This fall, Kelowna residents will be putting technology to the test – are you up for the challenge?

To be honest, it’s not actually all that challenging. It’s easy to join in and reap the benefits.

Photo Credit: Contributed

Essentially, FortisBC’s Innovative Technologies team is assessing new energy-efficient technologies, and they’ve chosen Kelowna as the test market for an emerging product: smart thermostats.

Here’s how it works: if you meet the criteria, install an eligible smart thermostat and are accepted into the pilot, you can receive a $100 rebate paid as FortisBC bill credits – and hopefully save energy in your home for years to come!

So, what are smart thermostats, anyways? Like a regular thermostat, they help to control the temperature of your home. But unlike a traditional or even programmable thermostat, smart thermostats actually use sensors and analytics to learn your behaviours and habits, like when you wake up in the morning and come home from work, as well as your temperature preferences, in order to encourage energy savings.

You can even control your smart thermostat and monitor your energy usage through smartphone apps. I mean, what will they think of next?

Smart thermostats have the potential to help us conserve energy, but the truth is, we just aren’t sure to what extent. That’s where this test pilot comes in, and it can’t be done without your help.

If you’re a residential FortisBC natural gas or electricity customer in Kelowna, have lived in your home for at least one year, and are willing to try out a smart thermostat, then you could be eligible for the program.

The pilot program's application period is running from September 1st to December 1st, so act sooner rather than later! For more information on eligibility and how to sign up for the pilot, click here.