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 STARĀ® 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.
















