Cut energy costs by participating in the Kootenay Energy Diet

By Shara JJ Cooper

UPDATE:

Midway is offering a $10 rebate towards the assessment cost for the first 25 residents.

ORIGINAL STORY: 

Municipalities around the Boundary have been hearing about the Kootenay Energy Diet at their council meetings. Patricia Dehnel, the program coordinator for PowerSense Fortis BC, has been sharing with councillors the purpose and plan of the energy diet and how residents can save money on their energy bills.

The energy diet started in Rossland about two years ago because residents were high energy consumers largely thanks to having older homes and a colder mountain climate. The project was “hugely successful, said Dehnel when she talked to Grand Forks city council on May 6. It received national and international attention.

Many Rossland residents saved 20 to 50 per cent on their energy bills after they finished participating in the program. Now the program is expanding to other Kootenay communities.

To participate, homeowner will pay a $60 fee when they sign up. For that fee they will get an assessment that is valued at $400 plus five free compact fluorescent light bulbs. The assessor will also install a low-flow shower head and add insulation around the heating pipes.

Homeowners will also get a list of personalized upgrades that will help improve energy consumption once the assessment is completed. To help offset the costs and make sure participants complete the program, Fortis has partnered with local credit unions (like the Grand Forks Credit Union) to offer low-interest loans with an amortization period of up to 10 years. Participants may also be eligible for LiveSmart or FortisBC rebates.

For further incentive, Grand Forks is giving $25 to the first 50 residents that sign up for the program as a supplement to the $60 fee. Other municipalities may match this.

The program starts on June 18 in Grand Forks with a trade show from 7 to 9 p.m. at Dr. D. A. Perley Elementary School. Everyone that is interested can sign up at the trade show or for the next six weeks after. Online registration is available at fortisbc.com/energydiet. The assessments all have to be booked before Oct. 11.

Information sessions are set up across the Boundary at the following times and places:

June	5	Midway Seniors Outreach	Midway	Community Hall	2pm - 4pm
June	29	Vintage Fair	Rock Creek	Park space beside Rags and Relics	9am-3pm
July	13	Greenwood Founders Day	Greenwood	Lion's Park	8 am pancake breakfast  9 am market 11 am in the parade
August	3	River Fest	Rock Creek	Park space beside Rags and Relics	9am-3pm