With rising energy costs, more and more people are becoming worried about their utility bills. Are you one of them?

The social housing sector is a large consumer of electricity, natural gas, water and materials. In fact, the sector spends approximately $400 million a year on utilities and these costs are rising.

In response to these concerns, GLOBE recently launched the Sustainability Toolbox: a free, interactive online tool that focuses on no-cost and low-cost ways to run a more profitable and sustainable business.

When you download the Sustainability Toolbox, you will find some easy solutions for keeping utility costs down both at home and at work. It comes down to following three basic rules:

1. Use efficient technology.

• Replacing or buying new equipment or appliances? Choose the most efficient models available. Look for the EnergyStar logo – it’s an easy way to recognize the most energy-efficient choices!
• Replacing toilets, taps and/or showerheads? Install low-flow models to reduce your water use by 25%-50%.
• Not ready for big upgrades? Faucet aerators are inexpensive and easy to install, and will reduce water use without affecting water pressure.
• Change your lightbulbs! CFL bulbs are up to 75% more efficient and last up to 10 times longer – you’ll not only save energy, but maintenance costs as well.
• Get automatic results. Occupancy sensors and/or motion detectors will optimize lighting and fan use and reduce waste. Programmable thermostats allow for comfort and convenience while managing energy used to heat and cool the area.

2. Make sure that the equipment you have, works the way it’s supposed to!

Maximize efficiency by making sure to follow operations and maintenance recommendations.

• Clean and/or replace furnace and exhaust filters regularly.
• Improve circulation: make sure that nothing blocks radiators, registers or vents.
• Repair leaky toilets, faucets and showerheads immediately. A leak of one drop per second can waste as much as 10,000 litres of water a year!
• Insulate and seal windows and doors against drafts. Caulk all cracks and gaps in and around windows, doors, baseboards etc.

3. Stop wasting!

• Turn lights and electronics off when not in use.
• Don’t heat or cool unoccupied space.
• Use cold water to wash your clothes, and only wash full loads of laundry.
• Don’t leave the tap running when washing dishes or brushing your teeth.
• Reduce the amount of garbage you produce. Compost and recycle as much as possible. Keep hazardous materials out of landfill.

To maximize results, it is important to follow all three of these guidelines – neglecting one will reduce the effectiveness of the other. So if you want to take a bite out of your utility bills, remember that a building includes more that just walls, roofs, doors and windows – it also includes the people who live and work within it. How each part of a building interacts with each other (including residents and staff) will define just how sustainable – and cost-effective- your operations will be.

Looking for more useful tips and tools? Visit the GLOBE website to get your FREE copy of the Sustainability Toolbox. Download here

• Old furnaces can have efficiency levels as low as 60%, ENERGY STAR® furnaces has 90% or higher efficiency
• Replacing old furnace with high efficiency can save over $300 a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne
• High efficiency boilers pay for themselves in about five years or less, with a guaranteed lifetime of 25 years
• The more efficient your boiler, the less fule you use, which results in lower bills
• Don’t forget about the building envelope and be sure roof ans walls are properly insulated and sealed

The average Canadian household devotes 60 per cent of its total energy use solely to space heating. Therefore making smart decisions about your home’s heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on your utility bills and comfort. If you are experiencing excessive noise, discomfort or high utility bills it may be time to invest in a new furnace.

Highly Efficient Furnaces

Currently the minimum standards require that a furnace have efficiency rating of 78% but as of December 31, 2009, Natural Resources Canada is proposing to increase the minimum annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of furnaces to 90%. A gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% means that 95 cents of every $1.00 of heating energy expense warms your home.

High efficiency furnaces also known as condensing gas furnaces are the main component used for space heating they not only use less fuel but run much quieter and possess the ability to maintain a more constant temperature. Look for the ENERGY STAR® symbols: their furnaces must have (AFUE) ratings of 90% or higher. Older furnaces can have efficiency levels as low as 60% while mid efficiency models average around 80%.

High-efficiency models only cost about $500 to $1000 more in material costs than mid-efficiency units. Most of the time utilities offer rebates that will cover much of the difference. Replacing an old furnace with a high efficiency one can save you over $300 a year and reduce your house’s greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne. In addition to the natural gas savings, a reduction of 20 to 30 per cent of the electricity used by the furnace fan can be obtained by selecting a furnace with a variable speed brushless Direct Current motor. The payback period depends on local energy costs, the price of the system, the difference in efficiency between the new and old furnaces and climate. Overall on average high-efficiency furnaces will take less than six years to pay for it self.

A furnace of the correct size will operate more efficiently, last longer and thus save you money. A high-efficiency model can generally be somewhat smaller than an older or a mid-efficiency furnace. To find out how many BTU’s your furnace should be (the size), have a qualified heating contractor do a building heat loss calculation.

Highly Efficient Boilers

The cost of a high-efficiency boiler can be up to twice that of a conventional boiler. Most of the time utilities offer rebates that will cover reasonable amounts of the difference. High efficiency boilers pay for themselves in about five years or less when you consider the rising fuel prices and the life of the boiler, which is guaranteed at 25 years. ENERGY STAR® qualified boilers have (AFUE) ratings of 85% or greater, while most old boilers are typically in the 55-65% range.

The gases coming out of the flue in a high efficiency condensing boiler have a temperature of approximately 50-60° F as compared to 120° or more in a non-condensing boiler. The more efficient your boiler, the less fuel you use, which results in lower bills. However, this does not necessarily mean that you should buy the most efficient boiler on the market. That decision depends on many factors — for example: the cost of the system, whether you use gas or oil, how well your building is insulated, and your climate. The size of the boiler is extremely important a highly efficient boiler will most likely be much smaller in size. A large oversized boiler will reduce efficiency and result in unnecessary amounts of wasted fuel.

Conclusions

Before purchasing a furnace or boiler you should ensure that all ductwork is properly sealed, in good condition and well insulated. You should also consider installing a programmable thermostat that will allow you to preset temperatures for specific times of the day and night. Inquire about zoned heating devices that allows for a better application of heat, similar to non-central heating systems. Zones are controlled by multiple thermostats which either allow or block air through the system as desired.

Do not forget about the building envelope or the “skin” of the building and be sure the roof and walls are properly insulated and sealed in order to minimize air leakage (Please refer to our previous tips on roofing and weatherization). Before any major purchase visualize the house as a system: your building is only as strong as its weakest link.