Save energy, win big in contest

BY BILL BRADLEY

Saving energy is good for the household bottom line both winter and summer, said city officials recently.

They are organizing the city’s first Home Energy Efficiency Contest starting Friday, Feb. 1 and running until Friday Feb. 29. The contest is open to all resident homeowners in the city of Greater Sudbury who are 18 years old.

“There will be one big winner who will get varied products given by our Efficient Sudbury partners worth almost $12,000 to help them create a more energy efficient home,” said Stephen Monet, Greater Sudbury manager of environmental planning initiatives. “We want to raise awareness about energy saving products such as EnergyStar year round, summer and winter.”

Monet said according to Ontario’s Power Authority, heavy electricity use in the summer in the province by air conditioning is costing consumers money and putting a lot of strain on the province’s electrical grid.

“The major peak power use is now in the summer and when Ontario shifts to time of use electricity rate pricing in 2010 all customers will pay higher prices during peak times. Increasingly that is in the summer month day periods,” said Monet.

Major prizes include a Whirlpool Maytag front loading washing machine, Kenmore refrigerator, Union Gas drain water heat recovery with the installation included, Whirlpool dish washer plus a free home energy evaluation and many other items.

To enter, fill out a ballot with your name, address and telephone number at local participating retail stores identified at www.greatersudbury.ca/earthcare and drop it in the marked box.

No purchase is necessary and the winner must consent to a feature story documenting the Eco-energy audit process, part of a federal energy conservation program, and green home renovations performed on their home.

The winning ballot will be chosen randomly March 10, 2008 at 10 am.

Participation by retailers has been great said St-Onge.

“Our Efficiency Sudbury partners have been very supportive in donating the prizes...if it was not for them we could not have organized this contest,” said St-Onge.