Heading out of town? Give your home an energy break too

Sylvan Lake waters, Dinosaur Provincial Park tyrannosaurids and Waterton mountains are all calling: Albertans everywhere are heading out to see what their province has to offer. 

Along with the sunscreen, snacks and road-trip playlist, take a few minutes to get your home ready too. A few simple steps can help reduce unnecessary consumption while you’re away, so it’s worth adding a few key points to your departure checklist. 

Raise the temperature, lower the waste 

Turn up your thermostat a few degrees before you leave to reduce the energy used for cooling.  

Check your windows too: sunny windows can quickly warm up a home, especially on these long summer days. Ensuring all blinds, curtains, windows and doors are fully closed and sealed will help prevent heat from building up. 

Take your gadgets off duty 

You’re probably thinking about “unplugging” a bit on your break. Why not let your home disconnect too? Many electronics continue to draw electricity even when they appear off. 

Think about unplugging your chargers, entertainment equipment, computers and small appliances before you leave. Using a smart power bar can make this even easier by cutting standby power to multiple devices at once. 

That goes for your outdoor equipment as well. Turning off unnecessary outdoor lights and scheduling irrigation systems and lighting on a timer means less unnecessary consumption while you’re gone. 

Come home to comfort 

No one wants to come back to an uncomfortably hot house. If you have a programmable or Wi-Fi-connected thermostat, consider scheduling it to return to your usual setting shortly before you come home. 

And when you come back, keep in mind: setting your thermostat much colder than usual doesn’t cool your home faster, it just makes your air conditioner work longer. 

Have a great trip! 

You don't need to spend hours preparing your home, but a few quick checks can help you enjoy your vacation knowing you’re not using power you don’t need. For more on how you can reduce your consumption, visit fortisalberta.com/save-energy.