Ontario's Conservation Bureau will invest up to $9.25 million to upgrade lighting and appliances in social housing to support energy conservation, Energy Minister Donna Cansfield and Chief Energy Conservation Officer Peter Love announced jointly today. The funds will support the Social Housing Services Corporation's (SHSC) Green Light initiative, a province-wide energy conservation program for Ontarians that live in social housing.

"Our government is committed to making energy conservation and energy efficiency a key part of Ontario's energy future," Minister Cansfield said. "Last year we directed the OPA to make energy savings for low-income Ontarians a priority. This program will help low-income Ontarians and service providers save energy and money."

"We are very excited about this program and our work with SHSC, a joint initiative that gives the 'green light' to effective energy management strategies in Social Housing across the province," said Peter Love, Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer. "This is the first phase of our plan to increase energy efficiency in Ontario's Social Housing and low-income sector. Our goal is to create 100MW of electrical energy saving, or enough to power 33,000 homes," said Love.

The McGuinty government has set a goal to reduce energy use across Ontario by five per cent by 2007 and has directed the Conservation Bureau to develop the tools and the programs to help all Ontarians save electricity. The Minister's directive is expected to generate an investment of up to $100 million in the social housing sector.

"Social housing providers are dealing with rising energy costs," says Dr. Gordon Chong, Chairman of SHSC. "With the Conservation Bureau's support, they will have the ability to take concrete steps to reduce energy consumption in their buildings. That's goods news for them, for their funders and for the environment."

The next phase of the Conservation Bureau program expands to building envelope improvements in social housing, private low-income housing markets and First Nations communities this summer.

The Conservation Bureau is an operating division within the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). The responsibilities of the OPA span four areas: Conservation Bureau; Power System Planning; Generation Development; and Electricity Sector Development.

The Social Housing Services Corporation was established in 2002 and provides group programs and services for social housing communities in Ontario.

SHSC has been working on its energy management program since early 2005, developing the first coordinated energy management initiative for social housing in Ontario. Green Light brings together social housing projects with utility companies, government agencies, and energy management experts to take advantage of all possible energy conservation opportunities.

Disponible en français.

www.conservationbureau.on.ca

www.energy.gov.on.ca

For further information: Neal Kelly, Minister's Office, (416) 327-3546; Ted Gruetzner, Communications Branch, (416) 327-4334; Barton Sala, Conservation Bureau, (416) 969-6009; Lorelei Friesen, Social Housing Services Corporation, (416) 594-9325, Ext 225

Source: newswire