Energy Conservation

Doing your part to reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions will save you money, keep our air clean and promote a healthy, sustainable community. 

Municipal Facilities Energy Consumption & GHG Emissions

Municipal facilities emit approximately 4% of all greenhouse gas emissions from Banff’s built environment and are a key opportunity to reduce emissions while demonstrating the value of building and operating low-carbon buildings. 

This energy consumption and emissions report (PDF) shows how the Town of Banff tracks consumption and how we can reduce energy use.

Here are some ways you can contribute: 

Level One

  • Keep air vents free of debris
  • Close damper on fireplace when not in use
  • Turn down or turn off heat in garage
  • Try and alternative method of travel once a week
  • Air-dry your clothes
  • Unplug appliances when not in use
  • Use a power cord for electronics and turn off when not in use
  • Fill dishwasher fully before running
  • Air or towel dry dishes instead of using the dry cycle
  • Use cold water to wash clothes
  • Take shorter showers

Level Two

  • Install blinds or curtains for better insulation
  • Replace light bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) or chlorofluorocarbon (CFL)
  • Caulk all gaps around plugs, pipes or joints
  • Install new weather stripping
  • Install a programmable thermostat
  • Service your furnace annually
  • Wrap your water heater in an insulated blanket
  • Install low flow faucets and shower heads

Level Three

  • Replace old appliances with new Energy Star certified
  • Check you insulation (floors, walls, ceilings, basement)
  • Replace old windows with high-efficiency windows
  • Replace old wood stove with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified one
  • Replace your old furnace
  • Install a heat pump
  • Install solar panels or windmills

Utilities Consumer Advocate
The Government of Alberta has an interactive resource that help consumers make informed choices about their electricity and natural gas services. It includes a cost comparison tool, historic rates and contacts for a mediation officer.

Businesses

  • Unplug electronics when not in use. Electronics that are plugged in continue to use energy even when not in use. You could be spending up to $100 per month on wasted energy.
  • An LCD model television uses half the energy of a plasma TV, let alone your old tube and rear projection televisions.
  • Replace old, computer monitors with a flat-panel model. Save the equivalent of leaving a 50-watt bulb on for an entire year.
  • Unplug power adapters and battery chargers. Cellphone chargers and other electronic gadgets constantly consume power and account for about 5 per cent of your electricity bill
  • Conduct an Energy Audit. The average building loses up to 20 per cent of heat from air ducts alone. Conduct informal audits by locating drafts with a lit candle or incense. Hire a professional to audit, plan and prioritize the necessary improvements to save you money.
  • Schedule maintenance on your furnace.
  • Buy a programmable thermostat to make setting temperatures easy.
  • Check and change furnace filters regularly - dirty filters can reduce airflow and make your furnace work harder.
  • Turn your thermostat down to 20 degrees Celsius during the day and to 17 degrees Celsius at night to save as much as 15 per cent on your energy bill.
  • Use an outdoor timer to plug in your car's block heater for two hours before you need it.
  • Only plug in your car's block heater when temperatures dip below -15 C.

More Information