These days, saving money is on everyone’s mind, and as the chill of fall and winter starts setting in, it’s only a matter of time before the hydro bill starts to feel the extra heat.
What is there to do? The City of Vancouver has an idea.
A pilot program by the City – in association with Vancity – is investigating the energy and cost saving possibilities of using smart thermostats in single family, duplex and townhomes.
Smart thermostats adapt to a user’s behaviours, predicting when you’re in the home, and adjusts temperatures accordingly. A smart thermostat can also be programmed. For example, a user could program the thermostat to decrease temperatures when they go to bed, but increase it just before they wake up, eliminating the first-thing-in-the-morning race to the shower. You can even manage your heat remotely when you’re out of the house.
These programmable settings can be utilized to carefully manage energy use, potentially leading to lighter hydro bills, less greenhouse gas emissions, and a more convenient and comfortable home.
Image: Nest / Facebook
In exchange for installing a Nest, Honeywell Lyric, or Ecobee3 smart thermostat, and providing energy data, participants in the pilot program will receive a $125 rebate for the purchase of their thermostat.
Homeowners interested in signing up for the pilot program can do so online until September 30.
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