Alberta Residential Energy Savings Program

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

The provincial energy program rep I spoke to didn't know, but I do know Ecofitt is the company doing the work. And on their website they have a few products listed, the thermostat may even be a downgrade for some. Not sure if thats the one they'll be using but if so - count me out. https://www.ecofitt.ca/products/

If it is the $49 thermostat shown on their website, it will be a downgrade for anyone except people who still have manual controls. This thing only supports single programming; even my 12 year old Sears unit can adjust separately for evening, daytime, and weekends...

Funnily enough when you click on the PDF, you can see the wholesale pricing that they buy them for at the bottom...

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

The similar amount per household emitted by anyone who would go to a store to buy and change out an LED bulb themselves.

Would you actually like to know?

Say you have 5 incandescent bulbs they switch to LEDs, and let's say they stay on for an average of 4 hours a day (maybe you have more bulbs and you use less, maybe you leave the bulbs on longer, this is just a low-range example).

Your CO2 emissions would go from approximately 230 kg per year, to 23 kg per year, saving 200ish kg over the course of just one year.

So, how much CO2 is used by driving to your house?
An average vehicle expels 0.27kg of CO2 into the atmosphere per KM (efficient cars less, commercial vehicles more). Say the distance between each stop is 45KM (roughly the distance between the Airport and McKenzie Town using the ring road, some will be less, few more).

The amount of CO2 expelled for a 45KM trip in an average vehicle would be 12KG.

So, including the driving around, the CO2 savings from switching just one home to LEDs is approximately 185KG in the first year, and 200KG every year after.

This makes the carbon load of driving around to get these things switched completely irrelevant and pointless to worry about.

Do you make a separate trip to the store for everything you need? If so, I have a suggestion on how to cut down your carbon footprint...

The government is paying people to come out and change light bulbs, what an epic waste of money. It would be better economics (and probably save as much carbon) to just drop off a 6 pack of LEDs at every house, since people will keep free stuff and probably install it themselves when the old ones burn out...

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Couldn't they just ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in Alberta? I think a pack of 60W equivalent LED bulbs isn't bank-breaking ($15?) and they last significantly longer.

You'd probably have near 100% changeover within 5 years.



Because you're sucking government money intended to lower carbon emissions and robbing everyone of the (albeit small) benefit that money is supposed to have so you can have extra LED bulbs instead of replacing higher emission incandescents and more programmable thermostats than you can plug in.

It's parasitic.

So my proactive actions should cost me? While people who have not get the benefit, F that.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Backlunds_socks

So my proactive actions should cost me? While people who have not get the benefit, F that.

As I said, every society has leeches so do your thing. They also have medicine available at the hospital and food available at the DIC if you're worried your health and financial stability is costing you the opportunity for other free stuff.

Most healthy people don't go to the hospital asking for medicine just because some sick people get it, because that'd be stupid. But go replace your LED bulbs with incandescent ones so the government will waste even more taxpayer money on people like you who have already switched.

More taxpayer money wasted, that'll show 'em!

[Jason14h]

Couldn't they partner with a home depo or equivalent, bring thousands of free light bulbs, thermostats, and power bars to their stores and give out for free, and eliminate having to pay people to go change the lightbulbs, etc?

And for the little old ladies on fixed income who have no family member to help them out, we can have a few guys in a truck drive around 1 weekend for beer $ of volunteer their services.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Couldn't they partner with a home depo or equivalent, bring thousands of free light bulbs, thermostats, and power bars to their stores and give out for free, and eliminate having to pay people to go change the lightbulbs, etc?

And for the little old ladies on fixed income who have no family member to help them out, we can have a few guys in a truck drive around 1 weekend for beer $ of volunteer their services.

1 weekend?

I don't think you know the size/ scope of the population I was describing.

As I said earlier, I know about 50 elderly ladies ( and probably another 75 elderly couples) that would benefit. They are scattered across Cochrane, Chestermere, bragg creek, bieseker etc. I am not even considering how many are in Calgary

You are going to have to buy a lot of beer for those guys in the truck.

[Iceman90]

Does anyone know how they're defining "smart thermostat"? The one on their website looks like a standard thermostat with scheduling functionality. Not a Nest, Ecobee, etc which is what I'd define "smart". They do show the Ecobee 3 on their site too.

[puckedoff]

They're not giving you a $400 nest thermostat FFS. Jeez.

[Iceman90]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

They're not giving you a $400 nest thermostat FFS. Jeez.

I am not expecting a Nest for free, but I'd like to know how a thermostat that just has scheduling features is smart. Is a watch that has automatic alarms on it a smart watch?

[OMG!WTF!]

There's really no excuse for not hiring a AB based company. Phillips said the Ontario one was the best price...I believe that but spending more in Alberta still makes sense if for nothing else keeping the tax revenue here. She also said they were the only company that could handle the work....I definitely don't believe that. It's just totally insulting. It will be interesting to see how much work Alberta companies lose because of this and how the NDP dances around that sad fact.

[Regorium]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

There's really no excuse for not hiring a AB based company. Phillips said the Ontario one was the best price...I believe that but spending more in Alberta still makes sense if for nothing else keeping the tax revenue here. She also said they were the only company that could handle the work....I definitely don't believe that. It's just totally insulting. It will be interesting to see how much work Alberta companies lose because of this and how the NDP dances around that sad fact.

This should not matter.

We are one nation, and reducing provincial trade barriers is good for everyone. We should not be protectionist for Albertans.

If Albertans can't compete with Ontarians, then we need to step up our game. Albertan companies have more than enough advantages in bidding for government projects here in Alberta that if we lose a bid, it's likely because we are completely uncompetitive rather than some nefarious NDP conspiracy to enrich Ontario.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Regorium

This should not matter.

We are one nation, and reducing provincial trade barriers is good for everyone. We should not be protectionist for Albertans.

If Albertans can't compete with Ontarians, then we need to step up our game. Albertan companies have more than enough advantages in bidding for government projects here in Alberta that if we lose a bid, it's likely because we are completely uncompetitive rather than some nefarious NDP conspiracy to enrich Ontario.

This isn't about a legislative trade barrier at all. There are no barriers here. Choosing Alberta based contractors happens all the time and you won't consider it protectionist in the slightest. It's a matter of developing a business in Alberta as opposed to Ontario which at this time is worth doing if it costs a bit more. I just believe it would have been smarter, better and ultimately cheaper to help an AB company accomplish this job. And "some nefarious NDP conspiracy to enrich Ontario" is just stupid.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

This isn't about a legislative trade barrier at all. There are no barriers here. Choosing Alberta based contractors happens all the time and you won't consider it protectionist in the slightest. It's a matter of developing a business in Alberta as opposed to Ontario which at this time is worth doing if it costs a bit more. I just believe it would have been smarter, better and ultimately cheaper to help an AB company accomplish this job. And "some nefarious NDP conspiracy to enrich Ontario" is just stupid.

Why would it have been cheaper?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Couldn't they just ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in Alberta? I think a pack of 60W equivalent LED bulbs isn't bank-breaking ($15?) and they last significantly longer.

You'd probably have near 100% changeover within 5 years.

This would be more effective and cheaper. I don't understand how its not the preferred option.

[para transit fellow]

I am just imagining the outcry after banning incandescent light bulbs.

[FireGilbert]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

I am just imagining the outcry after banning incandescent light bulbs.

Yep, I can see the headline from Rebel now: "Ban on incandescent light bulbs proves once again the NDP are communists who hate freedom and Albertans".

Anyways you can never get rid of incandescent bulbs as they are far better as desk and reading lights. It is a good idea for homes and businesses to replace other lights with LEDs however.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by FireGilbert

Anyways you can never get rid of incandescent bulbs as they are far better as desk and reading lights.

And natural gas is far better for things like cooking and heating, yet look at Vancouver.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

The government is paying people to come out and change light bulbs, what an epic waste of money...

It'll be worth it to me if they'd swap out both of those burned out incandescent bulbs over the stairs for functional led bulbs.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by Reaper

It'll be worth it to me if they'd swap out both of those burned out incandescent bulbs over the stairs for functional led bulbs.

I'm considering signing up for the same reason.

[ken0042]

No, those bulbs wouldn't qualify. Your current burnt out incandescent bulbs use less power than a working LED bulb.