When it comes to home energy consumption trends in Canada, there’s good news and bad news. Between 2000 and 2019, energy efficiency in Canadian homes increased by 32%. But, over the same time period, our overall household energy use increased by 11%. Read on to learn the main drivers of household energy usage. Plus, 20 home energy saving tips that will save you money and reduce your environmental impact.

This post was originally published in September 2021 and updated in November 2024.

If our homes are more energy efficient, why are we using more energy?

According to Natural Resources Canada, we can attribute some of the growth in energy use between 2000 and 2019 to an increase in the total number of households.

But that only accounts for part of the increase. Our choices drive the rest.

• We live in larger homes. While the number of people per household decreased from 2.6 to 2.5, the size of our homes increased from 129 square metres to 146 square metres. That’s almost a 20% increase.
• We love our devices and gadgets. The number of appliances per household increased from 18 to 25. The broad category of appliances includes computers and electronic devices, so that’s not really a big surprise. 
• We use more air conditioning. The percentage of space cooled over this time period increased from 33% to 49%.

Top drivers of energy use in Canadian homes

We often think of saving energy by turning off lights and unplugging our devices and appliances when they’re not in use. It may surprise you to know that lighting and appliances combined represent less than 20% of household energy use in Canada. According to Natural Resources Canada, here’s how our energy consumption breaks down.

1. Space heating – 64%
2. Water heating – 17%
3. Appliances – 14%
4. Lighting – 3%
5. Space cooling – 2%

Home energy saving tips

Here are some home energy saving tips that will not only save you money, they will have a positive impact on the environment.

Heating and cooling your home

Since heating and cooling our homes accounts for two-thirds of energy use, it makes sense to start here when looking for ways to reduce energy consumption.

First, think about the size of your home. A larger home means more space to heat and cool. If you’re not using every square inch of space in your home, consider moving to a smaller home.

If you’re not ready to make that leap, here are some ways to reduce your heating and cooling costs without moving.

• Install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust your household temperature when you’re out at work, or at night when you’re sleeping.
• Lower your thermostat setting by 1 or 2 degrees in winter, and raise it by the same in summer.
• Turn off your air conditioner and open some windows when the outdoor temperature cools off in the evening.
• Replace your furnace filter regularly.
• Upgrade your insulation.
• Replace old windows and doors.

Water heating

Heating water is the second highest energy hog in our homes. Here are some tips to reduce the impact.

• Consider a tankless water heater that heats the water as you need it, instead of heating a full tank.
• Lower the temperature on your water heater.
• Wash your laundry in cold water.
• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when you have a full load.
• Take showers instead of baths. And keep your showers short.
• Install low-flow shower heads.

For tips on how to reduce overall water consumption, check out 10 ways you can use less water.

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Appliances

Although they only account for 14% of our household energy consumption, we use our appliances every day so these energy saving tips can add up.

• Buy energy saving appliances. Today’s appliances are much more energy efficient so you may save money by replacing that 40-year-old bar fridge in your garage or basement with a more energy efficient version. Look for the EnergyStar rating when shopping.  
• Hang your laundry to dry and give your dryer a break.
• Use a toaster oven if you’re only cooking a small quantity of food instead of heating up the oven.
• Keep your appliances clean—empty the lint trap in your dryer and clean behind and under the refrigerator.
• Don’t leave your phone plugged in to charge overnight. It only takes a couple of hours to charge.
• Let your hair air dry instead of using a blow dryer.   

Lighting

Finally, while they may be lowest on the list of energy consumers, don’t forget your lights. Here are a couple of simple tips.

• Turn off lights when you leave the room.
• Switch your incandescent lightbulbs to LED. The US Department of Energy suggests the average household can save over $200 a year by making this simple switch.

Despite the increasing popularity of green energy, carbon-emitting energy sources will be with us for some time. In the meantime, with the residential sector accounting for about a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, any changes we can make to reduce our impact will help.

What are your best home energy saving tips? Tell us below.