Archive for August, 2009

It recently took place in Ontario on August 14th.
The Count Me In! Community Challenge, has taken place on August 14, over the last several years to remember the anniversary of the North American blackout in 2003.

According to their web site the “Count Me In!

Community Challenge is comprised of two challenges:
• The highest percentage drop in electricity consumption on August 14, and
• The highest per capita participation in the Count Me In! pledge drive between now and August 14.

The Community Challenge is a joint initiative of the OPA, the City of Woodstock – which has led a municipal Blackout Day Challenge for the past several years – the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and the Electricity Distributors Association (EDA).”

It is a challenge between the cities of Ontario to see who can save the most energy on that particular day. Though it is all taken as a fun challenge between the cities it is a serious effort to raise awareness of the need to be conscientious of the way we use our energy resources.

On their site they list 100 ways to save energy and below I have listed their top 10.

For Homeowners
1 Schedule an energy audit of my home — and act on the results.
The Government of Ontario will help fund an audit and related retrofits to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Get more information from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure at www.homeenergyontario.ca or by calling 1-888-668-4636

2 Have my central air conditioning and furnace serviced.
Use a licensed HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professional to ensure maximum performance.

3 Clean my air conditioning unit’s condenser of dirt and debris.

4 Clean or replace my furnace filter (especially, if I have central A/C).
Change or clean it monthly through the summer and every three months in winter.

5 Install a programmable thermostat.
A properly set programmable thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 10 per cent.

6 Improve the insulation of my home.

7 Reduce air leakages in my home.
Caulk around windows, apply good quality weather stripping around doors, and install foam gaskets behind the cover plates of lighting fixtures, wall switches and receptacle face plates, especially on exterior facing walls.

8 Sign up for peaksaver® (if available where I live).
Allow your utility to turn down your air conditioner for short periods during hot summer weekdays when the demand for electricity is high. (Visit everykilowattcounts.ca to find out more about the program and the cash incentives).

9 Right-size my refrigerator.
Even an energy-efficient model can’t give you maximum savings if it’s too big for your needs.

10 Get rid of my old energy-guzzling second fridge.
Take advantage of the Great Refrigerator Round Up! (Visit everykilowattcounts.ca to find out more about the program).

What about you? Are you ready for the challenge to save energy? Yes I know this year’s challenge is over and you may not even live in Ontario so what can you do? You can do a lot. Start at home and reduce your energy consumption. Have a friend or neighborhood challenge. Have fun but get started.
To check out the complete list go to countmeinontario.ca