Town of Caledon staff participate at Energy Fair

Town of Caledon staff participated in a luncheon Energy Fair at Town Hall Oct. 10, to learn about residential energy conservation

and renewable energy applications. Fair exhibitors included Bullfrog Power, Enbridge Gas, Enviro Energy Technologies, Hydro

One, and the Region of Peel's Water Smart Peel program and Corporate Energy Management division.

The Energy Fair is an element of "It makes cents 2" - a campaign led by the Town's staff environment committee to educate staff about conservation practices. This staff event had the purpose of increasing awareness about residential energy use to foster energy conscious behaviour at work. Other campaign activities include

recognizing a staff person as Energy Champion of the Month, and keeping overhead lighting to a minimum during the summer months. Simple staff actions such as shutting down computers at end of day, double-siding print jobs and turning off lights when not in use are regularly reinforced.

Staff who attended the fair were given compact fluorescent light bulbs courtesy of Hydro One, and encouraged to complete a "passport to energy savings." The passport contained questions about each exhibitor; the answers could be found by visiting each booth. Completed passports were entered to win an "energy basket" filled with practical products donated by the exhibitors.

Given the municipality's environmental commitments, it is fitting to create opportunities for energy savings while supporting emerging renewable energy supply. As for the big picture, these actions can help lessen the dependence on fossil fuels, assist with climate change and improve poor air quality.