Keep your Summer Holiday Green

If you are getting away for a holiday this summer, follow these tips to help your home save energy while you are away.

• Turn up your thermostat to 29 degrees. (If you are leaving pets at home, leave it at a comfortable temperature for them). Experts agree that the energy saved from turning your thermostat up in the summer while you're away is greater than the energy used to cool your house back down after you return.
• Close window blinds and shades to block out the sun's heat. A lot of indoor heat simply comes from the rays of the sun though the windows.
• Avoid wasting energy on unused electronics while you're away by unplugging them—including hand-held electronics that might be charging, such as phones, MP3 players, chargers, and even laptops.
• Aside from one or two lights that you may want to leave on for safety, make sure everything else is turned off—all lights, ceiling fans, your radio and appliances.

Cool Ways to Save Infographic

Cool Ways to Save with ENERGY STAR infographic

Cool Summer Tips

The summer heat is here and no one wants to think about their energy bills rising with the temperature. It's time to think about how to manage your home energy use. Here are some cooling tips that can help make a big difference in saving energy and money.

•  Program your thermostat to work around your family's summer schedule. Set it a few degrees higher when no one is home, so that the AC isn’t cooling an empty house. Look into upgrading to a SmartStat smart thermostat to help maximize your energy efficiency.
• Check your HVAC system's air filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. A dirty filter will slow airflow and make the system work harder to keep you cool, wasting energy.
• Remember to have your HVAC system serviced annually to ensure it's running at optimum efficiency for money and energy savings. When you upgrade your AC with National Home Services, we provide free annual maintenance and cleaning. How convenient is that?
• If your central AC is old, look into replacing it with a model that is ENERGY STAR qualified. By replacing your old air conditioner with an ENERGY STAR qualified model, you can realize substantial savings in electricity costs. Today's ENERGY STAR qualified units use 30 to 40 percent less energy than most models sold 10 to 15 years ago. Click here for more information about how easy it is to rent a new energy efficient central air conditioner.

Water Heater FAQs

Why choose an ENERGY STAR qualified water heater?


According to Natural Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency, the energy efficiency of water heaters is important because the typical Canadian household uses hot water every day. In fact, water heaters can account for more than 20 percent of a household’s total annual energy consumption.

Look for products that display the ENERGY STAR symbol. An ENERGY STAR label identifies the most efficient water heater models. They have been tested according to prescribed procedures and meet or exceed high energy efficiency levels without compromising performance.
Selecting an ENERGY STAR qualified model that can reliably meet a household’s needs will result in significant cost savings over the life of the equipment. An ENERGY STAR qualified water heater will also help the environment because the less energy we use, the fewer greenhouse gas emissions are produced. 

For more information about ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters you can visit oee.nrcan.gc.ca and nationalhomeservices.ca