We Asked People To Define Basic Energy-Saving Terms, And It Was...Enlightening

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CLARK: Light-emitting device.

TIM: Low-energy deathray.

MIGUEL: Light energy decrease?

Answer: Light-emitting diode.

LED lightbulbs don’t have filaments and use 70–90% less energy than traditional incandescent lightbulbs! How's that for a bright idea?

DANA: U-nergy value?

TIM: Underwear value.

JANA: The value of me.

Answer: U-value is a measure of thermal transmittance used to evaluate how well buildings are insulated.

Okay, so it's not that basic. But it's worth knowing! The lower the U-value of a material, the more effective its insulation properties. If you're doing home renovations or construction, U-values can help ensure you're not building something that's going to negatively affect your energy savings.

MIGUEL: Low-energy coating, duh.

JANA: My lack of winter-appropriate coats.

TIM: Something my doctor would say to explain why my stomach hurts all the time.

Answer: Low-emissivity coating.

Did you know? Low-e coating is a hyper-thin metallic glaze used on glass windows that allows short-wave solar rays to pass through windows while allowing minimal heat to escape in the other direction! Indoors, 1. Elements, 0.

TIM: When the wind blows off your top hat.

JANA: Deleting your weather app and just living in the moment.

MIGUEL: When the weather strips paint off your fence! You know, like how when you cry mascara runs down your face?

CLARK: Like skinny dipping, but in the rain.

Answer: Weatherstripping is the process of sealing openings in the home, such as doors and windows, from the elements.

Low-e coating isn't the only thing you can do to prevent heat loss! Buy some weatherstripping ahead of the winter season to make sure you're ready to seal up every nook and cranny where the cold could get in or the heat could get out.

CLARK: Power that...feeds off of the energy of paranormal creatures?

MANDY: The power to turn into a ghost and fight demons.

JANA: What I think I have before I actually pick up a heavy box.

Answer: Phantom power, or standby power, refers to the energy that plugged-in appliances are using even when not in use.

Phantom power accounts for up to 10% of the average Canadian home's energy use! If that doesn't haunt your conscience...

MANDY: How Vaping Annoys Climate.

CLARK: Huge V.A.C.U.U.M.

MIGUEL: Heating Vents...and Cooling!

JANA: Haha, Vacuums Are Crazy.

Answer: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.

"HVAC" encompasses the mechanical network that contributes to your thermal comfort, from heating you up in the winter to cooling you down in the summer. You can make your HVAC system more efficient by cleaning filters more regularly and synching it with smart technology.

MIGUEL: A thermostat that went to college.

JANA: My pet name for my thermostat.

MANDY: A thermostat that also keeps me from sending drunk texts to my exes.

Answer: Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature in your home remotely.

What makes them "smart" is that they learn from your behaviours to keep you comfortable while using less energy and can adjust the temperature in your home based on more nuanced factors, such as humidity.

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From LEDs to smart thermostats, Save On Energy has all the information you need to start living your best energy-efficient life!

Additional images by Getty images.