On April 15, 2011, GLOBE and HSC’s Energy Smart Initiative was recognized by the City of Toronto’s Green Toronto Awards at the Green Living Show. A finalist in the energy conservation category, the Energy Smart Initiative involved implementing a selection of ‘deep’ electrical retrofit and conservation measures in 11 electrically-heated social housing properties. This totalled 850 units which also utilized GLOBE’s acclaimed Community Champions program to educate residents on the measures and how to conserve. Together, all participating buildings received a wide range of energy conserving upgrades, from weatherization to lighting technologies. The savings from just the installation of compact fluorescents and power bars alone equal an energy savings of 1300 kilowatts, which is equivalent to taking 64 cars off the road.

Want to reduce your energy demand at home or at work?

Here are some energy saving tips from the Energy Smart Initiative that you may consider implementing either personally, in your buildings, or to pass on to residents:

• Use a programmable thermostat and lower the temperature at night. Even 1 degree lower in winter, and 1 degree higher in summer, can deliver significant energy savings over time without compromising comfort.
• Plug electronics into a power bar and turn it off when not in use. Electronic devices consume ‘phantom’ power just by being plugged into the wall. This is eliminated when using a power bar.
• Arrange your furniture and drapes so they don’t block baseboard heaters or forced air vents.
• When washing dishes, instead of consistently running hot water, plug the sink and fill it up. Don’t forget — when you waste water, you waste electricity too.
• Pull shades or drapes over windows on winter nights to keep the cold air out and on summer days to keep out the hot sun.

Reducing Energy Demand with Youth

On a related green note, GLOBE’s current initiative, REDY (Reducing Energy Demand with Youth), is a program that trains youth in jobs that range from retrofit work to the installation of new, renewable energy technology. Over the course of the next three years, REDY will provide training and assist with placements for 120 youth participants in 6 cities.