5 Easy Ways you can Check your Energy Consumption at Home in Calgary

OneContact works to reduce the strains on your wallet. We do this through our preventative and proactive tips to make your life easier as a homeowner and save you from reactive costly repairs. You do not always have to do something new. Sometimes a few minor changes at home can make all the difference! An energy assessment will give you an idea of how efficient your home is. Through this, you can make small tweaks to save money on your energy bills. Here are a few steps you can complete on your very own to begin your energy assessment. Follow alongside our DIY Energy Guide.  If you need a hand, OneContact has all the resources you need to reach your home goals. Reach us here.  

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1. Analyze your utility bill: Take a look at your energy bills. Look for any trends or inconsistencies. Is there a particular month or season where your bill was significantly higher? In Calgary’s volatile seasons you are bound to find changes in your utilities, however, a major jump may indicate to replace your furnace with a more energy efficient one. Alberta’s electricity calculator can help you estimate what your energy bills should be. Through OneContact’s Home Maintenance Program, furnace checks are part of our thorough home inspection. Our expert technicians have valuable insights into home care and energy efficiency!

2. Check for Air leaks: Air leaks can be problematic when it comes to energy efficiency because it causes your heating and cooling system to work harder than needed. This means money leaks too on your energy bill! Common places for air leaks include window frames, door frames, dryer vents, furnaces and basement rims. If you would like a quick solution to prevent air leaks, weather-stripping can do the trick! If weather-stripping air leaks is part of your handyman bundled to-do list, give us a call and leave that task along with the rest of the bundle to us. 

3. Check Your Ducts (If Visible): Look for any disjointed sections, holes or damage to your duct system if it is visible! A leaky duct can force the cool or warm air into the attic, basement, or garage, wasting energy and money. Without regular checks you could be losing money. A periodic inspection will help you identify any problems before they become expensive repairs. Luckily OneContact’s Home Maintenance Program does a detailed inspection of your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Be proactive and sign up today!

4. Get Rid of Old Appliances (responsibly): Old appliances hog a lot of electricity and are demanding when it comes to energy. Are any of your appliances older than 15-20 years? Check for loud noises or overly heated appliances. These might be indicators to consider a newer and more energy efficient option. 

5. Change Lightbulbs: Besides the usual check that the lights not in use are turned off, you may also want to take a look at the light bulbs that you currently have. What types of bulbs are they? What effect do these bulbs have on your overall energy bill? It may be worth it to browse around for more energy efficient options that serve your lighting needs and match the lighting vibe you are looking to create in your living space. If light bulb replacements are part of your bundled handyman to-do list, we would be happy to take on that task along with the rest of your list! 

Are all these tasks on your to-do list? At OneContact, we would love to take your bundle of handyman tasks! Give us a call at (403)-452-6606 or visit us here.