Despite the end of grants under Canada’s national eco-energy for homes program on March 31, with rising costs of energy, homeowners can find practical ways to cut energy use and the Elora Environment Centre offers them some help.
Smart energy use and water protection are the priority areas for the EEC, which is launching new services to help people save energy in their homes. Those developments signal a continued commitment to working together for healthier homes and sustainable communities.
“The EEC has delivered home energy evaluations since 1994, before there were grants for homeowners,” said general manager Kathy Maggs. “We will continue to offer energy evaluations and other services. Rising energy bills and protection of our water resources are both growing concerns in our community and we are responding with new initiatives that address these issues.”
While the Elora Centre is largely known for home energy evaluations that address insulation, air leakage, and heating systems, the new electrical check-up has its eye on cutting hydro bills.
“People want to use electricity wisely, especially with rising rates and time of use billing on the horizon,” said Don Eaton, a senior associate and certified energy advisor with the Elora Centre who was part of the team that designed the new audit. “Our electrical check-up gives people personalized and practical ways to do this. In the homes we’ve done so far we’ve identified $150 to $1000 savings potential per year. Many of the changes we recommend are simple. You can begin saving that day, immediately,” said Eaton.
The EEC is committed to providing the tools and knowledge to take positive environmental action, but now it has more in its inventory of services to offer.
Since 1999, EEC has assessed the energy efficiency of over 30,000 homes from Windsor to Tobermory. Participants who followed the EEC’s energy-saving recommendations collectively reduced over 15,780 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
For more information on energy saving programs, call 519-846-0841 or toll free: 1-866-865-7337 or visit www.eloraenvironmentcentre.ca.
