Kootenay residents asked to attend an ener-vention as FortisBC PowerSense launches the Kootenay Energy Diet
By FortisBC PowerSense
Kootenay residents will get help slimming down their energy use when they join the Kootenay Energy Diet, set to launch in Castlegar on May 22 with community ener-ventions (information sessions and trade shows) to follow in Trail, Salmo, Rossland, Grand Forks, Slocan, Creston and Kaslo.
“As we found through the successful Rossland Energy Diet, a community based approach is an effective way to provide customers with one-on-one support to make energy efficiency upgrades,” said Tom Loski, vice president of customer service for FortisBC. “With home and hot water heating accounting for most of the energy used in Kootenay homes, helping people make upgrades in these areas through a program like this can have impact for our customers.”
To participate in the Kootenay Energy Diet, residents are invited to attend an ener-vention where they can meet local experts and service providers and sign up. These ener-ventions are all from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will take place in:
· Castlegar on May 22 at Stanley Humphries Senior Secondary School,
- · Salmo on May 23 at the Salmo Community Centre,
- · Castlegar on May 28 at the Castlegar Community Complex,
- · Trail on June 11 at the Cominco Gym,
- · Rossland on June 12 at Rossland Miners Hall,
- · Grand Forks on June 18 at DA Perly School,
- · Slocan on September 10 at WE Graham School,
- · Creston on September 11 at the Creston Community Complex and
- · Kaslo on September 12 at JV Humphries School
Residents who can’t attend an ener-vention can sign-up online for up to six weeks at fortisbc.com/energydiet.
Participants of the Kootenay Energy Diet will receive an initial home energy assessment for $60—normally the cost of the assessment is approximately $400. The municipalities of Castlegar and Grand Forks have also committed funds to further reduce this cost by an additional $25 for the first 50 Castlegar residents and 100 Grand Forks residents that sign up. When participants receive their assessments, they can start saving immediately with the installation of up to $50 worth of energy efficient household items such as lighting, low flow shower heads and pipe insulation.
Participation also gives residents access to up to $4,000 in rebates from LiveSmart BC and up to $2,000 in rebates from FortisBC. Local credit unions have also collaborated to provide participants with financing for their energy saving upgrades. Participants can apply for low-cost, long amortization loans from all local credit unions – Nelson and District Credit Union, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Heritage Credit Union, Creston and District Credit Union and Grand Forks Credit Union.
“These partnering credit unions are interested in helping people invest in the energy efficiency of their homes,” said Doug Stoddart, chief executive officer of the Nelson & District Credit Union. “By taking advantage of the loan option, we can help our members overcome the upfront cost of making their home more comfortable and less expensive to operate.”
The Kootenay Energy Diet is co-funded by FortisBC, Natural Resources Canada, the Columbia Basin Trust and the province of British Columbia.
