HomeMy WebLinkAboutFIN-07-057 - Five Best Bests for Air Quality1
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Financial Services
Report To: Environmental Committee
Date of Meeting: April 19, 2007
Submitted By: Dwayne Quinn, Director of Utilities
Prepared By: Tammy Gerber, Marketing Strategist, Utilities
Ward(s) Involved: All
Date of Report: April 13, 2007
Report No.: FIN-07-057
Subject: FIVE BEST BETS FOR AIR QUALITY
RECOMMENDATION:
For information
BACKGROUND:
Kitchener Council ratified the Environmental Committee's recommendation on July 4, 2006 on
their "Five Best Bets" to improve Air Quality in Kitchener.
Environmental Committee recommendations:
1- Kitchener Utilities partner with Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and establish test homes to
demonstrate new energy-saving technologies.
2- Kitchener Utilities to display energy-saving appliances for the home during Earth Day,
perhaps at City Hall.
3- Kitchener Utilities to continue working with Kitchener Wilmot Hydro on space heating
projects and information campaigns.
REPORT:
This report summarizes Kitchener Utilities programs in support of the Committee's
recommended Best Bet for Air Quality Improvement #5 -Promote Residential Energy
Conservation.
Kitchener Utilities financially supports and promotes the Residential Energy Efficiency Program
CREEP). REEP conducts home energy audits and provides information to customers on ways
they can improve the energy efficiency of their home. This program helps reduce the overall
green house gas emissions in our community.
Kitchener Utilities is a supporter of the K/UV Chamber of Commerce Energy and Environment
Forum. This Event promotes energy saving technologies and programs available to businesses
and homeowners.
Kitchener Utilities is currently testing improved efficiency water heating technology in test homes
in Kitchener. These tests will help evaluate the value of these new technologies.
Kitchener Utilities has discontinued their direct involvement in Home Shows or promoting our
own Authorized Dealers with a display of appliances in the Rotunda. Our experience shows
these events are not well attended and as a result attending does not provide good value.
Instead Kitchener Utilities supports their Authorized Dealers who attend local Home Show
events. Kitchener Utilities Authorized Dealers provide residents with information on energy
saving tips and programs available for choosing energy efficient appliances on behalf of
Kitchener Utilities.
Kitchener Utilities continues to offer furnace rebates to home owners converting to natural gas
home heating or upgrading their existing natural gas furnace to a more energy efficient model.
Rebates range from $100 to $200 and are applied directly to the customer's utility bill.
Kitchener Utilities and Kitchener Wilmot Hydro have partnered together to promote energy
conservation through two residential rebate programs. The first rebate is a $200 rebate for
homeowners converting from electric to natural gas water heating. The second rebate is a $500
rebate for homeowners converting from electric home heating to natural gas home heating.
Kitchener Utilities provides energy saving tips and information to customers via bill inserts, on
their website, through "Natural Comforts" asemi-annual publication, in "Your Kitchener", and by
providing information to their Authorized Dealers to distribute to customers.
Kitchener Utilities has partnered with Natural Resources Canada to promote energy
conservation and the ENERGY STAR brand in Kitchener.
Kitchener Utilities is a financial supporter of the Children's Museum's Energy Saving Program
that ran this spring. This was a pilot program educating Grade 1 students on energy
conservation.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A -funded through existing Demand Side Management budget
COMMUNICATIONS:
N/A
CONCLUSION:
Kitchener Utilities will continue to promote residential energy conservation within Kitchener.
Kitchener Utilities will investigate opportunities to work with local School Boards to reduce
energy consumption within schools. Kitchener Utilities will also continue working together with
The Residential Energy Efficiency Program CREEP), Natural Resources Canada, and Kitchener
Wilmot Hydro on educating and promoting energy conservation to Kitchener residents.
Dwayne Quinn, Director Utilities