October is Power Smart Month
Lights on, heat up, turkey roasting in the oven, rain-soaked socks in the dryer. It’s sometimes challenging to save power at this time of year which is why October is Power Smart Month. For the next 31 days you can create a power plan for your home, learn ways to conserve energy, get great deals on energy-saving products, and participate in special programs that will help you be power smart all throughout the year.
Tips for Power Smart Month
- Create a MyHydro profile to mange your hydro account on line to track your usage and save on postage.
- Visit the deals page online to find out how you can earn Air Miles, save on Energy Star appliances and lighting, and more.
- Participate in programs and events like the Candlelight Conservation Dinner on October 24, 2013, joining Team Power Smart or incentive product rebate programs.
- Create a Power Plan for your house, townhouse, or apartment to find ways to save on your bill.
Power Smart Month Grand Prize
BC Hydro is giving away the chance to create and win your own Samsung prize package worth $10,000 when you create your Power Plan online.
The winner may choose one or more of Samsung’s ENERGY STAR® rated products up to a maximum retail value of $10,000 CDN. The products selected must be ENERGY STAR rated, in stock, and the winner cannot select more than one product from each Samsung product line. All products must be part of the same order and delivery must be accepted by November 30, 2013. See full contest details online.
My Power Smart Month Contest
This is the fourth year that I have partnered with Power Smart Month to promote energy-saving tips and tools and I’m happy to be able to offer up another great contest prize thanks to BC Hydro’s Power Smart partners at The Home Depot.
For the month of October, BC Hydro Power Smart is offering instant discounts from $3-$10 on ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), light emitting diode bulbs (LED) and light fixtures. See in store at The Home Depot or visit Power Smart Lighting for details.
Here’s how you can enter to win a $100 gift card for The Home Depot:
- Leave a comment here with an energy-saving tip specifically for the cooler months and holiday season (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
My winner will receive a $100 gift card for The Home Depot and they will be drawn at random from all entries (on this post and Twitter) at 10:00am on Monday, October 7, 2013.
Update The winner is Isaac!
158 Comments — Comments Are Closed
My tip is to turn the heat down and wear a sweater and socks.
Turn the heat down when you go out.
Wear multiple layers at home instead of cranking the heater
Wow, you are a sucker feeding into this brainwashing! Enough already!
Hi James,
I have partnered with Power Smart Month since 2010 as I love doing giveaways, saving on an energy bill is always a good thing, and passing on savings and deals to my readers is something I love to do as well.
Should you wish to speak to someone about Power Smart Month I would be happy to connect you. Unfortunately I cannot email you personally as you did not leave a valid email address.
Rebecca
Wear more clothes rather then cranking up the heat!
Cuddle up with cozy socks and sweaters!
Wrap up with a blanket rather than turning up the heat!
Open the drapes to let the sun when it shines into the house for natural warmth.Wear a cardigan.
Buy a toaster/convection oven and use that instead of a big oven. I did that and rarely use the big oven at all.
Buy a good programmable thermostat, saves a fortune on heating bills
Ceiling fans help save energy and improve comfort in the winter. During winter, run them clockwise (upward motion) at a low speed, to circulate heat that gathers near the ceiling. Most fans have a switch to reverse the spin.
get energy efficient windows! saved us a lot from turning up the heat last year!
Keep the oven door open after you bake.
Your furnace filter should be changed frequently during the months that your furnace is in operation; on average every 1-3 months? It will burn cleaner and use less energy. (Which type of filter to buy is a whole other discussion.)
Buy your heat-loving roommate a big cozy sweater for Christmas!
Install a digital thermostat we did and combined with the powersmart tools you can see daily the usage of the home. I also have a clothesline in my garage for laundry, have no car. Love saving money
Put a new seal around your doors if the old one has gotten worn. Cut out the draft.
Make baked good on the coldest days…heats the apartment/house up nicely!
Open the blinds when the sun is out to make a greenhouse of your place. Solar Power!
Close the curtains or blinds at night to keep heat from escaping
Wear extra layers and cook your meals to generate heat!
Use a space heater to heat the room you are in instead of the whole place!
Bundle up with extra layers of clothes instead of turning the heat on
Be your own heater! Wear more clothes/layers and turn off the heat!
Use LED Christmas lights.
turn off all heat when you get to bed
Use LED xmas light
Wear extra layers of clothes and use your fireplace if you have one instead of turning on the heat!! Cuddling in bed with your loved ones helps too!
Turn down the heat when you go out or go to bed.
Wear a trendy sweater and turn down the heat… that way you’re stylish AND warm!
Unused windows can be covered in plastic to stop heat loss
Bundle up peeps!
Install a digital thermostat, gives you a more accurate reading and is programmable!
Socks, mitts, toques and sweaters….candle lit dinners oh la la 🙂
Two pairs of socks around your house is key. Once your feet are warm, other parts of your body won’t feel as cold.
Save electricity by using an indoor drying rack to dry your clothes! Don’t automatically throw everything into the clothes dryer! When you do use the dryer put in a dry towel and the load will dry quicker!
u can put film on ur windows it will help keep heat out and keep the temp inside at a normal temperture also u could seal off ur outlets they make a film of some sort that u use to seal it off i found that on the plastic website the other day which i never thought of like my light switch that made me think but im not quite sure how to do that in winter u can seal up any old leaks to prevent air leaking out good for summer to when using ur gas stove in winter for cooking turn off heat let that be ur heat but im sure that might get a little to chilly though turn ur hot water heater down in summer save on that also
Unplug electronic devices that aren’t in use!
Turn down the thermostat at night or if you are away
You can cover your windows with sheeting to keep heat in and the thermostat lower.
layers of fleece and hot drinks instead of turning up the thermostat
Try your clothes on a drying rack instead of using a dryer.
Using a space heater instead of turning on heat for the entire house. 🙂
Bundling up instead of turning on the heater
reseal doors with new weather stripping and cover windows with plastic it really works to hold in the heat
If you get cold inside do some push ups or sit ups to warm up, plus you’ll get fit.
warm up your bedroom an hour before bed and then turn it off. once you’re asleep you don’t need it to be warm.
Like everyone else…wear layers around the house and turn down the heat.
One thing that could really help the cost of electricity would be to cut the excess fat at BC Hydro!!!!
When using your dishwasher, do not have the heat dry selected..allow the dishes to air dry..just open the door and pull out the racks or leave it open a crack to allow air in.
Turn the light off when you leave a room, don’t leave lights on in empty rooms.
Turn off appliances and computers during the night. A small savings, but it adds up.
Don’t forget to check your furnace filter monthly during the winter months and replace it if it’s dirty. Keeping your furnace properly maintained will reduce energy consumption and could save you up to 5 percent on your heating costs.
Have the heaters on a timer.
Crank the heat down when you go out or go to bed.
Leave the heat on low and wear thicker clothes around the house.
space heaters — only heat the room you’re in.
Try a new hobby and learn to knit a hat, a scarf or a pair of socks. 🙂
keep the heat at a steady temperature, its the adjusting it up and down constantly that takes up the most energy
Currently we: use a space heater when we only need one room warm, have a programable thermostat/heater, and bundle up with extra sweaters and slippers.
Instead of cranking up the heat, cuddle up with the family in cozy sweaters and blankets. A mug of hot chocolate helps too!
Put on a sweater and slippers and light candles in the evening to save on heat and lights.
Install or get a digital thermostat installed. And use it to lower the heat when your away. This is especially good if your house is empty from 9-6 like mine.
Live in an apartment sandwhiched on top/below/beside other heat users!
Use space heaters to heat up small rooms rather than the entire house
Wool blankets and turn down the heat!
instead of cranking the heat in the early autumn day, put on a hoodie and warmer socks!
use a small oil radiant heater instead
wear socks and keep your feet warm. Heat dissipates fasted here
Using electricity during off hours.
Turn off lights when leaving a room !
Put on a sweater instead of turning up the heat.
Getting energy efficient windows and putting on a few extra layers really helps!
Living in an older home, we’ve replaced windows, added more insulation,
and wear warm socks (original hardwood floors are great but a wee bit cold).
We had our electric company check our house for energy efficiency this helped. It’s a free service.
Put on a sweater.
Wear more layers of clothing in the house.
turn the lights off in rooms you’re not in
put a sweater on and turn down the heat
Turn off lights when needed and use gas fireplace instead of electric heat
Go to bed early… 🙂 cuz then you won’t have the tv and lights on as much…
Turn your heat down and use blankets!
The best way to save energy? Easy: turn off the heat and snuggle up to that special someone! 😉
Turn down heat during the day when no one is home. At nights, can wear sweater/dress warmly to stay cozy and to keep heat turned down minimally.
They sell fleece sheets now! Put those babies on your bed and you can turn your heat way down at night!
you can turn the hot water tank down, and the heat saves lots of money
We look for ways to conserve energy all through the year, but for the cooler months we do the ‘candle test’ along our windows each year. If the candle flickers then hubby calks to seal the gaps that are hard to see. Sealed windows help keep the heat in and us nice and warm. Thanks for the chance to win, twitter fan@plumerea
Always turn the heat down when your not home,sometimes in the winter months we put plastic on our windows as well
Make sure your windows/doorway doesn’t draft in the cold air and wear more clothes indoor including socks and sweaters.
seal those windows!
We are adding more insulation to our attick, sealing windows with film, and redoing weather stripping around doors.
Pile on the comfy blankets.
I buy energy saving holiday lights to save hydro!
Use LED lights for Christmas! (I also thought the tip “keep the oven door open after you bake” left by Darcy is genius! I never thought of that before!)
Turn down the thermostat when you are out of the house
As most have said, LED Christmas lights, but also on a rainy day or night I light some candles instead of turning on the lights! Makes it nice and cozy!
Just took out our big comfy blankets to keep us warm instead of turning the thermostat up!
Well, during the cooler months when it’s not hot and humid like the summer, I take a shower ever two or three days instead of everyday. I calculated that each 10 minute shower I take costs about 25 cents, so take a day or two off can really add up in savings!
Use energy efficient portable heater
Wear a sweater!
Get a programmable thermostat to lower the heat at night and during the hours you’re always out of the house (like work hours). You’ll save money and never even have to feel cold!
My tip is to turn the heat off when you leave the house.
I have the heaters on timers!
Turn your heat down when you go to bed at night. Wear a sweater during the day and keep your heat down a degree or 2. Switch all your lightbulbs to CFL’s or LED’s.
Wear layered clothes and turn down heat
Layer up.
If it’s sunny, open the curtains during the day to let in the heat from the sun and close them when the sun is setting.
Air dry your clothes on the balcony even though it takes longer.
Wear layers and even mittens!
Turn down the thermostat when you are out of the house & LED Light for xmas.
Get some cozy slippers
We have lots of blankets at home to warm up with, instead of turning up the heat!
Wear warm clothes!
I would leave my hair to air dry. Having better sealing for the windows keeps in the heat.
put in a programmable thermostat
Sweater instead of turning up the heat.
Buy a drying rack and use this for as much of your laundry as possible.
Make sure windows and doors are sealed properly so that cold air cannot enter the house.
A thermostat with a timer is so helpful!
Layers of clothes and using sunlight for heat.
Wear more layers of clothing.
Turn down the thermostat when you aren’t using a room.
Turn down the heat and constantly maintain physical with others in the room through communal hugs.
Dressing to stay warmer is the easiest route IMO.
A hot water bottle to warm your toes at night is a great alternative to turning on the heat!
Instead of turning up the heat wear a sweater, a comfy fuzzy robe and/or snuggly slippers to keep feet warm.
Use a programmable thermostat and turn the heat down at night when you are sleeping. Use a warm blanket/comforter to keep warm instead.
Close curtains at night to keep warmth in.
Hi! Recommend Power Smart Liners for Hot tubs & pools, and timers for heating too; especially for Renters whom often cannot control their heat (ie, I was living in a rented basement suite; where the landlord had the heat cranked for 4 years?! They killed all our plants and I suffered from menopause, horrors 🙁 ..
IF the renters had their own accounts and could control their own heat; there would be some Power Smart happiness there 😀 ..
Also, I’m noticing that you can buy all difference kinds of curtains, blackout, power smart, and noise reduction now as well; but I can’t seem to find all in one feature for curtains yet?! That would also be a very happy Power Smart situation! 🙂
Also! What I would luv to see (or what I’d learned about being a renter that cannot control heat; a 2 timer for Power Smart ie, 5-6 am power on/off and 4-5 pm power on/off = twice a day should be enough to keep the home warm <3
Wear cozy slipper, invest in a good pair.
Bring out the blankets, keep socks on, keep blinds closed and a lot of cuddling with my dog all help in keeping the house and ourselves warm w/o turning on the thermostat.
turning off the heat when you are not home
Fleece-y layers of goodness on the feet and on the top.
I keep the heat low and drink hot tea, vacume or do the dishes if I get cold. Before I go to bed if my feet are cold I soak them in hot water. Add some Epsom salts and make it a relaxing foot soak. The magnesium in the Epsom salts will help you relax before you sleep too!
A properly maintained furnace can save up to 5% on heating costs! Remember to check your furnace filter monthly during colder months & replace if it’s dirty.
We turn the heat down & put a sweater & socks on, we also have lined curtains to keep the main living spaces & bedrooms warmer. My husband is also adamant about keeping t he furnace up to par eep our costs at a minimum. We also pull out fleece sheets for the beds esp the kids beds to ensure our beds are warm when we settle down for bedtime 🙂
Turn the heaters down at night,,wear a sweater and wool socks to keep warmer 🙂
Turn off the heat when you are not at home and wear layers!
Put plastic on the windows.
Get a digital/programmable thermostat!
Turn the heat down a little bit. Use extra blankets instead!
tweeted https://twitter.com/jnunavut/status/387065238958268416
Reusable water bottles
Get warm slippers for everyone in your house. When your feet are warm, your whole body is warmer so you don’t feel the need to crank the heat so high.
Now that it’s too cold/wet to hang washing out on the line to dry – remember to combine smaller loads of wash in the dryer for one larger dryer load.
Set your heater timer to turn on only when you’re home from work
Wear layers, layers, and more layers instead of turning up the heat.
make sure you windows are draft free. may need extra caulking
Use a timer on your thermostat is turn down the heat when you are not home and/or at night.
Convert to a smart thermostat to only heat when needed and people are home.
Intall a programmable thermostat.
Don’t turn the dishwasher or washing machine on until they are full.
I’m replacing the weather stripping around my front door to reduce the draft
Bundle up in the house before cranking the heat!
my tip is to install an auto timer thermostat, and set it 1 degree lower than usual
Wear a thick sweater, and make you some mint infusion and you’ll be all set for winter without consuming too much 😀
Anne
USE A PROGRAMABLE THERMOSTAT BLANKETS AND SWEATERS