One of the biggest advantages of submetering is that you can see exactly how much electricity you use and take steps to reduce it. Here are practical tips that work in Ontario apartments.
Lighting is often the easiest place to start. Replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs can reduce lighting electricity use significantly. A 9-watt LED produces roughly the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. If you have 10 bulbs in your apartment, the switch from incandescent to LED can save meaningful kilowatt hours each month.
Heating and cooling are typically the largest electricity consumers in apartments with electric heating. Setting your thermostat to a reasonable temperature (20 degrees Celsius in winter is a common guideline) and using a programmable thermostat if available can help. In summer, using fans before resorting to air conditioning and keeping blinds closed during peak sun hours reduces cooling load.
Appliances on standby draw electricity even when not in use. This "phantom load" can add up across televisions, game consoles, chargers, and kitchen appliances. Using power bars that can be switched off makes it easy to eliminate standby draw when appliances are not needed.
Laundry and dishwasher use can be optimized in two ways: running full loads instead of partial loads, and timing runs for off-peak hours if you are on Time of Use pricing. Both strategies reduce consumption and cost without any sacrifice in convenience.
Hot water use also affects electricity in buildings with electric water heaters. Shorter showers, fixing dripping faucets, and using the cold water setting for laundry when appropriate all contribute to lower consumption.
Your submetered bill includes usage history that helps you track your progress. If you make changes and your consumption drops, you will see it reflected in subsequent bills. This feedback loop is one of the reasons submetered buildings tend to see consumption reductions over time.