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As the air turns crisp and the leaves change colour, we know that winter is around the corner. Muskoka has had a very warm September and October but as November rolls around the temperatures will get colder. There are many ways we can keep our homes warm and reduce our Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions at the same time. Below are a few tips to reduce your heating costs and emissions and get your home ready for winter, along with some money saving programs and grant opportunities to help you reduce your climate footprint even further.
- Check on your furnace: As the weather cools it’s the perfect time to make sure your furnace is in working order. Replacing or cleaning your filter will help ensure your furnace is working more efficiently and the air you are breathing is cleaner.
- Check your drafty windows and doors: Drafts can be a drain on energy savings as your furnace must work harder when cool air seeps unnecessarily into your home. There are a few effective and inexpensive ways you can easily reduce drafts from weather stripping to window draft kits.
- Let the sun in: Open your blinds and curtains during the day to let the sun naturally heat your home during the day. This can reduce your reliance on your furnace during cold sunny days. To trap the heat once the sun has passed, close your curtains.
- Use your ceiling fan (on reverse): If you have ceiling fans you can switch their direction to clockwise and set to low speed to bring warm air down to you. As warm air rises this can help bring that warm air closer to you and reduce your heating costs.
- Check your fireplace: Fires are a great way to stay warm in the fall and winter but if your fireplace is drafty when not in use it can bring cold air into your home. Make sure the damper is closed when not in use, if it has a glass cover, close it or have fireplace doors installed.
Grant and Funding Programs
Heat Pump Grant Program: From SaveOnEnergy the HomeEnergySaver program provides up to $5000 for heat air source heat pumps and up to $10,000 for ground source heat pumps.
Home Winterproofing Program: From Enbridge Gas the Home Winterproofing program is for homes in need. If your home and household income levels qualify, you’ll be eligible for insulation, draft proofing, smart thermostats, ENERGY STAR® certified appliances and more to help you reduce your GHG’s and improve your homes heating efficiency over the winter. (Note: If you are a renter you may need to get approval from your landlord before making any changes that impact the structure of the home.)
Let’s all stay warm this winter while we tackle the warming climate.
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