EmPOWERing Bridgewater Homeowners
The Town of Bridgewater has gained a reputation across Canada as a leader in reducing energy poverty at the community level. Part of the reason is our unique approach to environmental sustainability and the climate crisis. Energize Bridgewater tackles environmental issues such as energy efficiency as a part of—not separate from—social issues such as affordability. This holistic approach promises community-wide benefits, especially for low-income and median-income residents.
Track at Home is one of several programs offered through Energize Bridgewater. Formerly called EMIS (Energy Management Information System), the program has been re-branded to highlight the active role of residents in monitoring and managing their household energy use. The aim is to help homeowners save money and reduce their carbon footprint. At the same time, the Town of Bridgewater will gain insights into community-wide energy-use patterns and can create new energy efficiency and social programs in response.
How Does Track at Home Work?
Each home in this voluntary program will receive a wireless sensor that collects information about indoor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels. With participants’ consent, Track at Home will also monitor household electricity use through data provided by Nova Scotia Power. Integrated with information about outdoor weather conditions, Track at Home will provide real-time monitoring of energy use and home comfort that residents can access through a web portal on their computer or mobile phone.
How Track at Home Differs From Other Programs
Dr. Asad Hussain is the Senior Energy Manager with Energize Bridgewater and the project lead for Track at Home. We asked Asad how this project is different from other, perhaps more familiar, energy management systems such as Nova Scotia Power’s MyEnergy Insights, and here’s what we learned:
First, Track at Home is comprehensive. It integrates household electricity use with indoor and outdoor conditions to give residents the information they need to lower costs and save energy. The data analysis systems developed by Energize Bridgewater will show electricity consumption and how this consumption relates to outdoor weather and indoor comfort. Indoor air quality is assessed through humidity and CO2 levels. If a home’s air quality is poor, Track at Home will alert the homeowner and they can take steps like getting a dehumidifier or considering different airflow measures for their home. It will also show environmental impact and how much the homeowner has spent on electricity in the previous few days. This knowledge can help homeowners make decisions. For example, they may make simple changes within their homes like opening or closing windows or adjusting their thermostats. They might also consider larger changes like adding insulation or accessing government heat-pump or solar programs.
Second, the Energize Bridgewater team has worked hard to make Track at Home a user-friendly experience. A unique web portal has been developed and is undergoing many rounds of testing to ensure it is intuitive and accessible. Energize Bridgewater is also creating a dedicated webpage to explain the Track at Home program as well as a complete education program on energy-efficient and sustainable living.
Third, Track at Home is not a stand-alone program. While empowering residents to make individual decisions about their home, lifestyles, and finances, Track at Home also enables all three levels of government to implement programs and policies that help everyone. This is possible because Track at Home will collect information from users across the community while ensuring rigorous privacy standards. This aggregate information will inform all programs—social, economic, health, education, transportation, and environment—with a particular focus on assisting low-income households. By taking this wide-focus, proactive approach and prioritizing the needs of vulnerable residents, Track at Home promises community-wide benefits.
Next Steps for Track at Home
Track at Home is currently in the pilot stage. Several homes are now equipped with sensors that are collecting data. The Energize Bridgewater team is working to refine the web portal and data display that residents will see. They are also working on the technical challenge of integrating information from indoors, outdoors, and Nova Scotia Power. The next step is to provide residents in the pilot project with real-time access to the data, again refining the system based on their feedback. Once the system has been thoroughly tested, it will roll out to more homes in the community.
Ultimately, Energize Bridgewater hopes Track at Home will be adopted in other regions. The technology is scalable for larger or smaller communities and can be customized for different climates, demographics, and building types. This made-in-Bridgewater program will help address environmental sustainability as well as inequity, affordability, and accessibility in our community and beyond.