Everyone has a role to play in reducing energy use and emissions. Here are eight simple but effective actions to try at home. 

1. Control the heat: If you’re feeling a bit of a chill, bundle up in a cozy sweater rather than cranking up the heat. Before you leave the house or head to bed, turn down the heat a few degrees. Programmable thermostats can do this automatically for you, so that you return home or wake up to your regular temperature. Get a thermostat with smart technology to control it through an app on your phone. 
   
   
2. Block drafts: Heat can escape and cold air can seep in around drafty doors and windows. Seal up gaps with caulking and weather stripping. To block under-door drafts, make or buy a door draft stopper (a fabric tube filled with sand or beads) or install a door sweep. 
   
   
3. Use appliances efficiently: Only run full loads of dishes and laundry. Wash clothes in cold (or colder) water, and reduce drying time by using wool or plastic dryer balls and emptying the lint trap after each use. Keep appliances working efficiently with regular maintenance and cleaning, and when it’s time for new ones, seek out energy-efficient models.
   
   
4. Change your lights: Switch to eco-friendly LED lights throughout the home. When buying light fixtures, look for models that require fewer bulbs and have dimmer switches.  
   
   
5. Unplug and switch off: Get in the habit of turning off the lights when leaving a room, even for a few minutes, or consider installing motion sensors to turn lights on and off. Turn off or unplug electrical appliances when not in use to prevent them from drawing power. Avoid charging devices at night so that you can unplug them when fully charged. 
   
   
6. Use window coverings wisely: Open up curtains and blinds during the day to make use of natural light and avoid turning on lights. Close them up again at night to help keep in the heat. 
   
   
7. Reduce hot water use: Use low-flow showerheads and faucets, and opt for short showers rather than long baths. Run your dishwasher in eco mode if it has one. Turn off the tap when flowing water isn’t needed. 
   
   
8. Use ceiling fans year-round: Turn on ceiling fans counter-clockwise in summer to cool spaces using less energy than air conditioners, and in winter, spin them in the reverse (clockwise) direction at low speed to push warm air down into the room and distribute heat.  

Get free energy-saving tools  

When we're out at community events, you might see us handing out practical energy-saving tools that are good for the planet, like: 

• Dryer balls: Wool or plastic balls reduce drying time and naturally soften clothes without dryer sheets. 

• Swedish dishcloths: These reusable and washable cloths replace paper towel and help reduce waste. 

• Cellulose sponges: Made from wood fibres rather than plastic, cellulose sponges are reusable for up to six months and biodegrade after disposal. 

Be sure to stop by our booth at the next community event, or sign up for our newsletter for a chance to win prizes! 

You’re part of the solution!  

As a Lonsdale Energy customer, you’re already playing a role in conserving energy by receiving heating and cooling through an efficient community energy system.  

By putting these tips into practice, you’ll not only reduce energy use and costs in your own home, but be part of the solution as we work together to reduce emissions and lessen the impact of climate change.