Toronto senior urges others to pick up the phone and enroll in energy-saving programs to reduce energy bills

Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited ("Toronto Hydro"), Enbridge Gas Distribution ("Enbridge"), GreenSaver and Gord Miller, Ontario Environmental Commissioner and Chief Energy Conservation Officer, present Ceremonial Key to newly energy retrofitted home

TORONTO, June 10, 2013 /CNW/ - It was smiles all around as 85-year-old Douglas Brunner accepted a symbolic key to his newly energy upgraded home. He has lived at the same address since 1954, and while the house is not new to him, the lower energy bills will be.

The Seniors' Month celebration was focused on how significant energy savings will be realized through Toronto Hydro's saveONenergy^OM HOME ASSISTANCE program and Enbridge's Home Weatherization Program. Mr. Brunner received several thousand dollars in energy efficient home improvements free of charge and these upgrades will save him hundreds of dollars every year.

Earlier today, Mr. Brunner was an enthusiastic host at his home located in northwest Toronto, where he greeted Gord Miller, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer, and senior representatives of Toronto Hydro, Enbridge and GreenSaver, the organization that coordinates and delivers the free energy conservation programs that helps seniors and others on fixed incomes save money.

Thanks to the saveONenergy^OM HOME ASSISTANCE program and the Enbridge Home Weatherization program, Mr. Brunner has new energy efficient lighting throughout his home, a new ENERGY STAR^® refrigerator, wall cavity pour foam insulation, blown cellulous attic insulation, along with air sealing and draft proofing measures in his previously un-insulated natural-gas-heated home. It is estimated that this will save him almost 19.5 per cent on his electricity bill and about 28 per cent on his natural gas use.

QUOTES

"Our best opportunity to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings we already have. These programs accomplish that, while also giving practical assistance to seniors so that they can stay in their homes."
Gord Miller, Ontario's Environmental Commissioner and Chief Energy Conservation Officer

"This is a good house and I have maintained it well, but years ago we didn't think about insulation so much, now Toronto Hydro and Enbridge have brought my home up to date. This home is very important to me, there are a lot of good memories in this home and these programs have lowered my energy bills and will help me continue to live here. I tell all of my neighbours and people at our neighbourhood seniors' centre—don't delay, pick up the phone and check out these energy saving programs. Enbridge and Toronto Hydro are providing an important and valuable service for seniors like me. I can't thank the GreenSaver folks enough for coordinating all this work and making it so painless—I didn't even have to sweep up afterwards."
Douglas Brunner, 85-year-old senior and program participant

"With electricity costs rising and a hot summer predicted, Toronto Hydro is committed to helping customers manage energy costs, especially those who need that extra help. The Home Assistance Program is an excellent opportunity for those eligible, to lower energy costs through free efficiency up-grades to their home. Toronto Hydro is pleased to work with our program partners and customers like Mr. Brunner to make this program a success."
Chris Tyrrell, Vice President, Customer Care and Chief Conservation Officer, Toronto Hydro

"Enbridge Gas Distribution has been proudly helping customers manage their energy costs for over 15 years. Although natural gas is less expensive than it was five years ago, we're thrilled to help Mr. Brunner save even more money with these energy efficiency upgrades, and we look forward to helping other customers in need do the same."
Jamie Paris, Manager, Residential Energy Solutions, Enbridge Gas Distribution

"Our calculations indicate Mr. Brunner's electricity use will decrease by about 19.5 per cent and his natural gas use by about 28 per cent. GreenSaver is very pleased to be implementing these two energy efficiency programs, which are helping homeowners like Douglas to make ends meet." Vladan Veljovic, President and CEO of GreenSaver

FACTS

• The saveONenergy^OM HOME ASSISTANCE program is free of charge to qualifying Toronto Hydro customers and is delivered in Toronto by GreenSaver, a Toronto Hydro third-party contractor. It helps qualified Ontario homeowners, tenants, and social and/or assisted housing providers improve the energy efficiency of their residences. The program includes a detailed in-home energy assessment, professional installation of energy-saving measures and advice on steps that can be taken to save even more energy. Customers may also be eligible for a new, energy-efficient refrigerator or other appliances, such as a room air conditioner. Electrically heated homes may also be eligible for programmable thermostats, weather-stripping around doors and windows, and additional insulation in attics or basements.

• Enbridge Home Weatherization Program helps households in financial need reduce their energy bills by implementing energy efficiency measures, such as insulating attics and walls and draft proofing, at no cost. Participation is entirely voluntary and products and services available through the program are free of charge. Qualified customers may receive attic and basement insulation, wall insulation and air sealing. Participants in the program will experience lower energy bills, increased comfort, improved home health and an increased home resale value.

• GreenSaver also delivers the free Enbridge Home Weatherization Program for income-qualified Greater Toronto Area applicants. The Home Weatherization Program is designed to make homes more energy-efficient and help reduce energy bills. Qualified customers may receive attic, basement, and wall insulation, plus draft-proofing and air sealing. Participants in the program will experience lower energy bills, increased comfort, improved home health and an increased home resale value. Participation is entirely voluntary and products and services available through the program are free of charge.

About Toronto Hydro
Toronto Hydro-Electric System owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 719,000 customers located in the City of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 19% of the electricity consumed in the Province of Ontario.

Our World. Our City. Our Responsibility. See what we are doing to be safe, reliable and sustainable at torontohydro.com/responsibility

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About Enbridge Gas Distribution
Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc. has a more than 160-year history and is Canada's largest natural gas distribution company. Enbridge Gas Distribution delivers safe, reliable natural gas in more than 100 communities across Ontario and is a leader in promoting energy efficiency programs. It is owned by Enbridge Inc., a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution and one of the 2013 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Enbridge Inc. has been selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2013 and is one of Canada's Top 100 Employers. Enbridge Gas Distribution and its affiliates distribute natural gas to two million customers in Ontario, Quebec, New York State and New Brunswick. For more information, visit www.enbridgegas.com.

Twitter - twitter.com/@enbridgegasnews
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About GreenSaver
For more than 25 years, GreenSaver has helped deliver Ontario's energy conservation policies and reduce its environmental footprint. GreenSaver (www.greensaver.org) is Ontario's long-standing energy conservation program management and delivery contractor and experts in residential energy efficiency best practices. GreenSaver is also a Licensed Service Organization for National Resources Canada (NRCAN) and has conducted energy assessments in 50,000 Ontario homes since 2006. For more information on these programs, please call GreenSaver at 1 855 591 0877, email [email protected] or visit www.greensaver.org.

About the Environmental Commissioner
The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario is the province's independent environmental watchdog. Appointed by the Legislative Assembly, the ECO is tasked with monitoring and reporting on compliance with the Environmental Bill of Rights, and the government's success in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and in achieving greater energy conservation in Ontario. For more details go to http://www.eco.on.ca.

Image with caption: "Douglas Brunner at ceremony to accept the key to his energy-efficient home in Toronto, June 10, 2013. >From left are: Vladan Veljovic, President and CEO of GreenSaver, Chris Tyrrell, Vice President, Customer Care and Chief Conservation Officer, Toronto Hydro, Douglas Brunner, 85-year-old senior and program participant, Jamie Paris, Manager, Residential Energy Solutions, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Gord Miller, Ontario's Environmental Commissioner. (CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corporation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130610_C6840_PHOTO_EN_27818.jpg

SOURCE: Toronto Hydro Corporation

Tanya Bruckmueller
Toronto Hydro-Electric System
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Chris Meyer
Enbridge Gas Distribution
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Lenard Hart
GreenSaver
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Don Huff
Environmental Communication Options
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