2024-03-17 04:00:00
A father turns off the heating in his home at the start of the morning peak period, following having overheated it at the end of the night. Beyond the financial savings that his sober lifestyle brings him, he is convinced that his actions help guarantee a sustainable future for his children.
With his two daughters and his wife who is of Mexican origin, Denis Boyer lives in housing in the Verdun borough of Montreal. This is a real “crackpot” in energy sobriety.
“If everyone just saved regarding a kilowatt, that would be a huge energy saving,” he said.
During our visit, Mr. Boyer shared his proven techniques for saving energy. With conviction, he emphasizes the importance of reducing electricity consumption during peak periods.
To maximize savings, Mr. Boyer participates in Hydro-Québec’s dynamic billing during the winter. It does all this on its own, without using smart thermostats or Hilo service.
Portrait of Denis Boyer in his condo on Bannantyne Avenue, in Montreal, on Friday February 16, 2024. For a file on citizens’ energy consumption. Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
So, he has a particular routine during the winter peaks. He gets up very early, before the start of the challenges which generally start at 6am. He overheats his 1,600 square foot home, even running his oven at maximum power. Then, at 6 a.m., he turns off the electric heating. He opens the oven door which then releases a lot of heat.
The most important thing, he says, is that you should never fall into discomfort. He is also critical of French methods which limit the temperature to 19 degrees.
“We must not go into discomfort […] My wife is Mexican and is very cold,” says Mr. Boyer, laughing.
It is a heat pump that heats almost the entire home.
Portrait of Denis Boyer in his condo on Bannantyne Avenue, in Montreal, on Friday February 16, 2024. For a file on citizens’ energy consumption. In this photo: Mr. Boyer holds a thermometer in his hand to detect heat leaks. Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY Photo Agence QMI, JOEL LEMAY
Mr. Boyer’s actions are multiple:
- He hasn’t bought a bag of garbage in 20 years. At home, empty potato chip bags serve as garbage bags (see image).
- It reduces electricity consumption during peak periods by adopting energy-saving practices.
- It uses water pots in the refrigerator to get cold water, reducing water waste.
- He takes quick showers by turning off the water to soap up and reducing the water flow to save every drop.
- It maintains a comfortable temperature by adjusting the thermostat and insulating the house well to minimize heat loss.
- He turns off the lights in unused rooms.
- He runs his household appliances offline.
- He lives in density with adjoining neighbors to save energy.
Mr. Boyer’s efforts are not limited to his own home, he said, but extend to his community.
“By reducing my water and energy consumption, I help conserve resources and reduce the load on local infrastructure.”
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