Back to School, Back to Savings

Energy-Saving Tips for Fall

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to reset your home’s energy habits.

With September's arrival and the start of the new school year, it's time to adapt your home and family routines to make sure your space is more functional, safe, and efficient.

Now is the best time to reorganise schedules, spaces, and habits for a boost in energy and efficiency.

Discover easy and effective ways to save energy, lower your utility bills, and build smart, sustainable routines for the whole family.

Follow our suggestions to do just that:

1. Power Down Mornings

Before everyone heads out for the day, do a quick run-through the house:

Turn off lights, ceiling fans, appliances and electronics that don’t need to be on.

Encourage children to get in the habit of shutting off bedroom lights and unplugging devices before leaving.

Keeping appliances running when no one is home makes no sense, so turning them off while you are away lowers your energy consumption.

2. Pack School Lunches Sustainably

Between plastic sandwich bags, individually wrapped snacks, and juice boxes, the typical school lunch can generate a surprising amount of waste, which requires significant energy consumption both in packaging production and waste/recycling processing.

Keep energy conservation in mind as you prepare your child’s lunch:

• Switch to reusable containers. Invest in durable, washable lunchboxes, food containers, and drink bottles. Stainless steel and BPA-free plastic options are great long-term choices that reduce waste and energy consumption associated with single-use plastics.
• Ditch the plastic bags. Opt for silicone snack bags or reusable beeswax wraps instead of disposable sandwich bags.
• Buy in bulk. Purchasing snacks in bulk and portioning them at home cuts down on excess packaging and the energy used to produce them.
• Choose locally grown foods. When possible, pack fruits and veggies that are in season and locally sourced. This reduces the energy associated with transporting food long distances.
• Recycle and compost. Before throwing items in the trash, consider whether they can be recycled or composted. Oftentimes, cardboard juice pouches and some plastics can be recycled. And banana peels and other food waste can help improve the health of your yard's soil.

3. Use a Smart Thermostat

School hours mean your house may be empty most of the day. Some smart thermostats can automatically adjust the temperature to use less energy while everyone’s away and bring comfort back before you get home.

4. Shop for School Supplies with Sustainability in Mind

Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to mean a cart full of energy-intensive products. Thoughtful choices at the store can help you conserve resources while still checking off that list.

Here’s how:

• Reuse before you rebuy. Take inventory of what you already have. Notebooks with a few unused pages, last year’s scissors, and gently used folders can often make a comeback.
• Choose recycled and eco-friendly options. Many school supplies are now made from recycled paper, biodegradable materials, or sustainable sources.
• Buy in bulk for shared items. If you’re buying supplies for a classroom or multiple children, bulk purchases reduce packaging and are often more energy-efficient to manufacture and ship.
• Opt for rechargeable electronics. When shopping for calculators or other devices, opt for rechargeable options whenever possible. This reduces energy waste and the need for constant battery replacement.

5. Embrace Natural Light

Take advantage of daylight whenever possible:

• During breakfast or after-school homework, open blinds or curtains to light up the room with natural sunlight.
• Use task lighting like LED desk lamps instead of turning on overhead lights for one person.
  
  

Natural lighting is free and helps reduce your use of energy-intensive lighting during peak times.

6. Set Smart Routines at Home

As kids head back to school, weekday routines become more structured, making it the perfect time to adopt energy-saving habits at home.

• Power down electronics. Encourage kids to turn off and unplug computers, game consoles, and chargers when they’re not in use. Even when idle, many electronics still draw power.
• Create a homework station with energy-efficient lighting. Swap out old bulbs with LEDs; they use up to 75% less energy and last longer.
• Set timers on thermostats and lights. With the house empty during school hours, consider adjusting the thermostat and setting lights on timers to avoid unnecessary energy use.
• Do laundry in energy-efficient ways. Back-to-school means more dirty clothes – from sports team uniforms to a mess from the science fair. However, you can save energy by washing full loads in cold water and air-drying when possible.
• Keep the Fridge Efficient. Keep it running efficiently by:
• Not overloading the fridge. Your fridge needs space for air to circulate
• Organizing contents so when doors are open, they don’t stay open long
• Checking door seals to make sure cold air isn’t escaping
• Setting the temperature to the recommended for fridge (between 0°C and 5°C) and for freezer (-18°C (0°F) or below)
• Green time before screen time. Encourage outdoor play, reading, or activities like sports, music or clubs after school. These healthy habits keep kids active and engaged while helping to lower energy use during busy evening hours.
• Get the whole family involved. Turn energy conservation into an activity the whole family can enjoy.