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The easiest place for a person to start saving energy (and money) is in the home.

Conduct an energy audit of your home. See citygreen.ca for auditor booking and rebate amounts for installing energy-efficient systems.

The first place you could start is by using compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) . In a typical incandescent light bulb 90% of the electricity applied to the filament is wasted in the form of heat. CFLs by comparison are four times more efficient and last about ten times longer than regular bulbs. Modern CFLs are colour-corrected so they don't irritate the eyes. Shop around and buy in bulk when you can. A good price should be about $3 per bulb.

Consider renovation instead of demolition and building new.

Use recycled building materials if you are renovating. ReStore in the lower mainland of BC is a good place to look.

If you can't afford the double- or triple-pane windows just yet, bubble wrap can double the R-value on single-pane windows from 1 to 2, and the payback time is usually one heating season. The wrap will probably last five or six seasons before having to be replaced. See builditsolar.com for more information on this cheap (or even free) way to insulate in winter.

Attic insulation can be an easy way to save on your winter heating bill. Climb up there and inspect the depth and condition of the material. If it is five or six inches or less you may do well to add another layer of blown-in or matt insulation to increase the R-value of your ceilings. Exterior walls can be checked for leakage and filled with a combination of expanding foam and exterior-grade caulking over top to prevent damage from UV light. This really does wonders on the coldest winter days when the wind is blowing.

See the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency for more comprehensive rebate and other information on making your home more energy efficient.

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