Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bill. Replacing 25 per cent of your lights in high-use areas with energy saving, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFBs) can reduce your lighting energy bill about 50 per cent. CFBs consume 75-80 per cent less electriCity and therefore require change 10 times less frequently. By using CFBs, you also reduce the fire hazard associated with the use of halogen bulbs.

Lighting includes both electric lighting and natural lighting from the sun (also known as “daylighting”). Although daylighting in homes is not a great source of energy savings,
it can dramatically increase the comfort and livability of your home. Where daylighting isn't practical, you should consider installing energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs (CFBs) and other energy-efficient lighting fixtures and controls.

In selecting a lighting system that is appropriate for your home, you may wish to consider the following:
•    When choosing a CFB, be aware of the size, brightness, color, and quality.
•    CFB bulbs operate at cooler temperatures than their halogen counterparts.
•    Remember that economics, health, and aesthetics all favor the maximum practical use of daylighting.
•    Task lighting can save you lots of energy. Focus more light where you need it rather than lighting the entire area.
•    Dimmers, timers, and sensors ensure that lights are turned on only when and to what degree they are required.
•    Control exterior lighting with time clocks or photoelectric cells.
•    Make certain that you do not reduce illumination, so that your security is compromised.

A piece of home equipment where you can also realize efficiency and savings is the toilet. Toilet flushing accounts for 45 per cent of indoor water use, or approximately 32,000 gallons per year for a family of four using 5-7 gallons-per-flush toilets. The use of more efficient toilets can reduce the amount of energy used to pump, heat, and treat water. It can cut daily water use by 34 per cent per toilet and can save the typical household between 8,000 - 21,500 gallons of water per year per toilet, cutting both your water and wastewater bills.

There are excellent toilets available today that flush a maximum of 1.6 gallons rather than the 3.5 – 7 gallons used by older toilets. Specific model choices are a question of preference, size, rough-in limitations, and desired performance.

The shower presents another conservation opportunity. Showers consume up to 37 per cent of the hot water used in a typical home. You can cut your annual energy and water bills by $60-120 annually and save up to 17,000 gallons of water per year by installing water-conserving heads. In doing so, you can also reduce wastewater emitted to our streams, rivers, and marine waters and protect our drinking water sources.

Many showerheads available on the market today boast a 2.5-gallon flow rate. Various brands offer different levels of improved shower quality, flow rates, and performance characteristics. When replacing your showerhead, keep these suggestions in mind to help you and your condominium corporation conserve water and reduce your water bill.

You may wish to consider using showers instead of tubs for bathing since the average shower uses five gallons of hot water while a tub bath uses at least double and even more is you have a soaker tub!

Also remember that leaking faucets should be fixed immediately as they can account for as much as 650 gallons (one drop of water per second) of water per year!

In implementing your “Energy Saving Measures” consider new technologies, efficiency ratings and relative costs when replacement or repair of equipment is required. Remember that some of the most efficient “Energy Savings Measures” such as lighting retrofits, bathroom fixtures and consumption education can be the most cost effective and the least expensive.