Let's be real about home energy. All that stuff about replacing every window in your house or installing geothermal? Great if you've got thousands lying around. For the rest of us, we need solutions that don't require a second mortgage.

Here's what we've found works for most homes in Ottawa. And I mean actually works, not just sounds good on paper.

Draft-proofing (Boring but Effective)

Spent about $50 at the hardware store last fall on weatherstripping and that gooey rope caulk stuff. Used it around my front door, basement windows, and a couple spots where pipes come into the house. Honestly didn't expect much, but my heating bill dropped about 15%. Fifteen percent from fifty bucks and a Saturday afternoon. Not bad.

Bonus tip: check your dryer vent. If it's not sealing properly when not in use, that's basically a hole in your wall leaking air. Fixed one for a client last month - they texted to say their basement isn't freezing cold anymore.

Smart Thermostats (Well, smartish)

You don't need the fanciest model that talks to your phone and knows your location. The basic programmable ones work fine if you actually program them. Set it lower for sleeping hours and when nobody's home. Higher when you're around. Don't overthink it.

Pro tip: mount it on an interior wall, not near windows or doors or it'll get bad readings. Sounds obvious but about half the ones I see are in terrible spots.

Hot Water Heater Settings

Most are set way higher than needed. You don't need water hot enough to make tea coming out of your tap. Turn it down to 50°C (120°F) - still plenty hot for showers but uses less energy to maintain. This five-minute adjustment has saved some clients 5-10% on their energy bills.

And while you're at it, throw an insulating blanket around that tank. They're cheap, easy to install, and keep the heat where it belongs - in the water, not your utility room.

Electric cars are great. If you can afford one, go for it. But for the other 90% of us driving what we already own, here's how to cut carbon without cutting your bank account in half.

Combine Errands (Seriously)

Most car engines run most efficiently once they're warmed up. A bunch of short trips from cold starts wastes a ton of fuel. We worked with a family who changed their routine to do all their errands in one trip instead of spread throughout the week. Saved them about 20% on gas, which is a pretty big deal with today's prices.

Try planning a loop instead of back-and-forth trips. Hit the grocery store, then the pharmacy, then the kid's activities, all in one go before heading home. Less backtracking = less fuel used.

Tire Pressure (The Thing Everyone Forgets)

Low tire pressure kills your fuel economy. Most people I talk to haven't checked theirs in... ever? That little sticker inside your driver's door tells you what it should be. Gas stations have free air pumps. This literally costs nothing and can improve fuel efficiency by 3-5%.

I check mine every month when I fill up. Takes maybe 3 minutes total. Been doing it for years and my tires last longer too, which saves even more money and resources.

Consider Carpooling (Just Once a Week)

Nobody's saying give up your car or carpool every day. But if you commute, finding just ONE day a week to carpool with a coworker cuts your commuting footprint by 20%. One day. That's it.

We've got a neighbour who drives down to Orleans every Tuesday and Thursday. Turns out another guy on our street works like 2 blocks away from her office. They started riding together on Tuesdays. No big lifestyle disruption, just a simple connection that saves them both money and cuts emissions.

Food choices are personal. Nobody should be telling you exactly what to eat. But if you're looking to reduce your carbon footprint through diet, here are some changes that make the biggest difference without requiring a complete lifestyle overhaul.

Reduce Food Waste (The Big One)

About 30% of the food we buy ends up in the trash. That's all the resources used to grow, process, package, and transport it - wasted. Start with a meal plan before shopping. Buy only what you need. Learn to love leftovers.

We've been tracking our household waste for the past year. Got it down to about 10% just by being more intentional about using what we buy. The financial savings have been huge too - probably $200 a month for our family of four.

Eat Seasonally and Locally (When Possible)

Flying strawberries from Mexico in January takes a lot of fuel. Trucking them from a farm 30km away in July takes a lot less. Farmer's markets, CSA boxes, and even just checking origin labels at the grocery store helps.

I'm not perfect with this. Nobody is. But making it a habit to check where stuff comes from and choosing local options when they're available (and affordable) adds up over time.

Cut Back on Red Meat (Notice I Didn't Say Eliminate)

Beef production has a much higher carbon footprint than chicken, pork, or plant proteins. You don't have to go vegan to make a difference. Even switching from beef to chicken a couple times a week makes a significant impact.

My partner and I do "meatless Mondays" and limit red meat to once a week. That's it. No major lifestyle change, but it cuts our dietary carbon footprint substantially. Plus we've discovered some pretty amazing vegetarian recipes we wouldn't have tried otherwise.