The Town of Halton Hills Nears the Top of The Power Pledge Community Challenge

Local residents, businesses and organizations are once again demonstrating their commitment to energy conservation and sustainability by choosing to participate in the 2010 The Power Pledge Community Challenge – an initiative which encourages energy conservation.

The winning municipalities will earn the right to be considered Ontario’s most conservation-conscious communities, as well as win valuable “green” awards such as a $10,000 Renewable Energy Award that can be used towards the installation of solar panels on a municipal property.

Halton Hills’ participation in The Power Pledge Community Challenge has been highly successful. As of mid July 2010, thanks to the active participation of Town residents, businesses and organizations, the Town of Halton Hills now ranks in sixth place out of 89 participating municipalities – representing 82% of Ontario’s population! Within its population category, Halton Hills ranks third! With every new Power Pledge added, Halton Hills moves closer to winning the competition. Every resident, business and organization is invited and encouraged to take The Power Pledge.

Currently, over 1000 Halton Hills participants have taken The Power Pledge. If each of these individuals fulfills their Pledge:

• Over 2.2 million kilowatt hours of energy will be saved each year;
• Nearly $500,000 worth of energy costs will be saved annually; and
• Approximately 231,000 kilograms of annual greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided.

To make the Community Challenge a success, the Town (Office of Sustainability) has partnered with Halton Hills Hydro, Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce and Practically Green Solutions to raise awareness of energy conservation and sustainability.

Through this partnership, between May 2010 and August 2010, Town residents, and numerous local businesses and organizations have and will continue to be engaged through a variety of events with a focus on promoting energy conservation and The Power Pledge. The list of participating businesses and organizations, and community events at which The Power Pledge was and will be promoted by the Office of Sustainability, Halton Hills Hydro and Practically Green Solutions include:

Businesses:

• Prosperity One (Georgetown)
• Prosperity One (Acton)
• Fraser Direct
• Georgetown Market Place
• Purity Life
• Communications & Power Industries Inc. (CPI)
• Green-Port Environmental Managers
• Superior Glove
• Georgetown Terminal Warehouse
• Acton BIA businesses
• Georgetown BIA businesses

• Halton Region Rain Barrel Sale
• Big DADDY Festival
• Georgetown Farmers’ Market
• Acton Farmers’ Market
• Acton Leathertown Festival
• Christ the King Catholic Secondary School

• Gellert Community Centre
• Town youth summer camps
• Seniors’ Centres

The Power Pledge Community Challenge has also been widely communicated through Town newsletters, the Acton and Georgetown BIA newsletters, Chamber of Commerce newsletters, school boards and places of worship.

Speaking about The Power Pledge, Mayor Bonnette said: “It is very rewarding to see that so many local residents, businesses and organizations have chosen to take The Power Pledge. By doing so, the community is again demonstrating its interest and commitment to energy conservation, which is one way of helping to make Halton Hills a more sustainable community. I encourage all residents and businesses to take The Power Pledge and thank all those that have already done so! With every new Power Pledge, we are that much closer to winning the competition and being considered one of Ontario’s most conservation conscious communities.”

How can I participate?

1. Take The Power Pledge – Taking The Power Pledge is very simple. It involves taking a few simple actions to lower energy use, avoid energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. On August 11th, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.:
• Turn off any unnecessary lights.
• Completely unplug any unnecessary electronics (e.g. TV, DVD, computer, etc) or use a power bar. This will reduce the phantom load which occurs when electronics continue to use power even though they are turned off. Reducing the phantom load can decrease electricity use by 15%.
• Turn off the air conditioner or reduce its use.
• Avoid using major appliances.
• If doing laundry, do so during off-peak hours, use cold water, only run a full laundry load and use a clothesline.
• Take a walk through your neighbourhood.

For more information on the Town’s sustainability initiatives and Green Plan implementation, please visit: www.haltonhills.ca/sustainability.

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