Year-round tips:

Turn off lights, TVs and other appliances when they are not needed.
Wash laundry in cold water. This does just as good a job, keeps your colours bright, and saves lots of energy.
Take short showers instead of baths. A five-minute shower uses about half as much water as a bath.
Replace incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescents, which are four times more efficient and last about eight times as long.
You can also control the intensity of your incandescent bulbs with dimmer switches to save money. A bulb dimmed by 25 per cent uses 10 per cent less energy.
Install motion sensors on light switches.
Using a low-flow shower head can save up to 15 per cent of hot water costs; aerators on your sink faucets can reduce water use by about 10 per cent.
Use small appliances such as a microwave, slow cooker, electric kettle or toaster oven instead of the stove.
Take clothes out of the dryer and fold them while they are still warm to prevent wrinkling; your iron uses a lot of energy.
Shower and run your dishwasher, washer and dryer early in the morning or late at night.
Try setting your dishwasher to start after 7:00 p.m. when off-peak prices begin. If your dishwasher has a timer – use it.
Consider a home energy audit to find out how energy efficient your home is and the best way to spend your home-improvement dollars.