Better energy efficiency through technology

Home automation for comfort and savings

What is a smart home, exactly? It’s a home in which many systems are automated. Examples include remotely setting and adjusting heating and air conditioning in every room, programming your lights to turn on and off based on the time of day and your needs, and even activating certain appliances and electronic devices from a smartphone, tablet, or computer, whether you’re at the office or at the other end of the world. Some solutions can even link up to your alarm system to automatically lower the heat and turn off the lights when the alarm system is activated.

Smart thermostats and other smart home devices

Not ready for fullblown home automation? Choosing a few smart home devices can still simplify your life and, more often than not, save you money. Take smart thermostats. Using a timer, these handy little devices can lower the temperature in each room throughout the day, depending on when and where you spend time. This can save you 10–20% on your heating bill and about 15% on air conditioning. A word to the wise: simply using smart devices doesn’t guarantee savings. For that, you’ll have to learn how to program them properly. CAA-Quebec Residential Advisory Services can help you with that.

Energy monitors

This device breaks down your energy consumption in real time. Depending on the model, you’ll be able to see the consumption and cost of each appliance, as well as your phantom load, i.e., how much power your appliances and devices drain when they’re plugged in but not in use. You’ll also be able to check your consumption history, peak hours, and carbon footprint and see a list of your most energyhungry appliances. Some monitors can even notify you if an appliance malfunctions.

Solar technology: an alternative source of energy

The beauty of solar energy is that it’s free, inexhaustible, clean, and green. How does it work? Solar cells installed on your building capture the energy of sunlight and turn it into electricity. That being said, even though solar panels eventually pay for themselves, they aren’t widely used in Quebec, since hydroelectricity is affordable enough to make the cost savings of a solar panel negligible. Nevertheless, solar panels can be a great solution for powering an offgrid cottage, a shed, or a garage.  The best thing to do is discuss your plans with a reliable professional and take the time to calculate the full cost of installation versus the potential savings.

The best ways to save on your energy bill

Saving energy shouldn’t be complicated. All it takes to bring down your bill is a few changes to your habits and fixtures:

• Replace incandescent lightbulbs with LED bulbs
• Swap your old showerhead for a watersaving model
• Install a drainwater heat exchanger
• Use a shower timer
• Reduce your energy consumption during peak hours to reap the benefits of Hydro-Quebec’s dynamic pricing (Winter Credit and Flex D Rate)
• Install an ENERGY STAR® certified water heater (uses approximately 30% less energy than a model with a storage tank)

Did you know? Water heaters account for 20% of the energy used annually by the average Canadian household. Plus, if your water heater starts to leak because it’s old, your insurer may refuse to pay for the damage to your home.

See what your insurance policy covers.

Apps to help you save

1. HOMEFRIEND (free) stores all your energy bills (electricity, gas, water) in one place and offers a comparison with similar households. homefriend.com
2. SMAPPEE ($) works with a monitor that pulls the data from your counters via WiFi. The app shows you how much electricity, solar energy, gas, and water your household is consuming in real time. smappee.com
3. SENSEHOME ($) also displays your energy consumption in real time. It’s linked to a Sense home energy monitor or a Wiser monitor connected to your electrical panel. sense.com
4. ENERGYCLOUD ($) allows you to monitor your energy consumption in real time and compare it with your use history. bluelineinnovations.com
5. ECOSOURCE ($) allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature of your home using Smart-e. ecosource-canada.ca