The ABCs of energy use
You may be surprised to learn what consumes the most energy. With so much advice out there, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Use this guide to learn more about energy consumption.
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A
Appliances
Household appliances and devices are typically responsible for 18% of your annual electricity bill. Before purchasing a new device, check if it is ENERGY STAR®certified. ENERGY STAR® certified products use much less energy and don’t always cost more.
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B
Bathtub
Filling a 200‑L bathtub halfway uses 50% more hot water than taking a 7-minute shower at a flow rate of 9.5 litres per minute. Taking showers instead of baths can help you save a significant amount of money.
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C
Cooking
Slow cookers do more than make your life in the kitchen easier! These handy appliances use up to 80% less electricity than a stove. Get your sauces, stews and other comfort foods simmering!
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D
Dynamic pricing
Our dynamic pricing offerings could help you save money in winter if you use less electricity during peak demand events. It’s our way of rewarding you for helping spread out electricity demand during the winter period.
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E
Energy Performance Indicator
The energy performance indicator will help you better understand your electricity use and find ways to reduce it. It’s a surefire way to help you adopt more energy-efficient habits.
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F
Freezer
Upright freezers consume more electricity than chest freezers with the same food storage capacity because they let more cold air out when opened.
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H
Hilo
With Hilo, you can save up to 15% on your annual electricity bill. But did you know that by taking on our Hilo challenges, you can also earn cash rewards averaging $166 per winter?
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I
Insulation
Air leaks and ventilation can account for up to 25% of a home’s heat loss. In a single‑family home, losing that much heat through doors and windows is equivalent to leaving a window open 5 cm throughout the winter! See how to adopt good insulation habits.
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K
Kilowatthour (kWh)
A kilowatthour expresses the amount of energy used by a device in a given period. For example, 1 kWh could be 1,000 watts used over 1 hour, or 10 watts used over 100 hours. Kilowatthours are used to measure your electricity use and calculate your electricity bill. See real examples from everyday life.
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L
Leaky faucet
If one of your water taps is dripping at a rate of one drop per second, you end up wasting 27 litres of hot water every day—the equivalent of close to 4,925 small bottles of water a year. With a WaterSense® labeled water‑saving kit, a family of four can save just over 40,000 litres of water and almost $100 in electricity annually.
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M
Moving
Moving is an opportunity to get into better habits. Whether you rent or own, it pays to make energy-efficient choices. Small actions can make you energy wise, such as installing smart thermostats, responsible water consumption, switching to energy-efficient bulbs and choosing energy-efficient appliances
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Night
Just as you should lower your thermostat’s temperature settings for rooms that are not occupied during the day, you should also do it at night! Simply lower it by 1°C or 2°C to save money…and you won’t even feel the difference!
Replace your conventional thermostat with a programmable or smart thermostat to simplify your life..
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O
Outdoor light
If every household in Québec turned off one outdoor light that normally stays on all night (from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., for example) for one year, the energy saved would light approximately 720,000 homes for an entire year. That’s every home in the city of Montréal.
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P
Peak
When it’s very cold out, electricity use can increase substantially because of the need to heat our homes. Find out why it is important to reduce energy use during winter peak hours and how to make small changes.
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R
Refrigerator
The refrigerator is one of the most energy-intensive appliances in the home since it is always running. This is why it’s worth it to get an ENERGY STAR® certified model. Even better, choose a refrigerator with a freezer on top since models with a freezer at the bottom usually consume more energy.
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S
Shower
Nearly 65% of your hot water consumption happens in the washroom. By spending just one minute less in the shower, you could save a significant amount of energy and money. If you install a low‑flow showerhead at home, you’ll save even more!
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T
Thermostat
Adopting good heating habits is the best way to save on your electricity bill. If you lower your thermostat setting by 1°C for the whole winter, you could knock 5% off your yearly heating expenses.
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V
Vehicle
In addition to having a smaller environmental impact than a gas‑powered vehicle, electric vehicles cost less to use since electricity is much cheaper than gasoline.
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W
Windows and patio doors
Up to 25% of a home’s heat loss takes place through and around windows and patio doors. Given that heating accounts for more than 50% of your electricity bill, it’s a good idea to caulk them properly or check if it’s time to replace them.
Want to know more about energy efficiency? Here are ten myths about energy efficiency that we've debunked!