Decorating & Design
Canadian Creator Duo Shares How SmartEnergy Helps Them Save Money On Their Home
Published on November 20, 2024
Saving money is on everyone’s radar, but finding a few simple steps to make it happen consistently is key.
That is why TELUS launched SmartEnergy to help Canadians manage their home energy use, save money on their energy bills and reduce their environmental footprint, all through one simple app. See how content creator and parents Rini Frey @ownitbabe, and her husband Shaun Frey @ownitdad, are using SmartEnergy to keep their home energy consumption and costs down. Scroll down for their top tips, and don’t forget to take a quick peek at their IG post here.
Rini’s Tip #1: Make It Automated, Make Your Life Easier
Many people don’t realize the simplest actions — automatically adjusting your household temperature by a few degrees when you’re away during the day or sleeping at night, or turning off lights when you leave a room — can add up when it comes to energy savings. Investing in an energy management service like TELUS SmartEnergy and connecting it to compatible smart devices such as thermostats and energy monitoring plugs, allows you to take the guesswork out for you and your family. You’ll also get near-real-time daily, weekly, monthly or yearly insights on your energy usage with tips to maximize your savings. Staying connected and in control means no surprises at the end of the month when your energy bill comes in.
“With SmartEnergy, we’ve been able to automate our daily routines right in the app to use less energy and save more, alleviating the stress put on our family. One of the best features is that it reminds us to set up these routines and automations during peak hours when energy costs are higher, maximizing our savings.”
— Rini Frey
@ownitbabe
Rini’s Tip #2: Find Where You’re Using The Most Energy
Energy drains in your home are hidden costs that everyone can avoid. Smart plugs linked to a SmartEnergy plan allow you to monitor which appliance or device consumes the most energy. Plus, you can automatically power down any appliance or device when they’re not in use, like gaming equipment or a television, helping you conserve energy and better manage your home energy use.
FUN FACT: Devices in your home office or home entertainment centre are usually the culprits consuming energy even when not in use, which can cost you up to $50-200 per year depending on your province.
“SmartEnergy finally gives us clear visibility into our daily energy usage and has opened our eyes to how we can live a more sustainable lifestyle for our kids to model.”
— Shaun Frey
@ownitdad
Rini’s Tip #3: Get Rewarded for Consuming Less
Being a SmartEnergy subscriber, you can participate in energy savings events to reduce strain on the energy grid during peak usage times, all while earning TELUS Rewards for contributing to a healthier planet.
So how does it work? Energy savings events last for one hour and typically happen during the highest energy use times — between 4 pm – 8:30 pm when everyone is returning home from work and school. Opted-in smart plugs will automatically turn off when the event begins and power back up again when the event is over. Similarly, opted-in smart thermostats will temporarily adjust their temperature and automatically return to their previous set point.
NOTE: You choose which devices are opted out of each event so that your previously scheduled activities or lifestyle requirements aren’t interrupted.
“We love taking part in these events and doing our part to reduce our energy consumption when there’s the highest demand on our grid. We can’t wait to get our kids involved to teach them about the importance of conserving energy to reduce their environmental footprint, and even letting them redeem the TELUS Rewards they help accumulate to make it fun!”
— Rini Frey
@ownitbabe
Rini’s Tip #4: It’s Smart Savings That Gives More Savings
SmartEnergy subscribers can save up to 15 percent annually on their energy bills by opting in. Plus for a limited time, you can add a smart thermostat with two smart plugs for only $25 —more than $250 in savings!*
Subscribe to SmartEngergy today. Not only will you start saving on your home energy bills, but you’ll also be actively supporting reforestation efforts. TELUS is planting four trees per year on behalf of each SmartEnergy subscriber. You can increase your impact by redeeming TELUS Rewards for even more tree contributions.
*when you stay subscribed for 24 months.
*NOTE: For Quebec residents, please stay tuned for the launch of SmartEnergy in your province soon.