step towards evaluating the ways in which your home consumes energy. You will understand where the energy goes. Is it going to the air conditioner, water heater, ceiling fan or to the light bulbs? 

A home energy audit will identify the necessary steps to make your home energy efficient and bring you energy savings. The energy audit might include a walk through process. Infrared cameras, door blowers or other techniques might be used  to identify potential air conditioning leaks. 

These in turn will reveal the most cost effective approach to upgrading your home’s insulation. This upgrade might also require an air barrier or a vapor barrier.

How Does Energy Efficient Insulation Work?

Efficient insulation will preserve the heat inside during the winter months and also block heat from entering home during the summer. This will result in a warmer home in winter and a cooler home in summer. There will also be more hot water in the winter and more cold water in the summer. It is really that simple and throughout the years we have come to understand that it works very well.

Homeowners that consider upgrading their home’s insulation might be worried about the costs. But let us just tell you that the cost of the upgrade or replacement will pay for itself through the energy savings. At the end you will be left with an increased home comfort. 

We at Eco Spray recommend insulation upgrade and air sealing as the best approach to having effective insulation. Air sealing is very important as it preserves indoor heated air and blocks unwanted outdoor air from entering the home. Only after effective air sealing is reached, then can you continue with the upgrade or replacement in areas such as:

• Attics, basements and crawl spaces
• Exterior walls and floors over unheated spaces
• Other spots with old, thin or poorly installed insulation

These parts of the house need to always be insulated. The insulation needs to be continuous and have the recommended thickness, as per Ontario’s Building Code.

Typical Home Energy Improvements

Here below we will walk you through some of the most recommended upgrades in order to improve your overall energy efficiency. These steps will help you increase your home’s comfort, decrease energy consumption and save you money on your monthly bills. Our experts at Eco Spray Insulation can help you localize the key home improvements you need to undertake to improve your energy efficiency.

Seal Air Leaks

First and foremost, air leaks in your walls, ceiling, floors, window, and doors need to be sealed with sprayed foam insulation, caulk, or weather stripping. Outside cold air diffusing into your home during the winter can cause an unbalanced indoor climate and increased energy costs. If you can manage to reduce the drafts in your home, you might experience energy savings that range between 5% to 30% per year. Your home will be more comfortable and the indoor climate will be easier maintained. 

Add Insulation

There are different types of insulation for each part of your home. The most common areas to be insulated are the attic, the basement, exterior walls, and crawl spaces. Apart from insulation upgrades, you will need a combination of air sealing in order to experience the full benefits. Upgrading old insulated parts of the home is one of the fastest ways to reduce energy consumption.

Upgrade Windows, Doors and Skylights

Energy star products, windows, doors and skylights will add to the energy efficiency of your home. Air infiltrations into and out of your home are possible through every crack or hole. Estimates say that around 20% of the air infiltrations occur through the openings in your windows, doors and skylights. Special storm windows might reduce the heat loss with as much as 25% to 50%. 

Using Programmable Thermostats

Installing and setting programmable thermostats  will save you energy. They will automatically regulate your home temperature, whether you are home or not, asleep or wide awake. As much as 10% on your energy costs can be saved if you just turn your thermostat on for 8 hours a day. 

Sealing Ducts

Apart from sealing all of the ducts, you have to make sure that they are put straight and are efficiently connected. We have seen many cases where ducts had not been properly insulated and had holes resulting in air leaks. 

As much as 60% of the conditioned air can be lost and if the ducts are not properly sealed. Heated air will travel through cold spaces such as attics or any other crawls spaces. Thus, it will lose heat before it reaches the register.

Upgrade Heating and Cooling Systems

The HVAC system in your house consumes more energy than any other equipment which uses energy to function. On average, circa 45% of your home utility bills come from heating and cooling. You can reduce your energy consumption by 20% to 50% if you put up a combination of the following: adequate insulation, air and duct sealing, thermostat usage.

Install Energy Efficient Water Heater

There are lots of energy efficient tank water heaters to choose from. Even more, a new product called tankless water heater is in high demand. Water heating can account for as much as 12% of your monthly utility bills. 

It is estimated to be your third biggest energy consumer in your home. You should also consider consuming less hot water if you want to reduce your energy consumption. You can intervaly turn off the thermostat on your heater and also insulate your water heater for improved efficiency. 

Upgrade Household Electric Appliances

The burden of the electric appliances to your total energy consumption is around 15%. The top energy consumption comes from appliances such as the refrigerator, washing machine, clothes dryers ets. Upgrading to energy efficient appliances will reduce your energy consumption overall. 

Use Energy Efficient Lighting Bulbs

An average Ontario household dedicates around 11% of its energy consumption to lighting fixtures and appliances. Opting for more energy saving lighting bulbs will improve your overall energy efficiency. New lighting technology will reduce the energy consumption required for the lighting by 50% to 75%.