Energy

There’s nothing quite like a Canadian winter. Majestic scenery, fun outdoor activities, and brutally cold days that cause your heating bill to skyrocket. Scientists and engineers at Natural Resources Canada believe a promising technology can help reduce your energy consumption, the heat pump. What are heat pumps? How do they work? Why is everyone talking about them? Are they right for you? Listen to find out.

Are all electric vehicles truly green? How reliable are they, really? How do you charge them? What’s the difference between an EV and a ZEV? Join Simply Science producer Joel Houle as he learns more about electric vehicles (EVs) and other zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) with his friend — and noted ZEV expert — Yves Madore. In the first episode of series, Yves takes Joel to a Transport Canada facility and shows him how ZEVs differ from conventional gas-powered vehicles. They look under the hood, go under the hoist and even get behind the wheel to take an EV out for a spin. Will Yves be brave enough to let Joel drive his car? Watch the video to find out!

What’s the true cost of owning a ZEV? Are they more or less expensive to operate over their lifespan compared with gas-powered vehicles? Are rebates available in Canada? Join Simply Science producer Joel Houle as he learns more about electric vehicles (EVs) and other zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) with his friend — and noted ZEV expert — Yves Madore. In the third episode, Joel introduces Yves to his co-worker Lisa, who is shopping for a new car. Yves tries to steer Lisa toward a ZEV by taking a deep dive into the total cost of owning a ZEV over time, compared with a conventional gas powered vehicle. They crunch numbers, talk about available rebates and go for a test drive in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Yves also answers some fascinating questions such as how cold weather affects ZEV performance.

When doesn’t Sunday fall on a Sunday? When it’s Sun Day, May 3 — a special day set aside every year to appreciate solar energy. As nations around the world look for ways to achieve net-zero emissions, one of the greatest sources of clean energy is beaming down from the blue sky above — on clear days, of course.When doesn’t Sunday fall on a Sunday? When it’s Sun Day, May 3 — a special day set aside every year to appreciate solar energy. As nations around the world look for ways to achieve net-zero emissions, one of the greatest sources of clean energy is beaming down from the blue sky above — on clear days, of course.