No-charge energy savings program

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

Residents of Strathmore and area can apply now to receive several new energy-efficient products for their household at no cost.
Energy Efficiency Alberta recently rolled out a program that allows interested households to submit an application that will allow them to receive benefits as part of the Residential No-Charge Energy Savings program, which uses money collected through the carbon levy to invest in creating a more energy efficient Alberta.
The $21.5 million one-year program will enable interested households, regardless of their income or housing type, to have energy-efficient products provided free of charge and installed by qualified agents who will schedule home visits to remove old products and install new ones.
Energy efficient replacements can include: LED products to replace existing incandescent nightlights, lightbulbs and exit signs; high-efficiency shower heads; faucet aerators if no aerator is present; advanced power bars; and smart (self-adjusting) thermostats to replace non-programmable thermostats.
“You replace inefficient products with efficient products. There is not a set limit per household,” said Brian Wittmeier, press secretary with Environment and Parks.
People who sign up for the energy savings program will start receiving calls in April to schedule home visits. Home visits will be provided by Ecofitt, a third-party service provider hired to manage the program.
The residential no-charge energy savings program is just the first of four currently scheduled programs to start.
A panel on energy efficiency with Energy Efficiency Alberta considered possible energy efficiency programming. They then produced a report which commended different programs that could be invested in and that Energy Efficiency Alberta could implement.
“Currently there are four programs listed but there will be more in the future,” said Wittmeier. Other programs include a Residential and Commercial Solar Power Program that includes up to a 30 per cent rebate of your costs when you install a solar photovoltaic system in your home or business, which was launched on Feb. 27; and upcoming plans for a Residential Retail Products Program that will offer incentives when purchasing energy-efficient appliances and other energy-saving products at participating retailers and contractors; and a Business, Non-profit and Institutional Energy Savings Program that offers incentives and rebates once approved high-energy efficiency heating or lighting products are installed in organizations.
A total of $625 million from the carbon levy will be dedicated towards all programs through Energy Efficiency Alberta.
“This is to help Albertans save money and keep more money in their pockets,” said Wittmeier, who added that, on average, Albertans will save over $112 a year from the no-charge energy savings program alone.
Interested people can view all four programs and sign up for the no-charge energy efficiency program at efficiencyalberta.ca.