In winter, your Hydro-Québec meter sometimes seems to be spinning out of control. There are many good reasons to reduce energy consumption: saving money, the environment and comfort! Here are a couple of suggestions that could help make a real difference.

Don’t throw warm air out the window

Windows are one of the places where warm air escapes most easily. To add an extra insulating barrier, transparent plastic film is an efficient, low-cost solution. It’s easy to put on and almost invisible when installed. It’s odourless, unlike putty, and less likely to strip away paint when you take it off in spring. Ask your hardware specialist about the right product for you.

Something to fan your interest

By changing the rotation of the blades of your ceiling fan to the right, warm air will be pushed downward, creating more even heat distribution. If your coldest rooms don’t have one, a ceiling light fixture can accomodate an illuminated ceiling fan.

Little things can make a big difference

Electronic thermostats maintain a stable and comfortable temperature, with variations of only ± 0.5 °C, compared to ± 2 °C for ordinary thermostats. Programmable models allow you to reduce heat by a couple of degrees during the night and at times when you’re not home. These measures can lead to savings of up to 10% on your energy bill, year after year.

A brilliant idea

Lighting a home represents 5 to 10% of its overall energy consumption. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are an intelligent choice. They consume 75% less electricity than incandescent light bulbs, for the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.

Thumbs up for Hydro-Québec

Hydro-Québec offers mail-in rebates with the purchase of compact fluorescent light bulbs, lighting fixtures and ENERGY STAR® electrical appliances, as well as the purchase and installation of electronic thermostats. One more reason to get them. Admissible products and forms are available on Hydro’s Web site.

Caution: hazardous waste

Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain tiny quantities of mercury, a very toxic metal. It is of critical importance not throw them out with garbage or try to recycle them. Wrap the bulbs up well to avoid breakage, and take them to an ecocentre near you or to an IKEA store.

If they happen to break, air out and leave the room for 15 minutes. Using gloves and then a vacuum cleaner to pick up all the fragments, put them in a doubled bag and take them to your ecocentre.

Little actions all add up

• If you don’t have an electronic thermostat, get in the habit of lowering the heat a few degrees at night and when you’re out of home.


• Choose Energy Star® appliances


• Turn off lights when they don’t need to be on.


• Steam your vegetables instead of boiling them. It uses less energy and less nutritional values are lost.


• Unplug chargers and other electrical appliances when they’re not needed.


• Open your drapes wide when it’s sunny outside to benefit from free solar heating.

Useful links

David Suzuki Foundation – advice on how to save energy

Hydro-Québec – residential customers

Ville de Montréal – écocentres

Recyc-Québec – hazardous domestic waste – web site in french only