It’s that time of year again. While the kids enjoy their freedom, you’re shopping for notebooks, backpacks and laptops. It’s stressful. But managing your electricity use shouldn’t be. This back-to-school season, follow our favourite energy-saving tips, and see the difference they can make.
Unplug
Did you know that your electronics still draw power when they’re off? This energy is called phantom power, and it can account for up to 10 per cent of your bill.
To manage your energy use, cut phantom power off at the source. Before your kids leave for school, ask them to unplug their devices. Similarly, if you’re not using your coffee maker, blender or juicer, unplug it.
Certain products draw more phantom power than others. Even when they’re turned off, stereos and home theatre systems drain a significant amount of energy. Always unplug these devices when you’re done with them.
Extra credit: Consider ordering smart-power strips. After detecting that an appliance or gadget isn’t in use, they cut power to the outlet it’s plugged into, saving you from a run around the house.
Look for energy-efficient tech
While shopping for a new laptop this fall, look for the blue ENERGY STAR sticker. ENERGY STAR certified computers use up to 40 per cent less power than other models, allowing you to charge them faster and study longer.
You’ll find certified laptops from all of your favourite brands, including Apple, Google and HP. To make shopping a little easier, take advantage of ENERGY STAR’s product finder.
If you’re not in the market for new tech this September, consider browsing your local school-swap pages, where you can find electronics for free or at a discount. And remember that when you repurpose a device, you help lower manufacturing and shipping emissions.
Extra credit: Whatever the case, try to close some of the apps and browser tabs on your laptop. This small step saves energy and your battery.
Switch to LED lighting
The back-to-school season reminds us of nights spent at the kitchen table with a textbook, reading until the lights burned out. This fall, save yourself the trouble and the energy. Replace your traditional light bulbs with LEDs.
Available in a variety of colours, LEDs last 15 times longer than traditional bulbs. They also use 90 per cent less energy.
Transitioning to energy-efficient lighting may lower your power consumption, but building solid habits is still important. Remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room. And open your curtains during the day to let in the sun.
Extra credit: To take it a step further, use task lighting to illuminate the essentials. Need to study? Turn off your overhead lights, and flick on an LED desk lamp. You’ll improve your focus and finish your work while saving energy.
Consider a smart thermostat
With classes and extracurriculars, you and your family are home a lot less during the school year. It’s the perfect time to install a smart thermostat, a tool that will save you energy without sacrificing your comfort.
A smart thermostat lets you control your home’s climate from anywhere. Heading out for the day? Raise the temperature, so you’re not burning energy to cool your empty house. When you’re on your way home, simply use your phone to lower it again.
Some advanced smart thermostats can even make automatic adjustments. After picking up on your usage patterns, they start to manage your house’s climate for you. Further, they can tap into your phone’s GPS to determine if you’re nearby and then heat or cool your home accordingly.
These features help you save energy effortlessly. An ecobee analysis revealed that customers with smart thermostats saved up to 26 per cent on heating and cooling.
Extra credit: Align your smart thermostat with your sleep schedule. Dropping the temperature a few degrees overnight in the winter and raising it slightly in the summer can help you save energy while you’re asleep. You won’t even feel the difference.
Follow these tips and strategies to manage your energy use this back-to-school season. You’d be surprised by how much you can save with a little effort and a few new habits.
For more energy-saving ideas, visit our website.