Tips on How to Reduce Hydro Bills if You Have Time-of-Use pricing

It’s one thing to try and save money on your hydro bill, but it’s entirely different to do that when you have time-of-use pricing.

This article will give you tips on how to do that, but first, we need to discuss time-of-use pricing.

What Is Time-of-Use Pricing Exactly?

In the simplest of terms, time-of-use (TOU) pricing entails that you’re paying your hydro bills according to a set rate of kilowatts per hour. The prices are different depending on the time of day and the season you’re currently in. There’s a significant difference in pricing between summer and winter.

Most provinces in Canada offer TOU pricing as an option, but in Ontario, it’s mandatory. The amount you have to pay is calculated by the smart meter that you have installed in your home.

As there are a lot of differences in the pricing, thispage can help you see the exact prices for each hour in the day depending on the season.

How to Reduce Your Hydro Bills

●        Find out how much you’re spending

The first thing that you need to do is investigate your bills thoroughly. You want to find out exactly how much you’re paying out when you’re spending it, and on what is causing the consumption. Once you do that, it will be easier to stop turning on the appliances that consume a lot and which you don’t need at the times the electricity is the most expensive. If you want to find out how much energy each appliance uses, you can check an online tool that’s most likely offered by your energy supplier.

●        Use a programmable thermostat

A lot of the power goes to heating (usually about 60% of the annual hydro bill is heating), but many people overspend in that department because they leave the thermostat on for no reason. With a programmable thermostat, you can choose at which times the furnace will work.

●        More ways to save on heating

As for other ways to save on heating, you can also lower the temperature in empty rooms. Furthermore, there’s no need to turn the thermostat as high as possible, because that won’t heat the home faster; it will just give you a bigger bill to pay.

●        Switch to LED bulbs

It might sound insignificant, but there’s still a big difference between regular bulbs and LED bulbs. LED bulbs are a lot more cost-efficient as they use less power and last much longer.

●        Don’t use the ‘big spenders’ on peak hours

Consult the page we gave you to find the exact peak hours when your rates are the highest and avoid using the big spender during those times. By big spenders, we mean the dishwasher, washing machine, etc. You can also start drying your clothes and dishes the good old-fashioned way that doesn’t include you spending even more electricity.

The Bottom Line

That’s about that – there’s not much that you can do to save on power and thus reduce your hydro bills. There are some other smaller things that you can do, but by doing the things we talked about here, you won’t have to do much more in the way of sacrificing your comfort.

How to Prepare Your Yard and Garden for Spring

Spring is almost here, and it’s high time to start preparing your yard and garden and get it ready for the season of rebirth.

There’s indeed much work to do if you want to get everything back to green in time. The winter is always harsh on our yards, mostly because it’s been lying dead under snow and ice for months.

Your lot won’t be back to its fullest glory unless you invest some time and effort to make it so. And with that in mind, we wanted to give you some advice on how to approach this.

Clean Everything Up

The first thing that you have to do is to clean everything. You were probably expecting this, but it’s still a task that has to be done well.

A lot of time has passed, and there’s certainly a lot of leaves, twigs, branches, dead growth in general, and maybe even some garbage. All of that has to be removed, and the best way to do it is with an air blower and collect the remainder with a rake.

Prepare the Ground

If you’re looking to grow some plants, flowers or shrubs, you’ll need to prepare the ground first. Preparation involves several steps.

First, you need to properly aerate the ground to enable a more successful growth of plants.

Then you need to rake the ground and thus make it receptive for growing, as it should be done for most types of plants outside your home.

After that’s done, you can fertilize the area, according to the type of growth desired. Even feed the grass sections. You should also use a pre-emergent and weed-killer. A weed-killer is vital to prevent all the nasty bugs that can destroy plants and grass.

The final step is to plant the seeds of everything desired. However, each thing has its place in time, which is why, for example, you shouldn’t seed for grass until fall. If you can’t wait to spruce up the area, then it’s better to use sod.

Most vegetables, on the other hand, won’t overgrow at this time, so you can start them inside and then replant them outside when the weather improves. But some other plants like bulbs and perennials are much more natural and can be grown quickly; you only need to water them enough.

Take Care of the Trees

Trees are naturally different, and they thus deserve some bit of individual attention. If you’re not familiar with how to trim and cut them, it’s best to hire an arborist to check the trees thoroughly and trim everything that should be cut back.

It can often happen that a branch of the tree is dead, and when that happens, you need to cut that branch down. If you don’t, it can easily break off and could accidentally hurt someone.

So, that’s about it. There aren’t many different steps that you need to take; it’s all about doing it carefully, with love, attention, and making sure that you’re doing everything you can for your yard and garden to look great when the nice weather starts.

Can Landlords Ban Smoking Marijuana in Rentals?

As of October 2018, marijuana has become legal in Canada. That means that everyone can now possess, sell, and consume the product freely, as you do with any other product.

However, there are some smaller stipulations, amendments, and whatnot, and what’s more – there are differences from province to province.

With that in mind, we’re here to talk about the rules on smoking marijuana in rented apartments so you’ll know how it works in each province and if the landlord can forbid you from using it.

The Most Important Rules

First of all, it’s worth noting that some rules do exist and can limit your interaction with marijuana.

●        The minimum age for smoking is 18, while in some provinces it’s 21.

●        Marijuana can be smoked throughout Canada, but some provinces ban smoking in public places, but not in private apartments and homes.

●        In all provinces (except for Quebec and Manitoba) you can grow up to four plants.

Smoking in Rented Spaces

In general, the rule is that you can smoke cannabis in private residences. But when it comes to rentals, if your agreement forbids smoking indoors, then that most likely applies to marijuana as well.

In most provinces, the law allows the landlords to ban smoking, and many have opted to do so because the smell of the smoke lingers and this makes them do extensive cleaning and renovations before the next tenant moves in.

The Rules in Each Province of Canada

●        Ontario

The landlord can only ban smoking of marijuana if it affects the neighbours.

●        Quebec

Growing is prohibited altogether, and most landlords had the option to make changes to their agreements to ban smoking.

●        British Columbia

Smoking is allowed, as long as the landlord hasn’t banned it in the agreement. However, this ban can only be imposed on new tenants in new contracts. Landlords cannot make old tenants accept changes to their agreements. Furthermore, plants can be grown but mustn’t be visible from public spaces. 

●        Alberta

Alberta has a law that allows landlords to set rules for what is and what isn’t allowed in their properties, and these rules can include smoking of any kind. You need to check your agreement as many landlords have already changed them before the cannabis law took effect.

●        Prince Edward Island

Landlords can prohibit smoking and growing in their property. Smoking of marijuana is also banned in public spaces.

●        New Brunswick

Landlords are free to impose bans on smoking and cultivating. It stems from the fact that the term ‘no smoking’ is all-encompassing in this province.

●        Nova Scotia

The law gives the right to landlords to amend the agreement to forbid smoking and cultivating marijuana.

●        Manitoba

We already mentioned that growing marijuana is illegal, but smoking in public places is as well. Landlords also have the right to ban smoking in their properties, which includes marijuana as well.

●        Newfoundland and Labrador

Landlords are free to make restrictions on smoking marijuana in common areas, on porches and balconies.

●        Saskatchewan

Landlords can change their policy on smoking and cultivation in their properties. It’s estimated that most of them have already done so. Furthermore, smoking is banned in public spaces as well.

Who Is Responsible for Specific Problems in the Rental Apartment?

Living in a rented apartment is a breeze, as there aren’t as many things you need to worry about as in your own home. Mostly, the only problem in a rental are some unforeseen circumstances like damage, broken devices, pests, mould, and things like that.

Naturally, the very fact that these things happen is not the biggest issue, as all of it can be dealt with patience and effort. The real problem lies in the fact that most people don’t know whose responsibility each of these problems is.

Do you have to fix the problems or is it the landlord’s duty? Each problem is unique, and only one of you is responsible for it. Let’s take a better look at who is in charge of each issue.

Which Problems are the Landlord’s Responsibility?

You want to be a great tenant, but you also want to know what obligations your landlord has towards you, as it shouldn’t all be on you.

In general, most of the repairs needed in the unit fall to the landlord’s domain. They are the ones responsible for them.

That means that the landlord has to fix anything doesn’t work correctly anymore, or replace the things that are completely broken. The rule naturally applies only to everything that came with the place – the unit itself, appliances like the fridge or the stove, and more.

It doesn’t matter what the contract says, as this has to do with the law in Canada that states that these things are the landlord’s responsibility.

All of this means that the landlord needs to worry about the repairs and maintenance of additional things like:

●        The plumbing, heating, and electricity

●        Everything in the common areas of the building

●        All infestations like bugs, rats, etc.

●        Serious mould issues

Of course, if the agreement you have with the landlord mentions something else that’s their responsibility, then it is, and you should refer to it to find out.

Which Problems are the Tenant’s Responsibility?

The landlord makes most repairs and changes, but small replacements like changing the lightbulbs are the tenant’s responsibility. As long as it’s something that can be done quickly and easily by the tenant, it’s your responsibility, but if it requires some special handling and assistance from others, then it isn’t.

Any routine maintenance or cleaning is naturally the tenant’s responsibility. Also, if you do any minor damage during your stay – it’s you who has to take care of it, as well as minor mould issues. When it comes to some more significant damage, as long as you cause it, it’s still up to you to fix it.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that it’s up to you to maintain outside areas that are exclusively used by you. If others use it, then it’s no longer your responsibility.

It’s worth noting that you need to respect anything mentioned in the agreement, as long as it is according to the law.

If any problems do occur, it’s always good to talk with your landlord and have an open discussion, because as long as a positive relationship is maintained, everything will work out well. It can even happen that the landlord goes out of their way to help you because you’re a great tenant!

How to Commute by Bike in the Winter

In some environments, it’s already tricky enough to bike commute even in the best of weathers. But what if you add a whole lot of snow and ice on the streets, freezing temperatures, and cold wind blowing in your face? It seems that bike commuting in winter is reserved only for the most courageous.

Honestly, winter bike commuting is not for everyone because not all have the mental and physical strength required for it. Luckily, there are some precautionary measures you can take to increase your odds of a successful bike commute and to make it as comfortable as possible.

Gear

You’ll often hear all kinds of excuses for avoiding bike commuting once the snow starts falling. Most of them are directed towards the gear, so people often say that their bike is not good enough or they lack some other part of the equipment.

Fortunately, this isn’t as much of a problem as it may sound. You’ll need to choose appropriate tires (wider and chunkier) for a better grip to avoid sliding. Let some air out of them to get more traction, and make sure your pedals and shoes have a good grip.

When it comes to storing your bike, you can keep your apartment clean with a bike cover. You want to keep the dirt off your carpets or furniture. As an off-season cyclist, you’ll be picking up more dirt along with the snow while commuting.

Clothing

Make the wrong choice when choosing your clothes for winter bike commuting, and you’ll curse the day you came up with the idea of doing it in the first place. You can’t make a mistake here - the secret is in layering.

Our mothers and grandmothers always used to remind us that the secret of staying warm is in wearing multiple layers of clothes. The same applies to bike commuting in the winter. Naturally, the principle is the same, but the actual realization is a bit different. The layers worn when biking should be thin, but warm, allowing you to move freely and protecting you from moisture.

Sharing

Bike share programs have gained popularity recently, and rightfully so. There are no downsides to bike sharing – it’s convenient, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s even safer than regular biking. It turns out that you’re less likely to be in a traffic accident this way.

Bike sharing is convenient and practical, and in most areas of the world that implement bike sharing, all you have to do is own a smartphone. Everything else is at your thumb’s reach. Now, you might think that all this luxury comes at a price, but bike sharing is quite affordable. When you compare it to other forms of public transport, bike sharing wins every time.

By using bike share, you won't have to think about the gear in the way you used to when the bike was your own. It's merely the best way to commute in the winter if you think that you've got it in you to succeed.

What Size or Height Christmas Tree Should I Buy for My Apartment and How Do I Keep It Fresh and Green?

The hunt for the best Christmas tree has officially begun. Whether you are buying it on the market or going out into the woods for a tree, choosing the right one for your home can put a special touch on Christmas.

The Christmas tree is the focal point of every home during the holiday season. That means that choosing the wrong Christmas tree can affect the holiday mood of your dearest ones. But what is a wrong Christmas tree? How can there even be such a thing?

The Wrong Christmas Tree?

The wrong Christmas tree would be anyone that doesn't fit the room that it is erected. It typically is placed in the living room, but if that’s a problem, you can solve it by decluttering. The fit isn't strictly size related though; it could be the dominating colour of the tree, the shape, or that it doesn't feel natural. Sometimes you can't see it coming until you put the tree in the room. Once it's there, all you can do is to accept what you’ve bought.

The Choice

The secret to choosing the best Christmas tree is to ask yourself the right questions. In which room will I place it? Am I going to make it a centrepiece of the room or a smaller tree in the other room?

Another big question is how much space you are willing to give to the tree. There are two basic shapes of a Christmas tree – a full shape and a narrow shape. A full form is pretty much the standard. The chances are that all the most beautiful Christmas trees you have ever seen were “full-shaped.” It’s the shape that we all recognize, and that is what makes a great tree.

However, if you are tight on space, then a narrow tree is a must. As for the colour of the tree, it must complement the overall tone of the room as well as the colours and shapes of your Christmas decorations.

Protecting Your Tree

Like finding the best tree isn’t already hard enough, you have to keep it fresh and green (at least for the holidays.) Start the right way, and choose a healthy tree that doesn’t have a lot of brown needles. Once you take it home, the race with nature begins. The secret is in the way you store the tree. If you aren't planning on putting it up immediately, store it in an unheated place, but away from cold and wind.

When the time comes, you must place the tree on a stand that holds at least a gallon of water. Depending on the diameter of your tree, the water level will vary, but be sure that the tree has enough water at any time.

The place of the tree is also important. It shouldn’t be near any heat source, like a fireplace or radiator, nor should it be near a window or front door. The truth is, keeping your Christmas tree green and fresh isn’t that hard, it just requires a bit of dedication. Show your Christmas tree love that it deserves and it will reward you much, much more, by making your Christmas holidays perfect for you and your loved ones.

Steps Towards Green

Those of us who want to help the environment always take on many measures that will lead to complete green living. Even if you’re already living green, there are probably still some small steps that you can take to go even further.

With that in mind, here is a long list of essential steps to take to live green, so you can check which ones you already accomplished and which can still be implemented.

Turn off Lights

Consuming less electricity is one of the main ways to go green. You can do that by always keeping the lights turned off whenever you don’t need them. Many people leave their lights on all over the house because they don’t require much power, but that’s merely wasteful and bad for the environment.

Turn off Your Devices

Another way to use less power is to completely shut off your devices when you’re not using them. For example, instead of turning off the TV with a remote, you can unplug it. When it comes to your desktop computer, you can also completely turn it off if you’re not using it. That’s important because a lot of people leave their computers turned on most of the time, even though they are not using them. An easy way to turn the sets off is by having them connected to a power bar. That way you only have to flip one switch.

Use More Efficient Shower and Faucet Heads

You will have to go out and buy new bathroom items, but in the end, it will be an excellent way to stop wasting water, which is the second biggest obstacle in going green.

Don’t Leave It Running

Another way to conserve more water is not to keep it running while doing the dishes. The same goes when you’re in the shower, don’t keep it running when you don’t have to.

In addition to these steps, you can always think of something on your own. All the ways you can save water depend entirely on the type of apartmentyou’re renting.

Have Less Garbage

Another crucial step towards green living is to reduce the waste you make. Start by buying less stuff that you know you probably won’t need and end up throwing in the trash. It is especially true for food, which we waste in massive amounts. Start buying less of it and try to buy it in packaging that can recycle.

Recycle

Recycling is a necessary step in going green. When recycling, make sure you’re following the local municipal recycling guidelines to sort items correctly. Stop contaminating recycling bins with wrong type materials as contaminated recycle batches end up at the garbage dump.

Don’t Use Chemicals

There’s a lot to this, but in the simplest of terms, stop using products with toxic chemicals and opt for more sustainable options. This way you will keep the environment safer, but also keep your family or the people living with you healthy.

Use a Drying Rack

Instead of a dryer that uses a lot of electricity and hurts the environment, you can always dry your clothes in the traditional, natural way, whenever you can.

These are just some of the main ways of going green, and there’s a lot more that can be done. The key is doing something, and you should also keep on educating yourself on how you can help the environment even more.