7 Numbers Restaurant Serves Up the Electricity Savings - Toronto Hydro
Features Conservation Customer

TORONTO, April 15 /CNW/ - 'Mama Rosa' at 7 Numbers restaurant loves her job. She and her family cook at their two Toronto restaurants six days a week - baking, broiling, and frying which produces a lot of good food, but also consumes a lot of electricity.

Most recently, they took advantage of the Toronto Hydro-Electric System ("Toronto Hydro") Power Savings Blitz incentive program. At no cost to them, they completed lighting retrofits at both restaurants. Thanks to the Power Saving Blitz program, 7 Numbers will save almost $500 per year in electricity costs, which is equivalent to removing approximately 2 tonnes per year of harmful greenhouse gas emissions from the environment.

The Power Savings Blitz Program was developed for small businesses and individually metered buildings using that have an electricity demand of 50 kW or less per month. The incentive program covers the first $1000 of the project cost and provides energy information to encourage additional investments to realize greater electricity savings. The program focuses on efficient lighting upgrades, but more options are available such as hot water efficiency improvements and low-flow faucet aerators.

Toronto Hydro is pleased to showcase 7 Numbers as its first Customer for Conservation in 2010. The 'Customer for Conservation' program recognizes business customers who believe strongly in conservation and take action to conserve electricity in their business practices.

7 Numbers is also serious about reducing its environmental impact in other ways. The restaurants are decorated and furnished using reclaimed and recycled materials. Most of their dining room chairs and tables are second generation items - from Goodwill and garage sales. As well, the restaurateurs try to source a lot of their food from local and organic suppliers.

QUOTES

"We think that businesses like 7 Numbers, play a critical role in helping to change behaviours and they set a great example for others to follow. Their commitment to a cleaner environment and sustainable business practices is honorable and will benefit us all."

Chris Tyrell, Chief Conservation Officer, Toronto Hydro

"At 7 Numbers we are always looking for interesting ways to work within our community, from sourcing local product to working with Toronto Hydro to find ways to create a more efficient and responsible work environment. We pride ourselves on producing a high quality product with high value, and our involvement in such programs as the Power Saving Blitz allows us to do so while using less energy and resources. "

Jordan Malka, 7 Numbers

FACTS

    
    -  Power Savings Blitz is an energy conservation program offered by
       Toronto Hydro-Electric System, in partnership with the Ontario Power
       Authority. This program provides small businesses with up to $1000 in
       free energy-efficient lighting and equipment upgrades.
    -  To date, Toronto Hydro has paid approximately $19.2 million to cover
       the cost of lighting retrofits for more than 20,200 businesses in
       Toronto. It is estimated that this will save approximately
       18.4 megawatts (MW) of electricity in Toronto.
    -  Toronto Hydro's Customers for Conservation series recognizes business
       customers that are bridging the gap between wanting to conserve
       electricity and actually doing it. Customers that have participated in
       Toronto Hydro programs are nominated by customers or the public. To
       nominate a business, customers can send an email to
       [email protected]

    Links:  www.torontohydro.com/powersavingsblitz
            www.sevennumbers.com
    

BOILERPLATE

Toronto Hydro Corporation is a holding company which, through its principal subsidiaries:

    
    -  Distributes electricity and engages in conservation and demand
       management ("CDM") activities; and
    -  Provides street lighting services.
    

The principal business of Toronto Hydro is the distribution of electricity by Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited. Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates $1.9 billion of Capital Assets comprised primarily of an electricity distribution system that delivers electricity to approximately 690,000 customers located in the City of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in Ontario.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Tanya Bruckmueller, Toronto Hydro, [email protected], W: [phone], C: [phone]