The holiday season can be full of cheer, but it can also be expensive. Heating costs at this time can eat up a large portion of your energy bill.


Follow these winter hacks from Hydro One so you can keep heating costs down:

10 Energy-Saving Winter Hacks

  • 1

  • illustration: A sealed window in winter
    Keep the Cold Out
  • Keep the cold out by sealing your windows with plastic sheeting. It’ll prevent wind from seeping in through spaces between the window and the wall.

  • 2

  • illustration: A kitchen with a slow cooker on the countertop
    Slow Cookers Save Big
  • Use a slow cooker instead of the oven. A slow cooker uses 65 per cent less energy in seven hours than an electric oven uses in just one hour.

  • 3

  • illustration: Holiday LED lights
    Get the LED Out
  • Make the house festive while saving energy by using LED lights. Not only do they use 80 per cent less energy than incandescent lights, they last longer too. Unplug your holiday lights before you leave the house to avoid draining unnecessary energy.

  • 4

  • illustration: A radiator next to a couch
    Clear the RAD
  • Clear the space around your radiator to make sure that it allows heat to circulate efficiently. Don’t block it with furniture or other household items.

  • 5

  • illustration: Three party-goers wearing different ugly sweaters
    Let the Party Heat up
  • When entertaining, turn the furnace down. Cooking and having extra people in your home will help maintain a comfortable temperature.

  • 6

  • illustration: A bedroom with the temperature lowered
    Lower the Temp
  • Lower the temperature in your home when you are sleeping or away.

  • 7

  • illustration: A sealed window in winter
    Inspect Your Filter
  • Make sure your furnace is running smoothly by inspecting the filter. Hold a light bulb up behind the filter and if you can’t see the bulb, it’s time for a new one.

  • 8

  • illustration: sun shining in the window during winter
    Let the Sun Shine In
  • On sunny winter days, trap warm air inside by opening window coverings to let the rays warm your home. Once the sun goes down, close window coverings to keep the warmth in.

  • 9

  • illustration: a door with a draft stopper
    Stop The Draft
  • If air is coming in from under your doors, try making a draft stopper. All you need is some fabric, plastic bags or foam for stuffing and a couple of stitches.

  • 10

  • illustration: Holiday LED lights
    Be Fireplace Smart
  • If you have a fireplace you never use, consider getting it sealed, since warm air is sucked out if the damper is open. If you do enjoy sitting by the fire, make sure you turn down your main thermostat. Fires can actually draw heat from the room up the chimney so your furnace has to work even harder.

Find more tips on saving energy at www.hydroone.com/forhome.
 

Home Heating Tips

Illustration of a house outline with a plug at the end

Did you know that up to 65% of your home’s energy use goes to heating and cooling?

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