bennybox

Let’s talk about electricty in Ontario.

Ontario has a new-ish Conservation Bureau. It introduces a Government created group who’s goal is to help Ontario meet its future energy demand though conservation incentives. That’s stuff like rebates for throwing away at old fridge in the basement and earmarked money for RFPs of alternative energy projects.

You’ve probably encountered marketing from Every Kilowatt Counts. Saving a kilowatt is cheaper than making one.

And although residential housing accounts for maybe 30% of Ontario’s energy demand, it’s also the most volitile. On the hottest summer months, Ontario’s love for air conditioning means the IESO needs to buy electricity from the US (It’s too hot? Open the window and turn on a fan and close the blinds on other windows). At 2AM on a cool April morning, consumption is so low the market price for electricity can be 1000 times lower. Its at these times that the utility is basically giving away electricty because they can’t shut down their equipment.

With that in mind we need a huge culture shift in the way we use electricity. Why do we need to build more capacity for only the hottest summer day of the year when there are parts of the year we’re using almost nothing? (Install outlet timers so that your house doesn’t consume electricity when you’re not home!) It’s incredibly costly and the politics have gotten pretty messy. We have coal plants that we can’t afford to close on time, and we are definately going to build a new nuclear plant.

Don’t be fooled. We’re on the verge for an energy crisis.

Electricity (and energy consumption in general) has become ingrained into our lifestyle. (Switch every bulb in your home to compact fluorescent!) Does the fact that desktops use 10 times more power than a laptop make you want to buy a smaller more expensive piece of electronics? Will that energy cost factor into your decision to buy 500W speakers? Do we cook in the microwave even though a stove uses much more energy (And creates wasted heat?)?

The Canadian government recently scrapped the home energy audit rebate program. In fact they did so a few days before I decided to make an appointment for my parents’ home. I was fully prepared to retrofit my house and pass on the energy savings to my parents.

Energy audits have a kinda high upfront cost. So too do any retrofits. (Increase your AC setting 2 degrees and save 10%!) And every home is different that we can’t ask everyone to do the same thing.

Hey Convervation Bureau! Instead of all those silly marketing pamphlets you’ve been sending, give us something we can use! A coupon for $5 for light bulbs? I seriously wonder how effective are these programs. My idea for you guys: energy saving post-it tips! Imagine, cute little light bulb shaped tips that a homeowner puts up at home.

* One next to the thermostat: Keep the AC at 25 degree or above!
* One next to south facing windows: Is it the summer? Cover me up to keep the heat out!
* One next to the washing machine: Don’t turn me on between 10AM and 8PM please. The grid can’t take it.
* A million on the fridge: Keep me fully stocked! Every time you open the door on an empty fridge, you’re throwing away money!

I not asking people to live like hippies. The Conservation Bureau’s stated goal is to get everyone to lower consumption by 10%. Hydro One will give you 10% off your next bill if you can get this month’s consumption down 10% over last year. And I think that’s a good place to start.

And for goodness sakes people. Only buy Energy Star appliances!

The word Google is getting added to the Oxford English Dictionary as a verb. But unlike other genericized trademarks I don’t think searching the web is the definition of ‘Google’ the verb. Nowadays, a kleenex is just a tissue. Sending a FedEx is just expedited shipping. A Xerox is any old photocopy. If someone tells you to google a name or phrase, would you really load up MSN search?