Casandra Bellefeuille
FOR BRANT NEWS
In ancient times, the Babylonians made promises to their gods at the beginning of each year to return borrowed items and pay off their debts.
Regardless of creed, this concept reflected an opportunity for self-improvement and today this is commonly known as a “new year’s resolution.”
We all know a new year’s resolution is a commitment that a person makes. Whether it is personal, work-related or financially driven, this commitment is often the promise of forming a different lifestyle habit. Typically, people vow to give up cigarettes, eat healthier, lose weight or pay off debts.
Most resolutions are derived from personal defeat the previous year, but now’s the time to change that pattern. Why not make a resolution to be proactive rather than reactive?
It’s a new year, so take the opportunity to focus on conservation within your home. What will you do during the year ahead to minimize your hydro and water usage? Have you put some thought into challenging yourself to decrease your kilowatts each month compared to your usage in 2011?
Instead of stepping on the weigh scale each month, pull out last year’s bill (likely filed away for tax season, right?) and see how much of a difference your conservation practices can make.
It’s imperative you remember to compare your kilowatts (located on the bottom left of the first panel of your Brant County Power bill), not dollars, because in late 2011 we converted to time-of-use pricing.
Last month, we discussed heating and cooling, which accounts for 60 per cent of your energy bill (refresh your memory by visiting our Facebook page, where the column is posted). Another way to save up to 15 per cent on your bill is to pay attention to “phantom power.”
Electronic devices left plugged in, even when turned off, still draw power. That’s called phantom power, or standby power, and it’s costing you money. Use a power bar, preferably with an auto shut-off or timer, to control this invisible ghost from costing you unnecessary dollars. Power bars are great for televisions, game consoles, computers and rechargeable devices.
Lighting may only account for five to 10 per cent of your energy bill, however, over the course of a year the savings can begin to add up. Take, for example, our seasonal Christmas light exchange. One hundred and forty five customers brought in their old, inefficient strands of lights to the Brant County Power office and we presented them with new boxes of LED lights. As a result of this initiative, we were able to calculate approximately 5,064 kilowatt hours of savings.
If you’re stuck and don’t know where to start when it comes to conservation, contact our office. We have multiple programs available for residential and business customers. For example, the Ontario Home Energy Audit Program, presented by the Ontario government (in co-operation with utility companies), shows you how your home uses energy and potential energy leaks. It identifies improvements you can make and we will work alongside you to help you achieve your goal.
As a bonus incentive, many of the energy-saving upgrades identified by your home energy audit will qualify you for rebates under the home energy retrofit program. These rebates from the provincial and federal governments can reimburse you up to $10,000 when you complete improvements.
New year’s resolutions are often hard work. It takes discipline to change your habits but, like anything in life, hard work pays off. Resolutions are often easier when you involve friends and neighbours to keep you motivated. Visit our Facebook page to share your success stories and find motivation from individuals trying to obtain the same goals as you.
We look forwarding to hearing your stories in 2012.
