Doctor BagThe Shock Doctors 
Progressive Electrical Services Ltd
            ECRA/ESA #7001377 

Writing your Prescription for Electrical Safety          Dec 2010

In This Issue
Programmable thermostats
Timers
Refrigerator Roundup
Dryer maintenance
Phantom Loads
Important Reminder
 

On November 1st we switched to winter peak hour usage for hydro billing! Peak time is no longer Monday - Friday 11am-5 pm. (May 1st-Oct 31st) 

Your winter peak hours are Monday - Friday 7 am-11 am and 5 pm-9 pm. 

For the energy conscious, this means readjusting your flexible-use tasks.


"News You can Use around Your Home". Terry Carman RME 

 

This month we all received the "shocking" confirmation from the government that the rates for electricity will increase 7.9% per year every year for the next five.  This is a 46% total increase!  What can we do to offset this without affecting our lifestyle too drastically?  Let us "examine" the five top electricity guzzlers and "prescribe" some relief.

 

Terry Carman RME
 
1. The Furnace

For years we have been using programmable thermostats on our forced air furnaces, but did you know programmable thermostats are available for baseboard heaters? 
Digital thermostats have more sensitive controls than mechanical thermostats. This can save you up to 5% without even adjusting your heat. The Canadian Centre for Housing Technology tested winter setback savings and found that turning down the heat 2 -
6º C results in a cost savings of 5 - 15%. (Survey showed most households choose to setback between 2-4 degrees.)

 

BEWARE: COLDER AIR CANNOT HOLD AS MUCH WATER AS WARMER AIR. THIS RESULTS IN CONDENSATION ON YOUR WINDOWS! (and rotting of the frames)

IF YOU LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, YOU MUST DECREASE THE HUMIDITY.

2. The Hot Water Tank

Does knowing that your hot water tank uses energy even when you aren't using water boil you up?  Consider a programmable timer - now available for both electric and for gas units that require electricity.  You can save up to 30% only heating the water in your tank when you need it.

3. Old  Appliances

Do we really need an extra fridge to keep five beers and a bag of apples cold?  The Refrigerator Round-up is free and just a call  away (1-877-797-9473)and savings up to $150/year are with it. This is one of the most user friendly programs we have ever experienced!

4. Clothes Dryers

Your clothes dryer can be more difficult to manage efficiently.  Who really wants to dry their clothes at 3 a.m.?  During peak time your dryer costs 60¢ / hour. After 9 pm this cost is reduced to 30¢/ hour. Clothes will dry much, much faster if the airflow to the outside is unobstructed. Clearing the lint trap mid drying cycle of the load AND cleaning the dryer vent pipe to the outside each season will significantly shorten drying time. 

5. Electronics

Phantom loads from entertainment systems and computers are just ghastly and are what Ontario's Chief Conservation Officer Peter Love calls "the fastest-growing source of electricity consumption in people's homes."   Get a power bar with an on/off switch and built-in quality surge protection (The Doc prescribes Sycom) to save your money and protect your sensitive electronic investments. 

Check out the savings at the bottom of this email.
 

 

SMART METER CHRISTMAS PRESENT for YOU!
 
THIS YEAR, NOT ONLY ARE CHRISTMAS AND BOXING DAY CHARGED AT OFF PEAK RATES, SO ARE THE 27TH AND 28TH!  
 
This is because Christmas and Boxing Day fall on the off peak weekend rate, and so those holidays will be celebrated on the 27th and 28th.
Clean, cook and heat to your heart's content for 4 whole days!
 
 YEAH!
Do you have a question for the Doctor?
If you have a question about the health of your electrical system or would like to investigate a little "plastic surgery", ask the doctor: Click and send your question to  info@theshockdoctors.ca.
Each conserved watt saves you about 53¢ /year :
1 lowly watt x 24 hrs x 365days = 8,760 watts (8.76 kW)
8.76 kW x $.06/kw(avg) = 53¢ /year
 
Merry Christmas from the Shock Doctors!
Cheri 
 Cheri@theshockdoctors.ca 
  
The Shock Doctors
 

 

 

PROPERLY PROTECTING SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS FROM POWER SURGES GOES BEYOND THE STRIP...
If home theatres, computers, microwave ovens, or other sensitive electronics are under the tree this year, make sure your home is equipped with panel surge protection. It only takes a zap and a pop to lose them all. The average home has approximately $8000 of sensitive electronics at risk from surges... (read more)

Our installed price for panel surge protection is $308
 
For our newsletter readers only, we will install premium surge protection on your breaker panel, including permit and inspection for $268. 
Save by booking today  (offer valid to Jan 31st, 2011)
Sycom Surge