What are the most important steps you can take to make your home more energy-efficient? We’ve helped countless Ottawa residents create eco-friendly households and have curated a list of top actions to take that’ll make an immediate impact.
The best part is when you make improvements like these, you’ll save money while protecting the environment. Thanks to the Canada Greener Homes Grant, money is available to help you finance some of these upgrades. So, now is the time to get started!
1. Install A Heat Pump
Looking for the most efficient heating system for cold climates? Replacing your gas furnace with an air-source heat pump is a game-changer for Ottawa homeowners. Why are we so certain? Heat pumps vs. air conditioners have a remarkable ability to both cool and heat your living space using a refrigerant and compressor. These innovative systems extract heat from the outdoor environment and transfer it indoors.
Conversely, they reverse the process and lower the air temperature when cooling is required. This dual-functionality is a win-win; installing a heat pump results in long-term energy and cost savings, plus eliminates the need for separate heating and air conditioning systems.
Many heat pump installs qualify for the Canada Greener Homes Grant and Greener Homes Loan. We encourage you to investigate this upgrade and seize the opportunity to save while it is still available. If you have any questions about the grant, contact us, we’d be happy to help.
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2. Improve Your Insulation
You’d be surprised how much energy and heat is lost due to insufficient insulation. Most older homes in Ottawa lack proper insulation, which means our heating systems are forced to work overtime.
Thus, ensuring your home is properly insulated is crucial to creating a more energy-efficient living environment. To retain warm air and enjoy a more comfortable (and consistent) temperature, add insulation to your attic and walls. An added benefit is this improvement will also lower your heating and cooling costs.
3. Seal All Ductwork
Leaky ductwork also results in significant energy loss and reduced efficiency in your HVAC system. Sealing up your ductwork will create a more energy-efficient home by ensuring that conditioned air reaches its intended destination instead of escaping through cracks.
4. Seal Your Windows and Doors
Drafty doors and windows are also energy-wasting culprits! Sealing gaps and cracks around these openings will prevent air leakage and reduce energy consumption. If it’s in the budget, opt for more modern, energy-efficient windows.
5. Tune Up Your HVAC Equipment
When it comes to your home’s energy efficiency, don’t overlook the importance of HVAC tune-ups! Regular maintenance and tune-ups are essential to keep your HVAC system running at peak efficiency.
By signing up for an HVAC protection plan, you can improve system performance, reduce energy consumption, and extend the lifespan of your equipment. Our experienced technicians inspect, clean, and optimize your HVAC system, allowing you to save energy and money. Schedule an HVAC tune-up today.
6. Use ENERGY STAR Appliances
Take a step towards a greener home by replacing outdated appliances with ENERGY STAR® certified units. These energy-efficient models exceed standards, using much less energy and saving you money in the long run. From high-efficiency heat pumps to tankless water heaters, ENERGY STAR® appliances are designed to reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
7. Change Your HVAC Filters
Regularly changing HVAC filters is a simple yet highly effective way to promote energy efficiency (not to mention a healthier home environment). Clogged filters block airflow, forcing your HVAC system to work harder and consume more energy. So make it a habit to replace these filters—you’ll improve air quality and optimize system performance.
8. Install a Tankless Water Heater
If the promise of energy savings doesn’t convince you to install a tankless water heater, the convenience surely will. Traditional water heaters continuously heat and store hot water, resulting in standby heat loss and energy wasted to maintain the water temperature.
Switching to a tankless water heater eliminates these losses and reliably provides hot water on demand—whenever you want it. As an added benefit, you’ll enjoy reduced energy bills when you switch to this sustainable approach to water heating.
9. Change Your Bulbs
Swapping out traditional light bulbs for energy-efficient LED bulbs is another simple yet impactful way to reduce your home’s energy usage. They consume much less electricity to produce the same amount of light as traditional bulbs.
10. Perform an Energy Audit
To further minimize your carbon footprint and identify specific areas of improvement, an energy audit should be performed on your home.
Here in Ottawa and throughout Canada, an energy audit is required as part of the Greener Homes Grant program.
The audit assesses your home’s current energy performance and determines which energy-efficient upgrades qualify for financial assistance.
Enhance Energy Efficiency with Ottawa Home Services
Eco-friendly upgrades and practices like installing a heat pump or transitioning to a tankless water heater are good for the environment and your pocketbook. (You may even qualify for lucrative government grants.)
Still wondering how to make your home more energy efficient? Don’t hesitate to contact Ottawa Homes Services—we’re here to make the process easy.
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