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There’s help to go green!

SAVE ENERGY AT HOME

Rebates & Incentives

Note: The federal government has announced cancellation of its EcoENERGY rebate program as of March 31, 2010. You still qualify for the rebates as long as you had your first audit or had booked an audit by March 31, 2010, and you must complete your second audit before March 31, 2011.

• Ontario Home Energy Savings: provincial rebate program for energy audits and retrofits

• www.homeenergyontario.ca

• Home Energy Assistance Toronto: financial assistance from City of Toronto for home insulation

• http://www.toronto.ca/livegreen/home_energy_heat.html

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Energy Auditors In Toronto

• Green$aver 416-203-3106 www.greensaver.org

• Windfall Ecology Centre 416-465-6333 www.windfallcentre.ca/ecoenergy

• Enwise 1-877-484-5164 www.enwisepower.com

• Energuy 1-877-636-3748 www.energuy.ca

• CarsonDunlop 416-964-9415 www.CarsonDunlop.com

• Greentech Services 1-877-876-6555 www.greentechservices.ca

• ACAN Energy Solutions 1-888-982-0084

• For more energy auditors, go to: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/new-home-improvement/contact-advisors.cfm

Financial Assistance For Low-Income Households

Home Weatherization Retrofit Program

• https://portal-plumprod.cgc.enbridge.com/portal/server.pt?space=CommunityPage&control=SetCommunity&CommunityID=832

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Reduce Air Conditioning Use

• If you have central air conditioning you can have a peaksaver switch installed to have Toronto Hydro automatically turn down your air conditioner during times of peak demand (for homes and businesses) & get a $75 credit on your Hydro bill. https://www.peaksaver.com/peaksaver_THESL.html

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Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances

• EnergyStar products: (appliances, heating, cooling, ventilation equipment, lighting, electronics, office equipment, windows & doors, new houses) For a list go to http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/energystar/index.html?attr=4

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Publications

• Natural Resources Canada offers numerous publications including: Keeping the Heat In, Air Leakage Control, Improving Window Energy Efficiency, Choose the Right Condensing Gas Furnace, Standby Power - When “off” Means “on” www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca/publications/infosource/home/index.cfm

• Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation offers numerous publications www.cmhc.ca

• GO SOLAR To do an online solar roof assessment of your home, go to www.ourpower.ca

• For WISE (West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy) go to http://www.ourpower.ca/community/wise

• For “Go Solar: Your Guide to Harnessing the Power of the Sun” go to www.summerhillgroup.ca/eng/documents/GoSolar_Book.pdf  (pdf)

• To buy green power from Bullfrog Power go to www.bullfrogpower.com/home/ontario.cfm

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SAVE WATER

Did you know that 30% of the City of Toronto’s electrical costs are for pumping and treating water? If you save water you are saving energy.

• If you purchase a water saving duel flush or low flow toilet you can receive a rebate from the City of Toronto: www.toronto.ca/watereff/flush/index.htm

• If you purchase a water saving front loading washing machine you can receive a rebate from the City of Toronto:www.toronto.ca/watereff/washer/

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GARDEN SMART

• Plant a tree.

• Front Yard Tree from City of Toronto: www.toronto.ca/trees/tree_planting.htm

• Back Yard Tree from LEAF www.leaftoronto.org/

• Install a Rain Barrel

Two of the several suppliers are Riversides www.riversides.org/ and the City of Toronto www.toronto.ca/environment_days/activities.htm

• Grow a low-water garden using native plants.

  • For information on water-efficient gardens:

  • City of Toronto www.toronto.ca/watereff/tips/xeriscaping.htm

  • Evergreen www.evergreen.ca/en

• Help harvest. “not far from the tree” uses volunteers to help fruit tree owners harvest their fruit www.notfarfromthetree.org

• Join a gardening group.

Growing for Green is a gardening group based in Toronto’s Ward 21. It offers educational workshops, garden tours, volunteer gardening opportunities and social networking to local gardeners. growingforgreen.wordpress.com/

• Share your yard. You can share some space in your yard with a community member who would like to grow their own food, but does not have their own garden. Join YIMBY (Yes, in My Backyard). Contact Liz at The Stop Community Food Centre liz@thestop.org.

• Receive a free Summer WaterSaver Visit from the City of Toronto, and get advice on a water- efficient garden. Call 416-392-7000.

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EAT LOCAL

• For a list of farmers’ markets in Toronto go to www.tfmn.ca (Toronto Farmers’ Market Network)

• For a list of restaurants that serve, and stores that sell, local sustainable food, go to www.localfoodplus.ca (Local Food Plus)

• For information about community gardens, community kitchens, the good food box, and student nutrition programs, go to www.foodshare.net

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WASTE LESS

• Information about Toronto’s garbage, recycling, green bin and household hazardous waste programs: www.toronto.ca/garbage/programs.htm

• Toronto’s Community Environment Days - Schedule & List of items you can drop off & pick up www.toronto.ca/environment_days/index.htm

• City of Toronto's ReUseit Guide lists over 30 not-for-profit agencies & what used goods they accept: www.toronto.ca/reuseit/

• The Great Refrigerator Roundup

Free pick-up of old energy-guzzling fridges (also A/Cs, freezers and dehumidifiers if meet criteria) www.everykilowattcounts.com/roundup

• Keep Cool Bring in an old air conditioner and receive a $25 gift card for Home Depot. www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/DisplayTemplate?storeId=10051&catalogId=10051&langId=-15&display=event_keep_cool

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MORE INFORMATION

• www.toronto.ca/livegreen (Live Green Toronto)

• www.powerwise.ca

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This list was compiled by Green Neighbours 21 - April 2010