Quick Tips to Save Money on Energy

Nova Scotians will have more information about easy and inexpensive ways to reduce their energy use and costs this winter.

Quick Tips is a new campaign that was launched today, Oct. 31, by the Department of Energy. The campaign will include TV and radio ads, web-based information, the promotion of the toll-free EnerInfo line and a booklet of helpful, inexpensive energy-saving tips, that will be mailed to every household in the province.

"With higher energy costs here to stay, we're all looking for ways to take more control this winter," said Cecil Clarke, Minister of Energy. "We're providing every Nova Scotia household with this resource to help them conserve energy, reduce their energy bills and improve the environment."

The Quick Tips booklet is filled with proven energy saving tips for every room in the house and more, that will help Nova Scotians cut energy costs. It includes tips on home heating, hot water, lighting, major appliances and automobiles that will help Nova Scotians start saving money right away.

The following are examples of some of the biggest energy-saving tips:

• Turn your home heating thermostats down by 5C overnight and when you're away. This one simple habit can cut heating costs by up to 12 per cent.
• Install a low-flow showerhead; if you take one five-minute shower a day, it could save you $50 a year.
• Switch to compact flourescent lights from regular bulbs. They use 75 per cent less electricity and last for at least five years.
• Unplug or get rid of the old refrigerator in your basement. It could be costing you $200 a year or more in electricity.
• Wash clothes in cold or warm water. Detergents designed for cold water are just as effective as those designed for warm water. About 85 to 90 per cent of energy used by washing machines is for heating the water.
• Don't let your car idle. Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more fuel than it would take to restart your car. Ten minutes of idling a day costs about $70 a year in wasted fuel.

The Quick Tips campaign is part of the $35-million Smart Energy Choices for Nova Scotians plan announced on Oct. 12. The plan included a $1-million investment in public education. Quick Tips is the first of several campaigns that will be rolled out over the next year, including a broader campaign for Atlantic Canada. Newspaper and TV ads encouraging people to look for the booklet in the mail will begin today, Oct. 31. The Quick Tips booklet will be mailed to every household across the province on Nov. 8. A copy of the booklet is also available at www.gov.ns.ca/energy .