W W W. H Y D R O O N E . C O M / S AV E E N E R G Y
conserving energy together
Renovate safely
H ydro O ne
No-cost low-cost cooling tips
·Be sure you or your contractors follow all local building codes, the
We spend the majority of our energy dollars
Ontario Electrical Safety Code, bylaws and permit requirements.
·All electrical work must be inspected and approved by the
controlling the temperature of our home. In the
Electrical Safety Authority. Inspection must be done prior to
covering any wiring with drywall or other wall/ceiling materials.
summer, that means keeping it cool. Before thinking
·Have a qualified electrician look at your electrical supply, panel
about air conditioning, try these passive cooling
and wiring to determine what alterations or additions may be
required; make arrangements for an electrical inspection.
you’ll use less and that lowers your electricity use.
whose work meets the Electrical Safety Authority standards.
·Visit the Electrical Safety Authority at www.esasafe.com
Draw the curtains on heat
For more energy efficiency information
In the morning, open windows to let cool air in.
Then close them, and draw
your blinds or drapes during the day. Your home
will retain much of the cool
morning air.
visit www.HydroOne.com/SaveEnergy and:
The Office of Energy Efficiency of Natural Resources Canada at
www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca
The Ontario Ministry of Energy at www.energy.gov.on.ca
How to reach us
Web:www.HydroOne.com
Call: Customer Communications Centre
(7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET) 1-888-664-9376
Power Outages and Emergencies:
(24 hours) 1­-800-434-1235
Fax: 1-888-625-4401
Mail: Hydro One
P.O. Box 5700
Markham, Ontario L3R 1C8
Air Conditioning
We can help
Ways to save
· No-cost low-cost cooling tips
· Invest to improve
· Shopping tips
· Time-of-Use tips
© Copyright Hydro One Inc.
Cool down your
menus too
In the summer, use the BBQ and include more cold
foods and salads in your
menu. Try not to use major
heat-producing appliances
in the middle of the day.
approaches first. Even if you’re using air conditioning,
·Central air conditioning should be wired by a qualified electrician
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W W W. H Y D R O O N E . C O M / S AV E E N E R G Y
Let fans move the air
Ceiling fans help cool down
your home. They don’t use
much electricity and can
help reduce the need for air
conditioning. Make sure the
fan blows air downwards in summer.
The real problem may
be humidity
Humid homes feel hotter. Use exhaust fans in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas to expel the air directly outside
(not into walls or attics). Avoid
air-drying clothes in the home.
Don’t store firewood inside.
Not using it?
Turn it off
Lights, appliances and home
electronics use a lot of power
and give off heat. During the
summer, it’s more important
than ever to turn them off when
you aren’t using them. You’ll
save energy twice.
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More details and tips
More details and additional
no-cost low-cost tips are available
at www.HydroOne.com/
SaveEnergy
HYDRO ONE
W W W. H Y D R O O N E . C O M / S AV E E N E R G Y
Invest to improve
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Shopping Tips:
Investing in your home to save energy will
Room air conditioners
pay off for years to come. If you need a
contractor, be sure to get multiple quotes
Read the EnerGuide label for
the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)
rating. The higher the number,
the more efficient the unit.
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and check references.
Also look for the ENERGY
STAR® symbol on the EnerGuide
label. ENERGY STAR room air
conditioners have more than
the Government of Canada’s
yearly minimum standard of
energy efficiency by at least
10 per cent.
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1
Look at your home’s thermal
envelope for savings
3
How air-tight is your home’s thermal envelope – that is the
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roof, walls, windows and doors? If you have a “leaky house”
4
you’ll find it more difficult and costly to cool and heat.
A thorough caulking, weatherstripping and insulation job
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Dehumidifiers help cool
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Central air conditioners for the whole house
can reduce your cooling and heating bill significantly and
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provide a much more comfortable home. Replacing single-
dehumidifier, especially in the basement to reduce humidity
existing forced air system and uses the ductwork to provide
pane windows and uninsulated doors with more energy
in your entire home.
cool air. Cooling is controlled by a thermostat. Although
In addition to exhaust fans, think about adding a
efficient models will make a big difference too.
The culprit may be the attic
a thermostat – it will start and shut itself off automatically.
Heat builds up in the attic and radiates down into
This saves energy costs and equipment wear. Home
the house. An attic that is under-insulated and unventilated
dehumidifiers collect as much as 50 litres of water per day.
can reach temperatures up to 54°C (130°F) during a hot
summer day.
Since central air is a major
purchase, get a number of
quotes from reputable dealers.
The dealer can help you find
a unit that is the right size for
your home. Also be sure to
compare the sound ratings of
different units.
The ENERGY STAR logo
indicates that the unit
meets the highest energy
efficiency levels.
the initial cost may be relatively high, it’s more efficient
Most dehumidifiers allow you to set the humidity level like
2
A central air conditioning unit is added to an
Central Air
than operating several window air conditioners.
Time-of-Use Tips
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Consider geothermal energy
Building a new home? Consider a geothermal
heat pump for both heating and cooling. It can return
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Keep one room cool with a
substantial energy savings over time. Learn more at
room air conditioner
www.geo-exchange.ca or www.retscreen.net/ang/home.php.
Consider adding attic ventilation to let air circulate and
Window air conditioners are ideal for cooling one room
heat escape. Also be sure you have adequate insulation.
of a house. They’re easy to control and adjust. You can
Install a programmable thermostat
A qualified contractor can ensure proper placement and
cut your air-conditioning electrical costs by up to 30 per
A programmable thermostat can reduce energy
sizes of vents, and determine your insulation needs.
cent a year by buying the most energy-efficient model.
use when you’re not at home and while you’re sleeping.
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· Especially with central air, use a programmable thermostat
to run your AC during off-peak hours
·Adjust your temperatures a little warmer. That means your
AC runs for shorter periods of time
·When you cool off-peak, make sure you keep the cool air
in during the rest of the day by closing windows, doors,
drapes and blinds