posted April 16, 2018, by Joe Marano

Does it feel like your hydro bills have reached new heights lately? Curious how to get these back under control? We know how expensive electricity can be, which is why cutting down on your energy use can make a real impact on the money you get to keep each month. And luckily, there are some simple ways you can do just that. To help you keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket rather than on your monthly bills, here are five tips to save on your hydro bills and help keep them under control.

Replace Your Lightbulbs

First things first - take a look at all the lightbulbs in your home. If your current bulbs are incandescent, all you need to do is to swap these out for compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs).  The CFLs use up to 75 percent less energy than your regular bulbs and can also last around ten times longer. This alone can save you up to $50 per year per bulb, which can add up significantly depending on how many lights there are in your rental.

Purchase Energy Star Appliances

Your electricity costs may be high if your appliances are energy hogs. But you can fix this by replacing your energy-consuming appliances and electronics like your fridge, microwave, dishwasher, air purifier, space heater, and TV with EnergyStar models instead. The EnergyStar label makes it easy for consumers like you to purchase products that are energy efficient. Each product with an EnergyStar label has been certified by the Environmental Protection Agency to deliver the highest level of energy performance and savings possible.

Use Water During Off-Peak Times

Did you know that Ontario uses time-of-use pricing to determine the costs of your electricity during different times of the day? So if you're showering, running the dishwasher and washing your clothes during peak electricity times, it can cost you double than doing these during 'off-peak' times when the electricity is less expensive. Check with your local hydro company to determine when the off-peak times are and try to follow these closely to save money on your hydro bills each month.

Improve Your Windows

There's no denying that replacing older windows can greatly improve your insulation and reduce your heating and cooling costs, but not everyone can afford to do a remodel. And in most cases with a rental, replacing the windows is not an option. You can, however, add tinted film to your windows to help improve their overall efficiency. The active materials work to prevent the warm sun from beaming into your home and impacting the internal temperature. It also provides an insulating effect to keep the heat inside your home when it's cold outside, reducing the cost to run your heater.

Install Motion Sensors

Leaving your outdoor lights on all day when you're out is great for safety purposes, but it can be horrible for your energy usage. By switching your lights for motion sensor lighting instead, you can save on your hydro bills while still keeping your exterior illuminated when needed.

When you employ tips like these to reduce your overall costs on hydro bills, you can look forward to having more funds left over to put towards things you enjoy. And the sooner you start implementing these sort of energy