Media Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Local Partners Pledge Support to REEP, Residents on Clean Air Day
June 7, 2006 – Residents of Waterloo Region can breathe a sigh of relief today as they observe
National Clean Air Day. Despite abrupt withdrawal by the federal government from the highly
successful EnerGuide for Houses program in May, home and property owners will still be able to
access the service in Waterloo Region thanks to tremendous support from local partners, and in
particular, from the three area electric utilities.
It seems fitting that the pledge of local support to keep the Residential Energy Efficiency Project
(REEP) offering home energy evaluations in this community coincides with national Clean Air Day.
This day, devoted to increasing awareness of clean air and climate change, is celebrated across
Canada during Environment Week June 4th to 10th, 2006.
“In the wake of the federal government’s withdrawal from the EnerGuide for Houses program, our
local partners are stepping up to the plate to keep home energy evaluations available to our
community” says Mary Jane Patterson, REEP’s Manager. “The response has been overwhelming.
REEP is open for business!”
The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, the cities of Kitchener and Cambridge, Cambridge and
North Dumfries Hydro, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Waterloo North Hydro and Kitchener Utilities
provide ongoing and sustaining funding for REEP that is helping the project continue while rebuilding
the EnerGuide for Houses service without federal assistance.
Three of these ongoing partners, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro
and Waterloo North Hydro, have now stepped in with additional funding to replace the federal
government's subsidy for their customers. Their added contribution per customer brings the cost of an
EnerGuide for Houses evaluation through REEP down to $100 across Waterloo Region, even lower
than before for some customers.
Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro President, John Grotheer confirmed, “the information provided
from a home energy audit is a valuable tool to help educate the homeowner on ways to save. We are
working to find ways to strengthen the conservation culture in our communities. Affordable energy
audits help us to deliver on that commitment to our customers.”
“We are pleased to take a lead on this project, as we feel this initiative is critical in fostering a culture
of conservation,” said Rhonda Moreau, Manager of Customer Services for Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro.
Wally Malcolm of Waterloo North Hydro notes “The utilities have stepped in to keep this program
running in our community. But the expectation is that the government will return its financial support to
this valuable program.”
In addition to local financial support, Councils from the City of Kitchener and the City of Waterloo have
supported motions urging the federal government to reinstate funding to EnerGuide for Houses and
failing that, encouraging the province to revive the now-defunct grant program that rewarded
homeowners for energy-saving retrofits.
REEP customer and Cambridge resident Jason Bailey agrees that this is a valuable service that
should continue. “The evaluation was easily the best money I have spent on my house,” suggests
Bailey, who says that even when accounting for today’s high fuel prices, his energy bill are lower
nowadays than they were in 2001. He credits REEP with showing him where best to invest his
renovation dollars.
REEP, a joint initiative of the University of Waterloo and the Elora Centre for Environmental
Excellence, delivers the EnerGuide for Houses service under an agreement with Green Communities
Canada and has provided the service to over 7,500 residents of Waterloo Region since 1999.
Homeowners who follow REEP’s recommendations save an average of $500 annually and reduce
individual greenhouse gas emissions by 2 to 4 tonnes. Cumulatively, REEP’s customers can be
credited with reducing 2,400 tonnes of C02 annually.
Locally, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro also provides funding for EarthWise, a package of
additional incentives that enable their customers to receive 2 free compact fluorescent light bulbs and
an inventory of the home’s six major appliances at the time of the evaluation. Further, incentives up
to $1,500 are available to homeowners who install geothermal heating/cooling systems or to residents
who install solar hot water heaters in home’s with electric water heaters. Electrically-heated homes
can also access EarthWise grants up to $500.
In recognition of Clean Air Day and the rebirth of REEP thanks to local support, homeowners are
invited to reaffirm their environmental commitment by contacting REEP during National
Environment Week! REEP will be joining other community organizations at the Dandelion Festival in
Waterloo Park this Saturday, June 10 at 12:30pm. Contact 744-9799 or visit
www.reepwaterlooregion.ca.
Contact:
Mary Jane Patterson, Manager or Jessica Fisher, Outreach Coordinator
Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP)
Tel: (519) 744-6583
Ron Charie, President and CEO, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro Inc.
Tel: (519) 743-3600
Wally Malcolm, Vice-President, Customer Services, Waterloo North Hydro Inc.
Tel: (519) 885-6840
John Grotheer, President and CEO, Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro Inc.
Tel: (519) 621-3530
