Business and Industry - Featured Partner
Hydro One brings Power and the One-Tonne Challenge message to the people of Ontario
As the largest electricity delivery company in Ontario, Hydro One Networks has an enormous responsibility to keep power flowing to homeowners and other consumers across the province. But the company is also deeply committed to energy conservation and demand management – encouraging customers to use energy wisely in order to save money and reduce the environmental impact of electricity production and consumption. Sound familiar?
"Partnering with the federal government in the One-Tonne Challenge helps us get the energy conservation message out to our customers."
– Giuliana Rossini
, Director of Strategy and Conservation Officer at Hydro One
"From Hydro One's perspective, we feel it is important to partner with other organizations. Partnering with the federal government in the One-Tonne Challenge helps us get the energy conservation message out to our customers," explains Giuliana Rossini, Director of Strategy and Conservation Officer at Hydro One. "The One-Tonne Challenge dovetails well with our current focus on demand management. In effect, we are leveraging the strengths of this federal program to maximize our reach and reinforce our own energy conservation message."
To that end, Hydro One included an article on the One-Tonne Challenge in the Summer 2005 edition of its customer newsletter, Staying Connected, together with practical tips on how homeowners can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).
"Some of the electricity you use in your home comes from burning coal or natural gas, and that means emissions," noted the article. "Participating in the One-Tonne Challenge will pay off not only in reducing GHGs, it can reduce your electricity bills."
The newsletter also outlined "3 Easy Steps" for homeowners to take action on climate change, including setting air conditioners no lower than 24°C, draft-proofing their homes, and using ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs).
"Hydro One believes that customer awareness and education is an important part of successful conservation initiatives," says Ms. Rossini. "Staying Connected, which is distributed to more than a million customers across the province, is one of our key vehicles for keeping our customers informed about what we are doing, and what they can do."
Collaboration on the One-Tonne Challenge is the latest example of a strong and growing relationship between Hydro One and Natural Resources Canada. The OEE's EnerGuide for Houses service has been promoted through Hydro One bill inserts and on the company's Web site. Hydro One also partnered with NRCan in delivering the highly successful "Switch and Save" campaign, which encouraged homeowners to install ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs.
"We will continue to look for opportunities to promote energy conservation and energy-efficient products," notes Ms. Rossini. "For example, this past fall Hydro One joined forces with 20 communities – including the City of Timmins, a One-Tonne Challenge community – to encourage residents to trade in their traditional seasonal lights for energy-efficient SLEDs (seasonal light emitting diodes), which use up to 95 percent less energy than traditional lights, last at least seven times longer, and shine just as bright."
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