Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta recently received support from ENMAX to purchase energy efficiency appliances for the new homes built in Bowness.
But their support didn’t end there. On May 16, ENMAX hosted twelve families at the Calgary Zoo for an evening of energy education.
While children learned about electrical safety and renewable energy, the adults (and soon to be adults) learned about a range of topics, from how to read your utility bill, to techniques to save energy (and money).
Here are a couple of tips from that workshop that can help you do some saving of your own this summer!
1. Stand-by power
You may be surprised to find out that the average home has upwards of 40 electronics plugged-in at any given moment. These items consume electricity even when not in use, accounting for 5-10 % of a home’s annual energy use.
Borrow an energy meter from the Calgary Public Library to investigate how you are using electricity in your home.
Photo by Phenyo Deluxe from Pexels
2. Use energy efficient appliances
The type of appliances you use in your home can make a huge difference. ENERGY STAR appliances can use up to 65% less energy than its competitors.
Additionally, a laptop computer is up to 90% more efficient than their desktop counterparts. If you’re due for a hardware upgrade, consider making the switch!
For more information on small actions you can take to become more efficient, visit ENMAX’s Energy Savings Tips.
