Decorating & Design
August 30, 2017
Clever Ways To Boost Your Home Comfort & Save
Thinking of renovating your kitchen, basement, living room or bathroom? Don’t just focus on stunning fixtures, furniture and paint — consider how you can increase the warmth and energy efficiency of your home because that can also save you money. Browse this gallery for design and reno inspiration, and then start planning. Plus, tour a charming home that exudes warmth and comfort, and learn five ways to keep your home cozy.
But first, visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to apply for The Home Energy Conservation Program, available for homeowners in Ontario with homes heated by gas, propane, oil or wood. You can qualify for $1,600 back when you complete two or more eligible energy efficient upgrades and achieve a minimum of 15 per cent fuel savings. The program is offered in partnership with the Government of Ontario.
No matter how you heat your home, these home comfort tips from insulation experts will amp up the cosiness of your space while lowering your energy bills and reducing your carbon footprint!
Fresh white walls, a textured carpet, a built-in wall unit with golden accessories and a backlit mirror all layer warmth and style into a small, 475-square-foot basement. Before reworking your basement, look into potential rebates and be sure to insulate your basement walls. According to Enbridge Gas, basements can account for about 20 per cent of a home’s total heat loss. Insulation will keep the space comfy, reduce your heating bill and also deter mould-causing condensation. If you’re a homeowner in Ontario, visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to discover more rebate-eligible energy upgrades like this in The Home Energy Conservation Program. You don’t need to be a natural gas customer to apply!
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
A richly hued antique rug and ladder-back chair offer old-world charm in a fresh East Coast home. Inspired to update your door to a stylish choice like the one pictured here? Be sure to have it properly installed and air sealed so you don’t lose heat in the winter or cool air in the summer. Before you do, visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to apply for The Home Energy Conservation Program. If you qualify, one of the first steps will be to have a registered Energy Auditor visit your home to do a full energy audit, including a blower-door test to check how much heat or cool air you may already be losing, and they will suggest any other potential energy-saving and money-saving upgrades you can make.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Open shelving, a modern backsplash and a sunny window create a lovely design moment in this kitchen. If you’re planning a kitchen reno, be sure to consider the little details along with the big picture. Proper air sealing in places like electrical outlets and windows can help you save energy and lower your energy bill. Visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to discover more energy-saving tips, plus learn more about getting $1,600 back for energy efficient upgrades, available regardless of whether you heat your home with natural gas, wood, propane or oil.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Custom panelling, tall ceilings and plenty of sunlight make this basement cheerful and welcoming. If you love the idea of a gas fireplace in your space, be sure to consider a high-efficiency fireplace system. In Canada, nearly two thirds of the energy we use in our homes goes to space heating alone, according to Enbridge Gas, so it pays to try and save energy. (Plus, it’s good for the planet!) Look into rebate opportunities at enbridgesmartsavings.com before you upgrade any fireplaces, furnaces or boilers in your home and you could earn $1,600 back and save money on your energy bill. Not a natural gas customer? These rebates are also available for homes heated with wood, propane or oil.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
A simple glass lantern plays up the lofty peaked ceiling in this principal bedroom. If you’re renovating your bedroom, don’t just look for pretty ikat fabric for the window treatments like the ones pictured here. Consider investing in new windows, too, which can help eliminate costly drafts. (Many older homes have leaky, improperly sealed windows that can increase your energy bills because of lost warmed or cooled air.) Visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to learn why window replacements are an eligible fuel-saving measure for rebates under The Home Energy Conservation Program. You can get $1,600 back for window replacements and other fuel-saving measures, whether or not you’re a natural gas customer.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Here’s what you can see in this attic bedroom: feature walls in Benjamin Moore’s Newburyport Blue (HC-155), a warm-hued rug and tailored furniture. But often it’s what you can’t see that counts most. For instance, you can reduce the heat loss through your attic by 75 to 80 per cent with increased insulation, according to Enbridge Gas. Go to enbridgesmartsavings.com to find out how attic insulation can boost your home’s comfort, and learn why it’s an upgrade that qualifies under The Home Energy Conservation Program. It’s a chance to earn $1,600 back for increasing your home’s efficiency and decreasing your energy bill.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Painted blue panelling, black sconces and a linen shower curtain transform a basement bathroom into a charming, airy space. But it’s wall insulation and air sealing around electrical outlets that can really make a difference in a basement bathroom. As Enbridge Gas points out, more than half of your energy costs come from home heating. That means proper insulation help prevents heat loss and lower your energy bills. Find out how applying for The Home Energy Conservation Program before you insulate can qualify you for $1,600 back at enbridgesmartsavings.com. The program is available to natural gas and non-gas customers.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Copious windows, a quirky chandelier and a Persian rug give this room plenty of appeal. As many Canadians can attest, though, the best way to boost the comfort factor in a seasonal room like this is to invest in insulation, proper air sealing and new windows. (As Enbridge Gas notes, older, single-paned windows don’t provide good insulation.) Go to enbridgesmartsavings.com to apply for The Home Energy Conservation Program. The steps involved are simple: get a pre-energy audit, do two eligible energy updates and then get a post-energy audit. You can then get $1,600 back through the program, regardless of whether or not you’re a natural gas customer.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
There are few things in life that are finer than curling up with a good book in a cosy armchair. Subtly patterned fabrics, velvet upholstery and a pale blue-grey door frame make this living room particularly pretty. If you’re planning a similar space, invest in new windows and air sealing around doors to ensure it’s truly warm and snug. These upgrades stop heated and cooled air from escaping from your home, and they’re also eligible for $1,600 back through The Home Energy Conservation Program. Apply today at enbridgesmartsavings.com.
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.
Clean design elements such as a sleek floating console, metal hooks and a streamlined bench look cool, but there’s no reason for a space like this to feel cold. That’s why it pays to think about about comfort and climate control before you renovate. Installing wall insulation and a high-efficiency heating system can go a long way to warming an older home and reducing your heating bills. Plus, efforts like these qualify for $1,600 back through The Home Energy Conservation Program. Visit enbridgesmartsavings.com to find out more!
Name an energy-saving upgrade you’re planning for your chance to win a $250 Visa Gift Card.