According to FortisBC, one of the sure ways to conserve energy is to turn off heat and lights in a room that isn't in use anymore. Here are a few additional tips:

• Use timers and motion sensors for outdoor lighting. Use LED (light emitting diode) lights which use less energy then incandescent lights.
• Keep the thermostats at 20 C in the daytime and 17 C in the night. Install a programmable thermostat that will make it easier to switch between the temperatures
• Only heat the rooms you are using, close doors and lower temperatures of rooms that you are not using.
• Close the fireplace chimney damper between fires to keep the heat in and cold air out.
• Use weather striping around door jambs and windows. Seal windows that don't open with caulking and fill gaps around electrical outlets and openings around water pipes and vents.
• Close your blinds and curtains in the evening to keep the warm air inside.
• Use appliances during off-peak hours if you can. Program the dishwasher to run while you sleep and do laundry after 9 PM.
• Be prepared for power outages in the winter months by keeping flashlights, batteries, battery-operated radio, water, non-perishable food and a first aid kit in a location which can be found easily in the dark. Post emergency and utility phone numbers in a convenient location.
• During an outage, turn off the circuit breakers, lights and larger appliances as well as electric heat (if you have it). By doing this, you prevent an overload outage when power is restored. Kepp one light on so you know when power is restored.

The following tips show you how to be more energy efficient and save money while reducing the risks of global warming.

1. Replace your five most frequent used light fixtures with CFL bulbs. Turning off one incandescent bulb can save $15 per year.
2. If you are in the market for an air conditioner, consider an ENERGY STAR model
3. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust the temperature settings when you are sleeping or are away.
4. Many consumer electronics products use energy even when switched off. Electronics equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR helps save energy when off. Phantom power can use up 30 to 40 watts.
5. A ten minute shower can use less water than a full bath. Install a low-flow shower head which saves water and energy. It can save 5 gallons of water and $145 on electricity per year.
6. Make sure hot air can circulate freely and air registers aren't blocked by furniture.
7. During the colder months, take in the Sun's warmth by keeping drapes open in the daylight hours and close them to keep out the summer heat.
8. Before loading in the dishwasher, save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them. Run the dishwasher with a full-load and use the air-dry option.
9. Use cold water when doing laundry and wash full-loads if you can. If you do need to do a partial load, adjust the water level to match the load.
10. Don't over dry your clothes. Clean the lint trap before every load. Dry full loads, or reduce drying time for partial loads.
    

Source: Article from Energy Star

Mayor Sharon Shepherd is looking to make Kelowna more sustainable, greener and fiscally responsible. In her inaugural speech she also talked about the shift to green technologies.

She would assemble a Kelowna Climate Action Committee which would tackle issues brought up by the provincial Climate Action Charter and look into building code changes to make use of solar technology.

To handle the city's traffic problems, she is wanting less cars on the road and more people using bike lanes and the transit system. Some of the other issues on the table include the HandyDart, more cycling options, better sidewalks and the continuation of the Central Green Project.

The Mayor will pursue a bike-share program that is similar to the Paris Velib program where people can rent bikes for trips around the City. The bikes can be picked up and dropped off at automated kiosks. To get funding for the project she plans on putting a Tour d'Okanagan cycling race which would also help tourism.

Source: Article by Jennifer Smith titled "Kelowna Mayor pledges to make city more sustainable" & article titled "Mayor wants more bikes"

It is estimated that sealing holes around doors, windows, pipes and ducts can save as much as 10% on your heating bill.

One of the main ways to do this is to install weather striping or other forms of insulation around doorways to stop cold air from entering the home.

Jamb-up weather striping can be used on wooden, exterior doors. They are mounted on the two sides and top of the door frame so the rubber side just touches the door. You can install a door sweep on the bottom of exterior doors. This should complete the seal around the door. For an extra seal, use self-adhesive weather striping just inside the door jamb where the door and jamb come together.

For metal doors, check the rubber gaskets and replace if necessary.

As a winter reminder, remember to disconnect water hoses so that they don't cause the faucets and pipes to freeze and crack. If there are interior shut off valves, turn them off and drain the remaining water. You can also cover the faucets using a faucet insulation kit.

Insulating pipes in colder areas by applying heat tape or thermostat controlled heat cables around them.

Source: Article by Sam McDonald titled "Weather striping can stop the doorway air leaks"