Five Simple Conservation Actions Save Money and the Environment

Earth Hour can be Every Hour

TORONTO, March 29 /CNW/ - Fighting phantom power - the power that's wasted by home electronics and appliances even when they are turned off - is one of five simple, meaningful conservation actions suggested by the Ontario Power Authority to save money and the environment all year.

Phantom power costs the average Ontario household as much as 15% of their annual electricity costs - up to $100.00 a year for a household using 1,000 kWh a month.

The Power Authority says the good news is that fighting phantom power has never been easier. By plugging as many home electronics and appliances as possible into today's "smart" automatic shutoff power bars, much of that wasted energy can be saved.

Add four more simple actions and Ontario households could save over $300.00 a year and help avoid creating more than 600 kg of greenhouse gases. (See chart below)

    
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Five Simple Conservation Actions           Annual Dollar    Annual GHG
                                                  savings     avoided (in kg)
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Plug home entertainment and computer
     systems into auto shutoff power
     bars                                          $11.00           23
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Replace one old kitchen appliance
     with an ENERGY STAR-rated
     appliance (e.g., refrigerator)                $11.00           25
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Get rid of your power-guzzling
     second refrigerator                          $136.00          291
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Use cold water for clothes washing
     and a clothesline for drying                   $6.00           13
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Install a programmable thermostat
     and set it just two degrees
     above or below your normal
     temperature                                  $137.00          292
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Total          $301.00     644 kg of GHG
                             Source: OPA
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    

For further information: Tim Butters, Ontario Power Authority, [phone], Toll Free: 1-800-797-9604