Unlike many places in North America, Saskatoon has 4 very distinct seasons. As a result there are many things you as a Saskatoon home owner can do to lower your utility usage and save money. Below are a list of 10 ways for you to save money in your day to day lives. As you know owning and operating a home can be expensive at times especially in the winter heating it and in the summer cooling it. Why not take a bit of extra time and follow the the tips below to not only save you money but to also contribute to saving the environment.
- Make an effort to turn off all lights and appliances when you leave a room and they are not in use. Many people often leave on lights as they travel through their home without turning them off. Another big one is the television.
- In the winter at night or during the day when you are not at home, turn down your thermostat to 18 degrees celsius. This will make a significant difference in your heating bill in the winter.
- Take advantage of Saskatoon’s sunny winters and during the day in the winters be sure to keep your blinds open. Although it’s -40 outside the sun will provide a bit of additional warmth in your home. During the summer be sure to keep your blinds and windows closed.
- Regularly clean your furnace filters, vacuum them once a month if you can. This will provide better air flow for your furnace which means it will have to work less.
- Plan out your trips prior to leaving the house when driving. If you can make your trips out in your car multi-purpose trips this will lower the amount you need to drive and will lower the amount of gas your car consumes.
- When washing cloths use cold water and ensure you wash full loads of laundry. Every store now carries cold water detergent so by using this and cold water to wash your cloths you will see a difference in your utility bills.
- Try not to let your car idle for more than 10 seconds at a time unless you are in traffic. Starting your car uses less fuel than letting it idle for 10 seconds.
- Unless it is an extremely cold Saskatchewan night try to only plug your car in for a couple hours before you intend to drive it. Block heaters do consume a lot of energy. If you have a garage it is definitely worth insulating it as this will reduce the time your car will need to warm up.
- When cooking try to use small appliances for smaller meals. Microwaves, toaster ovens or slow cookers are a good substitution for a single meal than using the entire oven.
- When cooking food on your stove be sure to use pots that cover the entire stop-top element. Many new stoves have the ability and technology to switch the cooking surface. By using a pot that covers the entire surface you will save energy.
These are just a few tips to save you money in your day to day living. As a Saskatoon Realtor I will continue to provide information to people on how to lower your utility costs. If you are like me saving money is always a good thing!
Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.