Even in summer, certain habits can drive up your electricity use without you realizing it. Take the quiz and give yourself one point for each bad habit that applies to you. The higher your score, the more you could benefit from adopting better habits to save energy while staying cool.
1. When it's very hot outside, I lower the thermostat to cool my home faster.
After coming home hot and sweaty, it might be tempting to set the air conditioner as low as possible. But that won't cool your home any faster; it only makes your unit work harder. The better approach is to set the temperature around 23°C and keep the system running steadily.
- Does this sound like you? Give yourself one point. And why not try turning your thermostat up by one or two degrees to see if that's comfortable for you?
2. I leave my heat pump on Automatic mode in summer.
Automatic mode on a heat pump is convenient, but if your home gets too cool, the heating system may kick in to compensate. That means your heat pump will keep switching between heating and cooling—the opposite of what you want. The better approach: Switch your heat pump to Cool mode for the summer and leave it there.
- Does this sound like you? Give yourself one point. One simple setting change can prevent your heat pump from switching between heating and cooling all summer long.
3. I leave the patio door open while I'm going back and forth between the house and the barbecue.
Leaving the door open for a few minutes may not seem like a big deal—but each time you do, cool air escapes. Add kids running in and out, the dog wanting to go outside and a window left open, and these losses of cool air add up, forcing the air conditioner to work harder.
- Does this happen often at your home? Give yourself one point. The best solution is to make closing the door a household rule, especially when multiple people are going in and out.
4. I never check whether my ceiling fan is set to spin in the right direction.
This simple adjustment can make a noticeable difference in your comfort. In summer, the blades should spin counterclockwise when viewed from below. This pushes air downward, creating a gentle breeze that feels refreshing during a heat wave.
- Never check your fan direction? Give yourself one point. It only takes a minute to make your home much more comfortable.
5. I take showers that are just as hot in summer as in winter.
In winter, a nice, hot shower really warms you up. But in summer, when it's already hot and humid, a hot shower is more a habit than a necessity. A shorter shower at a cooler temperature is perfect for cooling off.
- Do you have a hot‑shower habit? Give yourself one point. This can be one of the easiest changes to make during hot weather.
6. I put my laundry straight into the dryer, whether it's summer or winter.
Hanging laundry on the clothesline when the weather is warm and sunny feels satisfying. It dries almost as fast as it would in the dryer, uses no electricity and keeps extra heat out of your home. Plus, the laundry smells great.
- Do you still use the dryer out of habit? Give yourself one point. Hot days already do much of the work.
7. I heat the pool continuously and add a few extra degrees "just in case."
Heating the pool at full power overnight, when no one is swimming or when the weather doesn't cooperate, uses a lot of electricity without adding any real benefit. The better approach: when you're swimming, aim for a temperature that is just comfortable enough and cover the pool with a solar blanket between swims.
- Do you heat the pool "just in case"? Give yourself one point. Adjusting the temperature based on when you swim and the weather can help avoid unnecessary heating.
Did you know?
You could save up to 25% on your water heating costs simply by lowering the heat pump's temperature setting by two degrees.
8. When I go on vacation, I leave my devices running as usual.
Before leaving, it's a good idea to turn down or turn off anything that doesn't need to keep running. When you get back, your home will be comfortable again quickly—and you won't have wasted electricity.
- Do your devices keep running as usual? Give yourself one point. Before you leave, a few simple adjustments are often enough.
9. Air conditioner maintenance? I get around to it when I remember.
A dirty filter prevents air from circulating properly, so the unit has to work harder to cool the same amount of air. The best times to clean it? At the beginning and halfway through the summer.
- Does maintenance usually wait until "next time"? Give yourself one point. A clean, unobstructed unit doesn't have to work as hard.
How many of these mistakes do you make?
None? Wow, you're an energy‑saving champion! One to three? Great: a few more good habits could help you enjoy summer even more while saving energy. Four or more? You could really benefit from adopting better habits to stay cool without using more electricity than needed. Want to see the impact of your good habits? Check out the Energy Performance Indicator to better understand your consumption and identify more ways to save.
