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Cool Challenge Contest

You can help to reduce the need for dirty and dangerous coal power on hot summer days by enrolling in your utility's peaksaver© program or taking other steps to reduce electricity use in peak periods. Win a luxurious getaway to one of Ontario's top Inns or gift cards for Future Shop electronics, MEC outdoor gear or Chapters-Indigo books and music.

New! Snap draws for a $50 gift card anytime an air quality alert is issued in Ontario! Enter today to be sure you are doing your part to bust smog and climate change!

Today, less than 10% of eligible homeowners have enrolled in the peaksaver program. If we can just double this percentage, it would be like taking the entire Town of Oakville off the electricity grid in periods of peak demand!

In August 2009, by using the peaksaver program we saved as much power as the City of Kingston uses on its highest electricity demand day! Greater energy efficiency is a powerful way to meet our electricity needs without pollution, which is why we need you and everyone you know to sign up for peaksaver©.

When you sign up for peaksaver, your local utility will attach a small device or enhanced ENERGY STAR® programmable thermostat to your central air conditioner to reduce its energy use during periods of peak electricity demand — these are usually hot summer weekday afternoons when air conditioners are running at a maximum, but never on weekends or statutary holidays.

On hot days when power use soars, the utility may signal the device to cycle your air conditioning compressor which may increase your room temperature by a couple of degrees for a few hours (maximum of 4 hours), thereby saving valuable energy. Because your furnace fan continues to run while the compressor cycles, your home won't really feel a lot different, but you will be helping to phase out the use of climate-damaging coal power. See our peaksaver page for more details on how the program works and for utility contact information.

I'm enrolling in peaksaver for my central air conditioner and I'm ready to enter

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To enter, you must have signed up to have a peaksaver device installed on your Central Air Conditioner by the draw deadline date or have had a device installed previously. If your home is equipped with Central Air Conditioning you must enter in this category.

If you do not have Central Air Conditioning or live in an apartment or condo, please enter in the No AC category.

I am signing up or have already signed up for my utility's peaksaver program.*

First Name *
Last Name *
Address *
City *
Postal Code *
Phone *
Email *

I have read and agree to abide by the contest rules. *

I would like to join the OCAA's email list and be kept informed about how we can reduce the impact of electricity generation on climate change and smog.

By entering this contest, you are agreeing to allow the OCAA to contact your utility to confirm your participation in the peaksaver program if you are selected as a prize winner.

No Central AC or a highrise resident? You can still win! Enter here.

If you don't have central air conditioning or live in a multi-residential building, you can still win. Just tell us which of the actions below you are taking. (Please note: If your home is equipped with central air conditioning, you are only eligible to enter in the peaksaver category. If you use a window air conditioner, enter in this category)

You must have completed 3 of the following actions to enter (click box beside those you've done).

I only use large appliances such as dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer after 9 p.m.

I unplugged the beer fridge in the basement or garage and turned it in to the Great Refrigerator Round up.

I use solar power (clothesline) to dry my clothes.

I use cold water for laundry and an EnergyStar washer.

I turned down the temperature on my water heater.

I put my electric water heater on a timer so it is off when I am at work all day.

I've had an ecoEnergy Home Assessment and I'm getting my home's energy act together.

I've installed EnergyStar qualified ceiling fans to keep the cool moving in summer and the heat circulating in winter.

I've installed EnergyStar qualified appliances (refrigerator, washing machine, water heater).

I've installed a solar power system (photovoltaic or hot water).

I've switched to natural gas appliances for cooking or drying.

I've installed an on-demand water heater.

I've plugged "vampire" devices like device chargers, TV set top boxes, computers and other electronics into power bars and switch them off when not in use (many of these devices continue to use power even when "off").

Enter your contact details below to complete your entry.

* indicates required field

First Name *
Last Name *
Address *
City *
Postal Code *
Phone *
Email *

I have read and agree to abide by the contest rules. *

I would like to join the OCAA's email list and be kept informed about how we can reduce the impact of electricity generation on climate change and smog.