10 Energy-Saving Tips for PEI Homeowners

Heating accounts for 60-70% of energy use in PEI homes. A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts temperatures based on your schedule, ensuring you're not heating an empty house or overheating while you sleep.

How it saves energy: • Automatically reduces temperature when you're away or sleeping • Typical savings: 10-15% on heating costs ($150-$300 per year) • Smart thermostats learn your patterns and optimize automatically • Remote control via smartphone lets you adjust from anywhere

Recommended settings: • Daytime (when home): 20-21°C (68-70°F) • Nighttime (sleeping): 17-18°C (62-64°F) • Away: 15-16°C (59-61°F)

Cost: $80-$250 | Payback period: Less than 1 year

EfficiencyPEI rebate: Up to $50 for qualifying smart thermostats

Heat rises, and inadequate attic insulation is the single biggest source of heat loss in most PEI homes. The current building code recommends R-50 insulation in attics, but many older homes have only R-20 to R-30.

How it saves energy: • Prevents warm air from escaping through your roof • Typical savings: 15-25% on heating costs ($250-$500 per year) • Also keeps your home cooler in summer, reducing air conditioning costs • Reduces ice dam formation in winter

What to check: • Measure your current insulation depth (R-20 is about 6-7 inches of fiberglass) • Most PEI homes should have 14-16 inches of insulation (R-50) • Ensure proper ventilation is maintained • Seal air leaks before adding insulation

Cost: $1,500-$3,500 for typical home | Payback period: 3-7 years

EfficiencyPEI rebate: Up to $1,000 for attic insulation upgrades

Air leaks allow expensive heated or cooled air to escape while letting cold drafts in. Common leak locations include windows, doors, electrical outlets, recessed lights, and where pipes or wires penetrate walls.

How it saves energy: • Prevents conditioned air from escaping • Typical savings: 10-20% on heating and cooling costs ($150-$400 per year) • Makes your home more comfortable by eliminating cold drafts • Reduces moisture infiltration, preventing mold

Where to seal: • Weatherstrip all exterior doors and windows • Apply foam gaskets behind electrical outlet and switch plates on exterior walls • Seal around pipes, wires, and vents with expanding foam or caulk • Add door sweeps to exterior doors • Seal recessed light fixtures or replace with airtight IC-rated fixtures

Cost: $50-$200 for DIY materials | Payback period: Less than 6 months

LED bulbs use 75-80% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last 15-25 times longer.

How it saves energy: • LEDs use only 8-12 watts compared to 60-100 watts for incandescent bulbs • Typical savings: $75-$150 per year for average home • Last 15,000-25,000 hours (10-20 years) versus 1,000 hours for incandescent • Generate less heat, reducing summer cooling costs

Smart upgrading: • Start with your most-used lights (kitchen, living room, bathrooms) • Choose warm white (2700-3000K) for living spaces • Daylight (5000-6500K) works well for task lighting • Dimmable LEDs available for fixtures with dimmer switches

Cost: $3-$8 per bulb, $75-$150 for whole-home upgrade | Payback period: 1-2 years

Ceiling fans don't actually cool or heat air, but they improve comfort by circulating air more effectively, allowing you to adjust your thermostat by 2-4 degrees while maintaining the same comfort level.

How it saves energy: • In winter (clockwise): Pushes warm air down from ceiling, allowing you to lower thermostat by 2-3°C • In summer (counterclockwise): Creates cooling breeze, allowing you to raise air conditioning temperature by 2-4°C • Typical savings: 8-12% on heating/cooling costs ($100-$200 per year)

Using them correctly: • Winter: Run clockwise (looking up) at low speed to recirculate warm air • Summer: Run counterclockwise at higher speed to create cooling effect • Turn off when leaving room—fans cool people, not rooms

Cost: $80-$300 per fan | Payback period: 1-3 years

Water heating accounts for about 18% of home energy use. Low-flow fixtures reduce hot water consumption without noticeably affecting water pressure or shower quality.

How it saves energy: • Reduces hot water use by 25-40% • Typical savings: $75-$150 per year on water heating • Also reduces water bills • Modern low-flow showerheads provide excellent pressure through aeration

Specifications: • Standard showerheads: 7-10 liters per minute (LPM) • Low-flow showerheads: 5-6 LPM • Faucet aerators: 4-6 LPM (compared to 8-10 LPM standard)

Cost: $15-$60 per fixture | Payback period: Less than 6 months

Windows are the weakest point in your home's thermal envelope. Even high-efficiency windows have R-values of only 3-5 compared to R-20+ for walls.

How it saves energy: • Insulated curtains add R-2 to R-4 of insulation value • Typical savings: 5-10% on heating costs ($75-$150 per year) • Cellular (honeycomb) shades provide better insulation than standard curtains • Reduces cold downdrafts from windows

Best practices: • Close curtains before sunset to trap heat inside • Open south-facing curtains during sunny winter days to gain free solar heat • Use light-colored or reflective curtains in summer to reflect heat

Cost: $20-$80 per window for insulated curtains | Payback period: 1-2 years

Regular maintenance keeps your heating system running efficiently and prevents costly breakdowns.

How it saves energy: • Professional cleaning and tuning improves efficiency by 5-15% • Typical savings: $75-$250 per year • Prevents expensive emergency repairs • Extends equipment lifespan by 3-5 years • Ensures safe operation (carbon monoxide safety check)

What professional service includes: • Clean and inspect burners or heat exchanger • Check and calibrate thermostat • Inspect and clean blower components • Check electrical connections • Test safety controls • Measure combustion efficiency

Cost: $100-$200 per year | Payback period: Less than 1 year through efficiency gains and prevented repairs

When it's time to replace major appliances, choosing ENERGY STAR models can significantly reduce energy consumption.

How it saves energy: • ENERGY STAR refrigerators use 10-15% less energy than standard models • Front-load washing machines use 40% less water and 50% less energy than top-loaders • Dishwashers use 12% less energy and 30% less water

Biggest impact appliances:

1. Refrigerator (runs 24/7): $50-$75 annual savings with ENERGY STAR
2. Clothes Washer: $35-$65 annual savings (energy + water)
3. Dishwasher: $25-$40 annual savings (energy + water)
4. Heat Pump Dryer: $100-$200 annual savings versus electric dryer

EfficiencyPEI rebates available: Up to $50-$100 for qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances

Modern cold-climate air source heat pumps can efficiently heat homes even in PEI's coldest weather while providing air conditioning in summer.

How it saves energy: • Heat pumps move heat rather than generate it, using 1/3 the energy of electric baseboard or oil furnaces • Typical savings: 30-50% on heating costs ($500-$1,500 per year) • Also provides efficient air conditioning (compared to window units) • Modern cold-climate models work efficiently down to -25°C or lower

Types of heat pumps: • Ductless mini-split: Most common, no ductwork required • Ducted central heat pump: Requires existing ductwork • Multi-zone systems: Heat/cool multiple rooms independently

Cost: $3,000-$8,000 installed | Payback period: 2-5 years

EfficiencyPEI rebate: Up to $2,500 for qualifying heat pump installations

Additional simple changes that add up:

• Use power bars for electronics and turn them off when not in use—phantom power draw costs $50-$100 per year

• Wash clothes in cold water—90% of washing machine energy goes to heating water

• Air dry dishes instead of using dishwasher's drying cycle

• Keep refrigerator coils clean—vacuum them twice per year for 5-10% efficiency improvement

• Close doors to unused rooms and lower heat in those spaces

• Use bathroom fans sparingly in winter—they exhaust expensive heated air