In line with our mission of making things easy and saving money for Canadians, Acanac launched our very first scholarship contest over the summer of 2017. We asked students across Ontario and Quebec to let us know how High Speed Internet has impacted their field of study by either writing a short essay or sharing a video with us on our Facebook or Twitter pages for a chance to win $1,000. After reviewing hundreds of contest entries, our selection committee chose 6 finalists. We’re pleased to share Akshay’s submission that explores the impact of High Speed Internet on Energy Conservation and the IoT.

Akshay, 2017 Acanac Scholarship Contest Finalist

High Speed Internet and IoT

With our global need to meet growing energy demands, Energy Conservation has become one of the most accessible and effective means for enabling every-day individuals to reduce their environmental footprints. As an Energy Systems Engineer at the University of Toronto, I directed my master’s research towards furthering this endeavor, creating an Internet of Things (IoT) smart plug that eliminates vampiric power consumption in electronic devices. Through the use of the Internet, my system can identify the appliance’s characteristics and compute its control instructions, optimizing the appliance’s operation to conserve energy.

High Speed internet has been an essential force in developing my IoT technology. Faster data rates and larger bandwidths have enabled algorithmic processing over the Internet at levels that were inconceivable in the past. Computations happen within seconds, with information stored online and shared across a myriad of households and users. Now, when you’re under a blanket or away from home, power-hungry appliances like your TV and computer will be limiting their electricity usage. The result is a more energy efficient home and a reduced impact on the environment.

Undoubtedly, more energy conserving technologies will spring up in the future with IoT at its backbone. The Internet is a chasm of endless possibilities, and I plan to turn my possibility into a reality. After graduation, my goal is to commercialize my smart plug on a global scale. High Speed Internet has provided me with the construction tools I need. Now, I work to lay a groundwork where citizens of the world can implement my smart plug in their homes, conserving electricity and safeguarding our environment.

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