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As we approach the end of the year, cocooning becomes increasingly appealing! Between the lockdown and the onset of colder weather, we have all been spending more time at home and, of course, our energy consumption habits have changed as a result. Now that the holidays are starting, the whole family will be gathered under your roof. Here are a few suggestions, that will not cost you anything, to keep heat from escaping and help you consume energy more efficiently. These tricks will help you maximize your energy savings without compromising your comfort.

1. Let natural light heat your home.

On sunny days, get a good dose of Vitamin D by opening the blinds to let the sun heat the south-facing rooms. Once the sun goes down, close the blinds to trap the heat and keep it from escaping through the windows.

2. Get a smart thermostat.

This domotic appliance will definitely save you money! You can program it or let it figure out your habits and propose a personalized program. If you happen to decide to spend more time outdoors or out shopping, all the better! You can then lower or raise the temperature with a few clicks from your smart phone. Take advantage of the Boxing Day savings to get a smart thermostat. And to top it all off, Enbridge Gaz will give you $100 when you purchase one.

3. Do not set your thermostat too high.

If you want your house to heat up faster, setting your thermostat higher than the temperature you want is not the way. Your house will not warm up faster, but your furnace will keep running longer than necessary. Lowering the temperature by up to 3⁰ Celsius when you go out or go to bed is the best way to reduce your consumption.

4. Change your furnace filter.

A clean filter helps your furnace work better. If you recently did some renovations, change the filter and keep doing that every three months. A dirty filter can damage your furnace.

5. Use ceiling fans.

In cold weather, run your ceiling fan clockwise to push the heat down. In the summer, switch its rotation to pull the warm air up. Something this simple can benefit everyone in the family.

6.  Close your computers and other screens.

Now that you are working from home, you probably have a lot more electronics running. Simply running your screen saver will not reduce your electricity use. Instead set your computer in sleep mode or turn it off to save electricity. And don’t forget the game consoles, which are generally real energy hogs.

You have a lot more control over your energy bill than you might think. These little things will help you make your family aware and encourage them to be responsible consumers, not to mention help keep your energy bills down.