Ten actions for a more eco-friendly summer
As the weather gets warmer, it’s natural for your electricity bill to drop. But summer is also the perfect time to adopt more eco-friendly behaviors. Here are ten actions to help you maximize your energy efficiency and reduce your environmental footprint during the summer.
1 - Maximize the use of your heat pump or air conditioner
Up to 5% of your annual electricity bill goes to air-conditioning. To save money, set the temperature to between 22°C and 25°C. Clean the filters at least once a season, and close the curtains or blinds in rooms exposed to the sun to prevent them from getting too hot.
You can use a heat pump year-round to cool and heat your home efficiently.
2 - Air-dry your clothes
Hanging your clothes out on the clothesline is such a simple action, but so beneficial to the environment and your electricity bill. Don’t have a clothesline? Get a drying rack instead of using the dryer. Hanging out your clothes in summer could save you more than 150 kWh, or the equivalent of about $12.
3 - Plant trees
If you have room on your property, plant one or more trees! Trees have so many direct benefits on the environment. They help fight climate change and heat islands, and also create shade on hot summer days and protect your home from the wind. If space is limited, you could opt to plant a shrub instead.
Use our tool for choosing the right tree or shrub, and prevent unpleasant surprises such as having to prune your tree when it reaches maturity.
4 - Install a timer or a solar pool cover
Pool filtration and heating can account for up to 70% of your summer electricity costs. To cool yourself off in an energy-efficient manner, add a timer to the pump or get a solar pool cover that will limit heat loss from the water. The electricity savings from a solar pool cover will exceed the purchase cost by the end of the first summer.
5 - Illuminate the outdoors in a responsible manner
Create a cozy atmosphere for your nice summer evenings in an energy-efficient way by opting for solar-powered lighting. If you have electric lighting products, be sure to turn them off at night or when you’re not using them to avoid wasting energy. You could save up to $25/bulb/year when you turn off your outdoor lights from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
6 - Plant a garden
Whether you live in a rural or urban setting, planting a garden is an eco-friendly project you will be able to take great pride in. With a vegetable garden, you’ll have access to fresh fruits and vegetables while reducing the excess packaging and greenhouse gas emissions associated with transporting food by truck. A solution that is both healthy and environmentally friendly!
7 - Collect rainwater
Why not install a rain barrel to collect rain water that you can then use to water your garden or wash your car? Still relatively unknown in Québec, rainwater collection is a very eco-friendly method that prevents wasting drinking water.
8 - Buy electric yard maintenance equipment
For yard maintenance, consider purchasing the electric version of equipment such as a mower, edger, hedge trimmer, leaf blower or chainsaw. For example, an electric mower has several advantages over a gasoline-powered mower: it is less noisy, easier to maintain, often less expensive and, most importantly, better for the environment.
9 - Use the summer months to make your home energy efficient
Summer is a great time to do work on your home to increase its year-round energy efficiency. Whether you’re looking to replace windows or insulate walls, first take a look at the various renovation programs available to you or check out our website for any requests for work or modifications.
10 - Avoid driving if possible
With the warmer summer weather, walk or cycle whenever possible. You’ll do your part for the environment while improving your health!