In London, electrical energy traditionally has come from 3 sources: 50% nuclear, 27% coal and 23% hydro. By reducing our energy consumption, we reduce problems plaguing each of these areas. Less nuclear power use, reduces nuclear production residue, less hydro-electric power spares natural areas from flooding and finally, less reliance on coal reduces air pollution and greenhouse gases and non-renewable resources expended with energy production.

Ontario currently relies on fossil fuels to generate over 25% of its electricity demand, thus, every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity generated produces on average 270 kilograms (kg) of carbon dioxide (CO2), 3.7 kgs of sulphur dioxide and 1.1 kgs of nitrogen oxides into the air yearly and also contributes to smog.
Source: London’s CLEAR Network – Air Quality and Climate Change Report (http://www.clear.london.ca/Air_Quality_Residential_Electric_Consumption.html)

Ontario, however, is the first jurisdiction in the world to commit to phasing out use of coal power. Nanticoke, the largest coal-fired power plant in North America and Lambton’s plant, near Sarnia is Ontario’s second highest air polluter. Both influence London’s air. In 2005, Ontario’s coal-fired plants produced as much pollution as 5.6 million cars. According to a Ministry of Environment report in 2005, the province’s health and environmental costs associated with these plants exceeds $3.3 billion per year.

Alternatives such as solar power, geothermal, biomass, wind, water (tides) and waste provide new options. Energy from landfill waste, ethanol from grains and electricity from wind and photovoltaics are growing in importance in Southwestern Ontario.

A major provincial open-market supplier of green energy available in London is Bullfrog Power whose generators meet or exceed the federal government’s Environmental Choice Program EcoLogoM standard for renewable electricity.

Incentives

To verify federal, provincial and local incentives for London homeowners, please visit the federal web listing or call toll free 1 800 622-6232. Also, visit the Ontario Power Authority’s web listing or call toll free 1-800-797-9604.

EnerGuide for Houses relaunched as the ecoENERGY retrofit program in April 2007 to end March 31, 2011. The provincial Ministry of Energy has also created the Ontario Home Energy Retrofit program to support the federal incentive and has extended the PST rebate to January 1, 2010 for renewable energy installations.

Businesses that deliver ecoENERGY retrofits in London are:

• Reduce your night thermostat setting to 17°C - also use this setting if nobody is home during the day, use 20°C for when people are home
• Close off unused rooms - reduce temperature to a minimum of 10°C and close heating vents in these rooms if possible
• Close drapes or insulated shutters at night to reduce heat loss; open them during the day for sunlight
• Keep air registers and radiators clean and free from obstructions
• Clean furnace filters regularly
• Have your furnace serviced annually and check accuracy of thermostat
• Seal furnace ductwork with duct tape and insulate hot air ducts passing through unheated spaces
• Close fireplaces and woodstove dampers tightly when not used
• Keep exhaust fans in good repair - minimize their use in winter
• Install fences, hedges or trees as energy-saving windbreakers
• If reinsulating your home, determine if the furnace could be downsized

• Turn the thermostat on your water heater down to 49°C if possible (this is if your dishwasher has a booster)
• Upgrade the hot water tank insulation to RSI 3.5 (R20) by wrapping it with glass fibre insulation
• Insulate hot water pipes - cool basements or crawl spaces
• Drain about 4.5 litres of water every 2 months from the hot water tank to remove sediment and reduce scaling
• Turn off your water heater during vacations or weekends away

• Turn off all unnecessary lights
• Use low-watt bulbs whenever possible
• Convert to fluorescent lights where practical and visually acceptable
• Keep bulbs and fixtures clean
• Install dimmer switches on incandescent bulbs
• Use task lighting (a smaller light close to the point of use)
• Make optimal use of natural light and track lighting
• Minimize decorative lighting
• Use switched, exterior lighting instead of dusk-to-dawn, motion-sensitive or timed types
• When decorating note: ceilings, walls, floors and furniture with light-coloured finishes reflect more light, whereas rooms with dark colours absorb light and require more lighting
• Use LED Christmas lights as they use 75% less electricty than traditional mini-lights and 98% less electricity than a 5 watt incandescent bulb

When the time comes to replace appliances, think of both unit price and operation cost (use the 'EnerGuide' label to calculate costs). Any energy efficient appliance may cost a bit more but pays for itself in savings.

ENERGY STAR qualified appliances incorporate advanced technologies that use 10–50% less energy and water than standard models. Look for energy-efficient clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers with the ENERGY STAR label on the appliance, the packaging or the EnerGuide label.

The life of an appliance varies depending on type and amount of use. As a rough estimate, dishwashers last about 13 years, fridges 17 years, clothes washers 14 years, electric stoves and dryers 18 years and freezers 21 years.

• Avoid overloading unit - inside air circulation is important
• Don't keep the door open any longer than necessary
• Locate away from heating sources
• Thaw frozen foods in refrigerator to help keep fridge cool
• Ensure cooling coils on back of fridge are clean - this is where the heat is released from the fridge
• Leave space around the back and sides of unit for air circulation over the cooling coils
• Check to see door seals are tight by closing fridge door on a piece of paper and trying to remove paper - it should be snug
• Defrost fridge when 7 mm. of frost is in the freezer section

• Chest freezers are more efficient than upright models
• Don't buy a freezer with more space than you need

• Use pots and pans with tight fitting lids and match pot to burner size
• Use energy-efficient double-boilers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, steamers and electric kettles when possible
• Self-cleaning ovens are better insulated than regular ovens - in regular use, they will use less energy
• Oven preheating takes 10 minutes and is only necessary when baking
• Keep oven door closed - up to 20% of the heat is lost when it is open
• Look for gas ranges with electronic ignitions - a pilot light burns gas all the time
• Smooth surface cooktops, with burners under glass, use more energy
• Keep drip pans clean - this conserves heat reflecting it back to the pot
• Turn off the oven several minutes before food is finished cooking - the remaining heat will complete the task
• Make sure the oven door seals tightly

• Clean dishwasher screen regularly
• Only run when there is a full load and during "off peak" hours
• Try 'econo' cycles - they use less water and energy
• Always air dry your dishes instead of using the electric dry
• If buying an "energy efficient" dishwasher, make sure that it has a hot water booster. You can then reduce your hot water tank to 49°C

• Front loading machines generally use less water than top load machines
• Whenever possible, use warm or cold washes and rinses instead of hot
• Wash full loads only

• Hang clothes to dry whenever possible - clean the filter after every load - clean the dryer motor, drum and pipes annually
• Avoid over-drying - use automatic controls if you have them
• Avoid partial loads
• Vent your dryer to the outdoors - this uses less energy than when venting inside

Alternative Energies

Solar - Sunlight can be used directly to provide space heating in buildings, and/or hot water; it can also be converted into electricity.
Wind - Used widely for water pumping, but can also be used to generate electricity for grid supply and remote operation.
Wood - A lot of household heat can escape up a fireplace or wood stove chimney; check the flue damper is snug and closed when not in use.

Planning for the Future

The Ontario Ministry of Energy’s responsibility is to ensure that Ontario’s electricity system functions at the highest level of reliability and productivity. The decision-making of this ministry is of prime importance to municipalities in protecting the environment, developing renewables, cleaner fuels, new ideas and technologies. Also, the fostering of a conservation culture for Ontario’s electricity future to protect citizens in future global energy markets is paramount. Coal now accounts for 16 per cent of Ontario’s overall energy mix – down from 25% in 2003 – as conservation, nuclear power and renewable energy increasingly contribute to the province’s total supply.

The ministry has a number of initiatives underway, ie 36 renewable energy projects being built include one of the world’s largest solar farms for Sarnia. Taken together, these projects will generate 250 megawatts of renewable energy enough to power more than 55,000 homes and add 1,000 megawatts of clean energy to the grid over the next 10 years. The recent demolition of the Lakeview Generating station, the largest source of Greater Toronto area pollution moves forward the phaseout of coal power plants by 2014. http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/index.cfm?fuseaction=english.main

Additional concerns of declining fossil fuels, specifically consequences of a peak in world oil and gas production are predicted to impact our energy costs. Residents and employers should build on strategies that directly invest in energy efficiency to increase electricity productivity, conservation measures and renewables needed in the near future.

Going carbon neutral by purchasing ‘carbon offsets’ is one expected way we can take responsibility for emissions created every time we drive a vehicle, take a plane, or turn on a computer. This is based on the principle that, as climate change is a global problem, an emission reduction elsewhere ie wind farms, solar installations or energy efficiency projects have the same positive effect as one locally. By voluntarily assigning a cost to carbon emissions, you can begin to prepare for the inevitability of an economy in which carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are regulated and taxed. This is an important step towards managing carbon emissions efficiently, reducing climate impact, supporting transition to sustainable energy and identifying reductions and savings. For several tips, visit Al Gore’s website: http://www.climatecrisis.net/takeaction/whatyoucando.
Federal government transfer of gas tax revenues to municipalities began in 2005. This funding supports investment in environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure to contribute to achieving shared national outcomes of cleaner air, water and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. As of June 2007, a federal/provincial energy conservation template for municipalities was developed to support expected federal regulations for community energy plans. Plans will be required to detail energy consumption and strategies reducing energy demands to better report gas tax measureable indicators on the three national outcomes listed above. Most people are not aware that up to half of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel use are under direct or indirect control or influence of communities and municipal governments.