[getsmart-l] ONTARIO: Seven Conservation Projects Receive Special Funding

[Media Release]

Emacs!



Seven Conservation Projects Receive Special Funding

Ontario Power Authority's Conservation Fund supports innovative pilot projects

(TORONTO, August 8, 2007)  The Ontario Power 
Authority's Conservation Fund will provide 
financial support for seven conservation-related 
programs designed for residential, commercial, 
industrial and institutional markets across the 
province.  This is the first of 3 rounds of 
funding that will be awarded this year.

The seven projects, chosen from 11applications, 
will receive almost $1.5 million from the Fund.

"It's an exciting challenge for us to determine 
which of the many excellent applications show the 
most potential for success and, ultimately, 
province-wide implementation," says Bryan Young, 
Conservation Fund Manager.  "The successful 
proponents are action-oriented, sector-specific 
projects that will help us design new and better 
conservation programs for Ontario's electricity consumers."

The Ontario Power Authority launched the 
Conservation Fund in 2005 to provide assistance 
to sector-specific conservation education and 
electricity reduction pilot projects that foster 
the development of a culture of conservation in 
Ontario.  The projects that receive funding come 
from across the many sectors of Ontario's 
economy.  To date, the Fund has provided support 
totaling almost $4 million to 44 projects.

Young points out that because of Fund support, 
the projects also receive funding from other 
sources.  "Every dollar of this funding has 
leveraged more than two dollars in partner support," he adds.

The application deadline for the next round of 
awards is September 6, 2007.  Complete details of 
the application criteria, the application process 
and other successful applicants can be found at www.powerauthority.on.ca/cfund.


Here are the seven successful projects for the first round of funding:

Energy Efficiency Education Program for Trade 
Contractors: This project will provide training 
and information to trade contractors to enable 
them to recognize and promote energy efficient 
opportunities to their small and medium sized 
customers, define retrofit projects, develop 
cost/benefit analyses, access existing incentives 
through a website, and offer the total package to their customers.

ENERGY STAR® for New Homes: This project aims to 
improve the energy efficiency of thousands of new 
houses being built in Ontario every year.  On top 
of the 30% energy savings over code-built houses, 
each ENERGY STAR qualified new home delivers 
upwards of 1 kW of electricity demand reduction 
on an annual basis.  The project will deliver 
marketing materials and training to support 
builders in the Greater Toronto Area as they 
convert to ENERGY STAR.  It will also track 
consumer attitudes, measure the aggregate 
energy/electricity savings ESNH delivers, and 
develop ways to further increase electrical 
savings through a lighting study.  http://www.esnewhomes.ca

Greening Sacred Spaces Phase II: This project 
will build on the success of Phase I by piloting 
the development of a "package deal" of energy 
conservation services for greening faith 
communities, focusing on energy audits and 
retrofits.  It will explore the scalability of 
operations by liaising with 100 faith communities 
in Ottawa, Toronto and Waterloo, 50 of whom will 
engage in audits and retrofits.  At the end of 
the project they will be able to promote a 
service that can quickly grow to meet the 
electricity reduction needs of the 7,000 places 
of worship in Ontario.  http://faith-commongood.net

Market-Driven Incentives for the Residential 
Sector:  Green$aver will deliver energy 
efficiency education to realtors, home 
inspectors, mortgage providers, insurers and 
banks, to help each use energy (and 
environmental) performance as a means develop 
products, services and incentives to encourage 
customers to invest in energy improvements.  All 
components will be underpinned by a Home Energy 
Performance (HEP) Certificate and accompanying 
report with standardized energy performance and 
recommended upgrades that addresses both space 
heating and electricity use. This project targets 
the Greater Toronto Area residential sector.  http://www.greensaver.org

Direct Install Small Business Pilot: This pilot 
will test program design and market response to a 
range of programs involving a number of 
partners.  The pilot will target four small 
business areas in York (Vaughan, Richmond Hill, 
Aurora, Markham) and will deliver a maximum of 
180 energy audits and retrofits.  The audits will 
determine which energy efficiency measures give 
the best return on investment. The pilot relies 
on strong partnerships with Powerstream, 
Enbridge, Markham Energy Conservation Office and 
Energy Shop.  Each partner will be providing 
co-funding, in-kind contributions, and/or 
operational and project support.  http://www.greensaver.org

OFIA 2007 Energy Management Program:  Building on 
the success of the 2006 program, and the positive 
response to the interim program, the Ontario 
Forest Industry Association will focus on driving 
real energy savings at the mills, to further 
encourage continued participation, and to expand 
the number of participants.  Critical to the 
success of this program is encouraging the site 
teams to institute the cultural changes required 
to sustain energy savings over the long 
term.  OFIA will achieve this through a 
combination of site energy audits (that will 
include an evaluation of the mill's energy 
management practices), a roving energy manager, a 
help desk facility, regular webinars, and the 
appointment of a part-time OFIA Energy 
Conservation Officer.  http://www.ofia.com

Energy Management and Engagement Program for 
University Health Network Hospitals: The 
University Health Network proposes to design and 
implement an energy management and engagement 
program for hospital employees and 
residents.  This program will be piloted at 
Toronto Western Hospital with a view to rolling 
out the program to the UHN member hospitals.  The 
energy management and engagement program is a 
tool for engaging all members of the hospital 
community to work together to make behavioural, 
process and equipment changes that will increase 
awareness and reduce consumption of 
electricity.  The program will consist of four 
major components at UHN hospitals: employee 
engagement, social marketing, operator and senior 
management training, and retro-commissioning of equipment.  http://www.uhn.ca

-30-

OPA Media Contact:   416-969-6307


About The Ontario Power Authority
In pursuit of its mandate of ensuring an 
adequate, long-term supply of electricity for 
Ontario, the OPA creates and implements 
conservation and demand management programs, 
ensures adequate investment in new supply 
infrastructure, performs long-term, electricity 
system planning, and facilitates the development 
of a more sustainable competitive electricity system.
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