Conservation inside your home

Tips for saving power and water in different rooms throughout your home

Faucets

Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, shaving or washing your face. To see how much water you’ll save, just plug the sink while leaving the tap running as you do these activities.
Use less water by replacing your faucet aerator. Choose an aerator that delivers less than 4.7 L/min of water or is labelled WaterSense.

Shower

Take a shower instead of a bath.
Take shorter or fewer showers. Five minutes is ideal. Cutting your shower time by just 2 minutes can make a big difference in your water usage.
Install a water-saving shower head to use less hot water. Look for one whose flow rate is less than 7.0 L/min of water or is labelled WaterSense.

Toilet

Don’t flush unnecessarily.
Check your toilet for leaks regularly by putting a few drops of food colouring into the tank. If the colour appears in the bowl after 15-20 minutes, you have a leak. Learn how to fix a leaking toilet.
When you replace your toilet, choose a low-flow toilet that uses 4.8 litres or less per flush to save water. Look for one labelled WaterSense.
Regularly check your faucets, pipes, taps and hoses for leaks and drips. Your local hardware store can help you fix most minor household plumbing issues.

Regularly check your faucets, pipes, taps and hoses for leaks and drips. Your local hardware store can help you fix most minor household plumbing issues.

Your family room

When buying new electronics, look for the ones with Energy Star ratings.
Use a power bar to plug in multiple electronic devices so they can easily be switched off all at once.
Check the owner's manual to ensure rechargeable devices are not plugged in for longer than they need.
Unplug all electronics when you're not using them for extended periods of time. Not only does this save energy, but it also protects your devices from power surges.

Your home office

Turn off your computer, accessories (speakers, etc.) and printer when not in use. Even in sleep mode, they still draw power. Switching your computer on and off will have no significant effect on its operation or lifespan.
Choose a computer with power-management options. Power-down features can significantly reduce electricity use.
Turn off your monitor, even if you are only away from it for short periods of time. Screen savers don't reduce energy consumption.
Use a laptop. A typical laptop has a consumption of 15 watts, compared to 80-160 watts for desktop computers, and many power down after short periods of inactivity.

Natural light

Play up the natural light in your rooms with window treatments that maximize, not block, the light. Install sky lights, or consider using solar tube day lighting in rooms with easy access to the roof. Solar tubing uses reflective tubes to bring daylight into rooms with no windows.

Decor

Remember the impact that colour can have on your lighting choices. White walls and ceilings reflect more light than dark walls and ceilings. Therefore, the darker your decor, the more light you will need in the room.

More light for your money: Consider placing floor and table lamps in the corners of your rooms, as the light will bounce off of two walls rather than just one.

Light bulbs

The light bulbs you choose make a huge difference in the energy you use. Replace your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and LEDs. Here's why:

CFL and LED bulbs deliver the same output as incandescent bulbs but use significantly less energy.
90% of the energy incandescent bulbs use is lost as heat. CFLs and LEDs are cooler and more of the energy they use goes toward producing light.

Dimmers, timers and sensors

Dimmers help you to save energy and add a variety of light levels to your rooms. Look for dimmers that allow a full range of light levels.
Make sure the light bulbs you use are not brighter than you need and that they're rated to function with dimmers (not all light bulbs are compatible with dimmers).
Replace your ordinary wall switches with hi/low switches, but make sure these switches don't use resistors, or you won't save energy.
Install timers or motion sensors to turn your lights off when a room is unoccupied.

Household tips

Turn your lights off when they're not in use to save energy and lamp life.
Clean your bulbs and fixtures. Dust and dirt reduce light levels.
When cleaning, turn the fixture off or unplug it to prevent shock.
Avoid having too many lights controlled by a single switch as you may use more lights than you need. Your light switches should be visible and easily accessible so they're easy to turn off.

Holiday lights

Switch your incandescent light strings to LEDs to save money on your energy bill.
LEDs use 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and don't get hot.
The amount of energy consumed by just one seven-watt incandescent bulb is equal to 140 LEDs (more than 14m of lights).
Only turn on indoor lights and Christmas trees when you're in the same room.

Below are some conservation tips for one of the busiest rooms in the house.

At the sink

Keep a jug of water in the fridge so you don't have to run the tap for cold water.
When you hand-wash dishes, only partially fill the sink with soapy water and quickly rinse dishes with a spray device or in a pan of warm water.
Clean your vegetables in a partially-filled sink or bowl rather than under a continuously running tap.
Thaw frozen food in the fridge or microwave rather than running the tap water over it.
Install an aerator attachment on your taps.
Catch running water while waiting for it to warm up or turn cold and use it to water plants.
Use less water by replacing your faucet aerator. Choose an aerator that delivers less than 4.7 L/min of water or is labelled WaterSense.

Tin it, then bin it

Don't dispose of solvents, chemicals, cleaners or cooking fat by pouring them down your drain; they can harm both the environment and your drainage system.

Drip, drop, stop

Regularly check your faucets, pipes, taps and hoses for leaks and drips. Your local hardware store can help you fix most minor household plumbing issues.

Dishwasher

Running a full load of dishes in the dishwasher uses less water than washing by hand.
Water-efficient dishwashers use less water and less energy to heat the water than standard models.
Clean full loads loads of dishes on eco mode to save water and energy.
Use the shortest wash cycle for your load size.
Don’t pre-rinse your dishes. You only need to scrape plates and cutlery before loading them in the dishwasher.

Clothes washer

Start smart

When shopping for a new clothes washer, look for energy efficient models. Buy an Energy STAR certified washer: save 25% more energy, use 33% less water than a standard model.
A front-loading machine uses less water and detergent than a standard top-loading machine.
Put your washing machine close to your hot water tank to reduce heat loss in the connecting pipes.

Wash right

Choose an appropriate wash cycle for the size of the load. Eight to ten minutes is enough for most laundry requirements. Use the shortest cycle possible.
Washers operate most efficiently when full. Wash only full loads of laundry and don't overload your machine.
Use a cold water rinse to save energy and reduce wrinkles.
If your washer has an adjustable water-level indicator, set it to use only as much water as needed.

Clothes dryer

Keep it clean

Clean your lint filter after each load. Wash the lint screen once a year to remove film left by fabric softeners.
Vacuum your exhaust duct periodically to ensure air moves freely through the dryer vents.

Load efficiently

Dry thin, quick-drying items together in a short cycle, rather than mixing with items that take longer to dry.
Avoid over-drying clothes to preserve colors, prevent wrinkles and save energy.
Choose a drying cycle with a "cool down" function to dry without heat for the last few minutes.
Dry loads one after another to take advantage of an already warm dryer.
Use an indoor or outdoor clothesline for some of your drying.
Make sure the water is completely wrung out of your clothes to minimize drying time.
Use a sensor cycle instead of a timed cycle so your dryer stops when clothes are dry.

Vent properly

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations as to the size and length of dryer ducting.
Install an automatic bypass vent to allow the warm air from the dryer to circulate into the laundry room during winter months. Be sure to set it to summer mode when the weather warms up so you don't increase your cooling costs.

Laundry sink

Buy a faucet aerator to use less water: choose an aerator that delivers less than 4.7 L/min of water. Look for one that is labelled WaterSense.
Regularly check your faucets, pipes, taps and hoses for leaks and drips. Your local hardware store can help you fix most minor household plumbing issues.

Hot water tank

Not all hot water tanks are created equal. When shopping for a new tank, here are some things to look for:

Choose a high-efficiency water tank that is Energy STAR rated.
Install pipe insulation on all of your hot water pipes to reduce heat loss.
When designing your house or basement, place your hot water tank (and mechanical room) as close to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms as possible to avoid heat loss through your pipes.

Furnace

Have your furnace inspected regularly.
Never run your furnace with the fan compartment cover removed; it puts you at risk of fire and carbon monoxide.
Check your filter monthly and replace it every three months. Buildup leads to increased drag on the fan and makes your motor work harder.
Have your vent system cleaned and balanced. Ensure your vents are clean and open, and that they aren't blocked by furniture or curtains. Also, ensure your outside vents are free from blockage.
Your pilot light or gas burners should burn blue. If yellow flame appears, contact a qualified heating contractor for repair.

Tips for protecting your local water shed and preventing damage to your pipes

Many items that are flushed down the toilet are harmful to both the environment and the wastewater collection and treatment system. Our Watershed Protection Plan helps us minimize our effect on our water ecosystem.

Some things should not go down the toilet. We tested to see what happens to flushable wipes, paper towel, toilet paper and tissue when they are left in water. Watch to learn what paper products break down in water.

Items that clog sewer pipes
Items harmful to local watershed

Products that are bad for your sewer pipes

Dental floss
Dental floss can get wrapped around the backflow valve in the sanitary sewer pipe, resulting in raw sewage backing up into your home.
"Flushable" baby wipes, cleaning wipes, disposable diapers and cotton swabs
These products are not "flushable" and can quickly clog up a sewer pipe.
Cooking fats, oils and grease
Fats, oils and grease cannot be broken down by flushing with hot water and soap. They will clog your pipes.

Product	Disposal method
Personal care items
Needles	Put into a sharps container. Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Hair	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Batteries	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Condoms	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Dental floss	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Disposable diapers	Put into a plastic bag. Dispose of it in your garbage.
Baby wipes/Cleaning wipes	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Cotton swabs	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Tampons and feminine hygiene products	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Pet waste
Cat litter	Put into a plastic bag. Dispose of it in your garbage.
Cage lining (ex: newspaper)	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Wood shavings	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Household products
Plastics (ex: bags, ballons, etc.)	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Paint and turpentine	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Paint stripper	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Solvents	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Glue	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Cooking fat, oil and grease	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.

Products that are bad for your local watershed

Wastewater treatment facilities aren't designed to remove most medicines, personal care products or household hazardous wastes. Because of this, some products may get returned untreated into our lakes and rivers.
Anything that is washed or poured into grates at the side of the street will wind up flowing through the storm water system into our lakes and rivers. Storm water doesn't receive any treatment.

Product	Disposal method
Personal care items
Batteries	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Lotions and perfume	Dispose of it in your garbage.
Nail polish	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Pharmaceuticals/medicines	Return unused prescriptions to the pharmacist.
Household products
Paint and turpentine	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Paint stripper	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Solvents	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Floor and furniture polish	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Glue	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Garbage and garden
Fertilizer	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Pesticides and herbicides	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.
Motor oil, lubricants and antifreeze	Take it to an appropriate waste disposal facility.