Extra Cash From Your Tax Refund? Reduce Your Hydro Bills

The increase in energy prices has made many home and condo owners across Ontario look for new ways to cut down their consumption and save money. Reducing your energy consumption goes a long way toward saving your money and easing your impact on the environment. Below are just the top three ways you can take matters into your own hands and start conserving energy the smarter way.

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1. Electronics

Much of your hydro bills could be due to the electricity used up by an electronic appliance or device even when it is not in use but still plugged in, also known as “phantom power.” This can account for as much as 15 percent of a household’s electricity consumption, and to avoid such cases of power loss, you can use a programmable power bar for charging your electronics during the off-peak hours.

2. Change your lighting

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) can use up to 75 percent less energy than the ordinary bulbs, and given the fact that the average home has 25 light fixtures that use up to $180 worth of electricity annually, it’s worth saving wherever you can. Replacing five bulbs with the Energy Star-approved CFL bulbs in rooms that require over three hours of light per day helps you save you up to $100 every year.

3. Install energy efficient doors and windows

Doors and windows are responsible for a significant amount of the heating and cooling costs a household incurs throughout the year; an ordinary pane of glass loses 10 times more heat than an insulated wall. Even in the summer, ordinary glass letting in direct sunlight can cause your home to become unbearably hot or keep your air conditioner running overtime. Thus, retrofitting your doors and finding replacement windows in Kitchener that use energy efficient technology will make the biggest dent in your bills of all these suggestions. In case you’re not sure where to start, local manufacturer Golden Windows Kitchener specializes in energy efficient windows and doors, and they’re a good resource for finding out how low emissivity coatings and argon gas can help you control the temperature in your home.

Of course, when it comes to windows and doors, you’re not just looking at performance specifics, you also want something that will look tasteful and in keeping with your home. That’s why you should look for custom options, such as frame choices from Golden Windows like wood, vinyl, and aluminum-clad that maintain the look of your home. Even heritage houses and cottages can use energy efficient windows by getting wood frames and Victorian, Muskoka, or Colonial grilles. Homeowners in Kitchener, London, and Kanata can all visit a Golden Windows showroom to view the possibilities before they make a final decision.

Reducing your hydro bills is essential to maintaining your financial stability; if you get a cash injection this year from a tax refund, rather than buy a new TV or go on vacation, set it aside for a home renovation that will not only pay dividends when you resell the home, but help you save money on your bills today. Install energy efficient windows and take control of the temperature in your home.