Conservation

Centre Wellington Hydro Ltd. will help you save electricity, save money and help the environment.

Centre Wellington Hydro Ltd. is pleased to provide its customers with useful handouts of the rebates and incentives available for homeowners in Ontario who are looking to upgrade their homes with energy efficient technology. Please explore the following documents to discover more about government tax incentives, third party rebates, and Ontario Power Authority programs which will reward you for installing energy conserving technologies in your home.

Annual Conservation and Demand Management 2011 Report

Annual Conservation and Demand Management 2012 Report

Annual Conservation and Demand Management 2013 Report

Heating and Cooling Incentive

For more information, please feel free to contact us

• saveONenergy^OM COUPONS can help you save money throughout the year when you purchase and install energy-efficient products for your home at participating retailers. Coupons are available for products including lighting, power bars, ceiling fans, programmable thermostats, weatherstripping, timers, clotheslines and more.
  
  Click here for more information
  

• FOR BUSINESS
  
  Follow the link to view Business Conservation opportunities. Click here
  

• Visit 10 Smart Meter Lane and learn how shifting your electricity use makes sense.
  
  

Tips For Saving Electricity and Money

HEATING & COOLING

• Set your thermostat back. For each 4 degrees you lower your thermostat each night, you will save up to 10% in energy costs.
• Install & use a programmable thermostat that will turn down the heat when you are not at home or are asleep.
• If you’re chilly, don’t turn up the heat, put on a sweater.
• Avoid the use of portable electric heaters, they are big energy users.
• Keep blinds, shades and drapes closed during the hottest part of the day in the summer.
• Use area rugs on cold floors.
• Install ceiling fans and use them to supplement or even as a alternative to air conditioning.
• Make sure your ceiling fan is blowing air downwards in summer.
• Plant leafy (deciduous) trees on the sunny side of your house.
• Plant pine or fir trees on the north side to provide an energy-saving windbreak.
• Clean or replace the furnace filter every three months during the winter. A clogged filter reduces the flow of air & will make your furnace run longer.

WATER

• Fix leaky faucets – that little drip can add up to 95 litres of water per faucet per month.
• Install a low flow shower head. This can save you up to 15% of your home’s hot water use. A 5-min shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
• Drain a pail of water from your natural gas hot water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that prevents heat transfer, lowering the units efficiency.

REFRIGERATOR

• The refrigerator is one of the biggest electricity guzzlers in most homes. Look for ENERY STAR qualified refrigerators.
• Don’t keep that old, inefficient refrigerator running in the basement for occasional refreshments. It could cost you $150 or more per year in electricity.
• Check your refrigerator’s door seal by closing the door on a $5 bill. If it’s held tightly in place, the seal is OK.
• Clean your refrigerator’s coils and air intake grill every 3 months.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers out of direct sunlight.
• Allow hot foods to cool before putting them in the refrigerator.
• Go into your fridge & freezer knowing what you need & close the doors quickly.

STOVE/OVEN

• Use small appliances such as a microwave, slow cooker, or toaster oven instead of the oven when possible.
• Generally, thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator before cooking, unless the label says otherwise.
• Turn off the oven just before finishing – the oven will remain hot long enough to complete the job.
• Use the right size pot or pan for the burner and cover pots when you boil water or cook.

DISHWASHER

• Don’t waste hot water by pre-rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.
• Air dry your dishes – you can save 10% of the cost of operation.
• Load dishes according to manufacturer’s instructions to allow for proper water circulation.
• Check and clean drains and filters regularly to ensure efficient operation.
• If you are planning to buy a new dishwasher, consider investing in an ENERGY STAR qualified model, which is at least 25% more efficient.

CLOTHES WASHER & DRYER

• Make sure clothes are effectively wrung before putting them in the dryer.
• Separate loads into heavy, medium and lightweight items – lighter loads will take less drying time than a mixture of items.
• Dry consecutive loads to utilize otherwise wasted heat from the dryer.
• Get some fresh air! Consider using a clothesline to dry your laundry.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water…full loads only & don’t over-dry your clothes. Clean the dryer after each use.

HOME OFFICE & OTHER SAVINGS AROUND THE HOME

• Consider energy-efficient computer systems and monitors when you replace a system.
• Be sure to shut off the computer screen, as 60% of the power used by a computer is used by the monitor.
• Put your home entertainment systems on a power bar and turn off the bar when you are not using them.
• Unplug infrequently used TV’s, as many continue to draw power even when turned off
• Put swimming pool pumps on a timer.
• Use a solar blanket to keep swimming pool water warm overnight.

LIGHTING

• You can lower overall energy demand by concentrating bright light where you need it.
• Opening your blinds is a free way to brighten up a room.
• Decorate your home with illumination in mind.
• Keep light fixtures clean.
• Replace your most frequently used incandescent bulbs with compact florescent light bulbs. They use about a third as much electricity, and last 10 times longer.
• Replace outdoor lighting with motion-detector equipped bulbs or fixtures instead of leaving outside lights on for long periods of time.

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