Heating and cooling tips.
1
Seal out cold drafts.
Over time, any home will develop gaps that let cold air in and warm air escape. Sealing up obvious areas around windows, or adding weather-stripping around exterior doors, can help save up to 30 per cent on your heating use. And adding gaskets to electrical outlets, stopping chimney drafts or sealing dryer and fan vents can help even more.
2
Set your thermostat.
Heating accounts for 63 per cent of home energy use – and even a difference of two degrees (from 20 to 22) can add up. On cold days it might be tempting to set your thermostat high, but your home won’t heat up quicker.
3
Let the sunshine in.
Calgary is the sunniest major city in Canada. Make the sun work for you in winter by opening your blinds and curtains during the day. This will allow the sun’s energy to help heat your home and take some of the load off your furnace. At night, close your blinds and curtains to help keep the heat from escaping too quickly.
4
Keep cool on the inside.
At one time people thought that closing every window in their home during summer would help keep things cooler. That’s mostly true, but windows that open into shady areas may be cooler and can provide a refreshing breeze.
5
Ensure the air can flow.
If you are using fans to keep cool, position them near a window that opens to a shady area, and use it to draw the cooler air in. You can also aim your fan at an open window and use the airflow to push warmer air out of your house.
6
Turning up the heat to stay cool.
During a heat wave, set your thermostat to 25C or higher. You’ll save 5 per cent on your cooling costs for every degree you increase the temperature setting when your air conditioning kicks in.