HawthorneVillager.com

I've been reading through these posts while searching the term "ecobee":

search.php?keywords=ecobee&terms=all&author=&sc=1&sf=all&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Trying to decide on which Smart WiFi Thermostat to get, can anyone with a decent set of knowledge on the technology make an informed recommendation?

EcoBee via Milton Hydro Peaksaver Plus program
Free? Any hidden fees?
http://www.miltonhydro.com/peaksaver
Are there any gotcha's? Any contracts locked into?
Looks like they need to install. Can I install myself (am fully capable), or do they need to come do it?
Are additional devices installed in the home besides the thermostat? The agreement speaks of Load Control Devices.

Nest Learning Thermostat
$249 (or cheaper via online order?)
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/learnin ... gen/814462
Lots of discussion here about this.
I have nothing to hide, and don't mind the G-man watching over my shoulder, not like they aren't doing it anyway with my computer and internet usage.

Honeywell Smart WiFi Colour Thermostat
$249
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/smart-w ... tat/834318
Appears to be a straightforward install, looks decent on the wall, and intuitive to use?

Thanks in advance for your advice,

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J

For the Honeywell, you need a c wire, most new homes don't have one. You can get around it by adding additional components, but much easier if you have the c wire.

I joined PeakSavers and got my Ecobee the first week they offered the program. Milton Hydro sent a guy out to the house to install and then show us how it worked. The App (apple) works perfectly with the unit, in the house and outside the house via 3G, it's a replica of the actual screen so easy to use. It has a compainion website you can log into and it has a complete breakdown of usages and power usage of the house. I also like that you can set a Humidity alert, and it will email you that the house it high humidity.

It doesn't have the "AI" feature that Nest has, or the brand name of Honeywell, but I am happy with it. A few cons; The screen is SUPER bright even on the lowest setting. I also find the touch screen is not well organized. They have setup certain areas to touch to adjust the temp, but they are not labelled, so it's just learning experience before you know what you are doing. I sometimes have to hit touch screen buttons a couple of times before the unit registers.

All and all, I am quite happy with the unit, and the experience with Milton Hydro.

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Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

Thanks Wyl, what's the situation with the Load Control Devices? How do they control the load on your Central Air/Hot Water Tank, Pool Pump (if you have one), etc?

_________________
J

They installed a white box, about the size of a typical modem very close to the furnace. I believe the basic function of this box is to receive communication from Milton Hydro during high peak events.

During high peak events, they will raise the temperature of the house by about 2 degrees for an hour or 2. Since I have an energy star home, we have never noticed the changes. I think last year, there was 10 events total. Since I don't have a pool pump, I have no idea what it would do... maybe lower the CFM of the pump?

_________________
Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

Milton Hydro can control your A/C from May to September during days where the provincial peak load is high. These events are initiated provincially by the Ontario Power Authority. Last year there were 2 events one of which was a test. This year there have been none. You can find more about the program here: https://www.ccmanager.ca/peaksaverFaqs.asp.

Milton Hydro is currently installing the second generation ecobee Smart SI which is not the touch screen model.

Honeywell has a new unit called the Lyric. http://lyric.honeywell.com/. It uses your phones geolocation to make schedule changes. Not sure if its available in Canada yet.

If go with the Nest I would recommend you install a common wire if you don't already have one. The Nest uses a power stealing scheme to charge its battery that powers the unit. When you furnace or A/C is running in a no-common wire setup the battery is unable to charge. This could cause the battery to drain and lead to your furnace or A/C shutting down for hours to allow the battery to charge. Also if your tstat is not in a high traffic area you'll most likely have to disable the learning features on the Nest and program it manually.

The power stealing the Nest does is using the current from the other wires (not "C") to charge its battery.
The problem with this is, it may turn on your furnace without you wanting it to to get current from those wires.
The "C" wire is like having a constant, and I would also recommend having this.

No complaints with my ecobee.

Regarding the Ecobee, is your water heater/tank rented? If so, did you get written permission from the owner (Reliance or whoever) before getting the Ecobee setup installed ?
I'm asking as when reading the fine print , this was one of the conditions set out before joining the Peaksaver program.

You may have misread that. It was in regards to the property being rented/leased not the hot water tank. You need owner permission if you are a tenant.

I can confirm at the time of installation a few weeks ago, I got the ecobee Smart Thermostat, not the SI version.

_________________
Pain is Temporary Pride is forever

This is what's on the website:

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Can I enroll in the peaksaver PLUS® program?
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Any residential customer of a participating LDC who has central air conditioning, an electric Water Heater, or a Pool Pump is eligible for the peaksaver PLUS® program. You must own the home or building, or have approval from the landlord.
If you are renting a water heater from a rental company you MUST have written approval from the rental company.

Business customers are eligible if your air conditioners and water heater are approximately the same size as those used by residential customers. If you have your landlord or property manager's approval to participate, have them contact us to enroll in the program.

Source: https://www.ccmanager.ca/peaksaverFaqs.asp

I'll have that updated. We are not controlling electric water heaters or pool pumps in Milton.

Wait ... you can have it updated?? You manage that program/website? cool!

Anyway, since I have your attention - what is the out clause? Is there a fixed term/contract for the EcoBee? Cancellation fee etc?