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Where and When:
South Event
Tuesday, March 5th, 2013
7pm to 9pm
Metro Hall (Room 308), 55 John Street
North Event
Thursday, March 7th, 2013
7pm to 9pm
North York Civic Center (Members Lounge), 5100 Young Street
What Does the Retrofit Program Entail?
The main goal of this meeting is to educate residents on how to reduce energy bills cost-effectively. Lack of financing is one of the largest obstacles for people who are looking to optimize their home as home improvements demand an upfront payment. The meeting will include a presentation by city staff, along with a group discussion and interactive workshop designed to evaluate which aspects of the home need upgrading. Retrofit will put residents in contact with contractors and provide for them financing alternatives. For more information visit Toronto.ca/teo.
Live Green Toronto
Live Green Toronto offers many useful tips on how to save money by just changing a few common things throughout the home:
Electricity
- Get rid of old, unnecessary appliances around the house
- Trade in incandescent light bulbs for every-saving LED lights
- Measure and reduce your carbon footprint
- Use renewable energy systems, i.e. solar panels
- Use “energy saver” settings on the computer, turn off electronic devices when not in use, and use power bars with an integrated timer to shut-off automatically
- Dim lights or use alternate forms of lighting, i.e. candles and windows
- Use natural forms of shade, such as trees, and insulate the attic to save on heating
Hot Water
- Capture rainwater to use in the gardens and stay pesticide free
- Insulate exposed piping
- Drain five litres from the hot water tank every three months to remove sediment and mineral build-up
- Run an electric kettle instead of stove-top for boiled water
Kitchen
- Run dishwasher only when its full
- Clean condenser coils on the back of your fridge and allow food to cool before storing it
- Use microwave ovens whenever possible
Laundry
- Appropriately adjust the load size setting on the laundry machine
- Use front load washing and drying machines if possible
- Be sure to clean lint filter frequently
- When weather permits, hang your clothes outside to dry
