Environmental Issues in Northern Ontario
Cooling your home
Clean the air conditioner’s filter
Clean the air conditioner’s filter every month. A dirty air filter
reduces airflow and may damage the unit. Clean filters enable the unit
to cool down quickly and use less energy. If you have a central air
conditioner, regularly clean a re-usable filter or change the filter at
the beginning of the cooling season.
Set your air conditioner at 24°C (75°F)
Set your air conditioner at 24°C (75°F) and raise it when you go out, or
set your programmable thermostat to do this. For each degree set below
24°C (75°F), you use 3% to 5% more energy. This recommended setting will
give you the most comfort at the least cost.
Turn off all sources of heat
Turn off all sources of heat, such as lights, appliances and electrical
equipment, when not in use. In summer, if you can, do your baking,
washing, drying and ironing early in the morning or in the evening.
Use fans
Use fans as your first line of defence against summer heat. For example,
a 60-watt ceiling fan costs between 8¢ and $1.50 to operate monthly,
while an air conditioner can cost between $6.75 and $40.50 a month.
Tips supplied by the Government of Canada
