For more than 77 years, Cyrille Arseneau has called the Bathurst region home. Over the decades, he has lived in several houses – some he bought, some he built and some he renovated with his own hands.

“I was very interested in renovations,” Cyrille says. “And I pushed myself a lot for energy-related things.”
 
When he and his wife bought their current 1960s home, they quickly realized there wasn’t enough insulation. The aging oil furnace and tank also raised concerns for both them and their insurance company.
 
“We would never have been comfortable with that old furnace setup: it was noisy and it shook.”

Finding the Right Help at the Right Time

During a local home show, Cyrille picked up a pamphlet for SaveEnergyNB’s Total Home Energy Savings Program which promised expert assessments, a step-by-step plan and help accessing rebates. Cyrille made a call. Soon after, a registered  Energy Advisor arrived to complete a home energy evaluation, testing the home for air leaks and heat loss.

“He told me ‘Here’s where your house isn’t performing well and here’s what you have to do’,” Cyrille recalls.
 
The Energy Advisor gave him a recommended list of improvements.

Improving the Home Step by Step

Cyrille began with the biggest priorities. He removed the oil system which reduced insurance concerns and prepared the home for cleaner heating. He improved insulation and sealed air leaks to keep heat inside.

Heat pumps came next. They offered steady warmth in winter and balanced humidity in summer without the cost or discomfort of the old setup.

“To heat comfortably with oil, it would have cost double compared to the electric heat pumps,” he says. By switching from oil to heat pumps, they save about $1,900 a year on oil costs. Now paying about $600 more in electricity for heating, their net projected savings are about $1.378 a year.
 
The work took some time, but the benefits were clear from the first winter.
 
“I saw right away that the house held its heat,” says Cyrille.

Comfort That Changes Daily Life

Today, the house feels settled, warm and balanced. The drafts are gone. The air feels even from room to room. Humidity stays stable. And the heating bills fit comfortably within their retirement budget.

For Cyrille and his wife Noella, the emotional impact is just as meaningful as the financial one. The house feels good to live in every single day.

“She tells me at least ten times a month how good she feels and how comfortable she is.”
 
After a lifetime of building and improving homes, Cyrille sees this one as something special, not because it’s new, but because it now performs exactly the way it should.

“My house is as good as, and better than, a new house.”
 
A Lasting Difference for Home Comfort & Energy Savings

The SaveEnergyNB Total Home Energy Savings program helped Cyrille identify the right steps, access rebates and transform an aging home into a comfortable, efficient space.

For him and his wife, the result is simple: a home that feels peaceful, affordable and built for the years ahead.