Save energy, save money and help clear our air

June 5, 2006

Go Clean and Green

Save energy, save money and help clear our air

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) is challenging Ontarians to take action to reduce  the need for dirty coal-fired electricity, including dirty power imports, on smog-alert days with a new online contest at www.gocleanandgreen.org. 

“We believe there is a huge appetite for cost-effective, readily available, climate friendly actions to save energy and switch to cleaner energy sources that are at the heart of the contest,” says Jack Gibbons, Chair of the OCAA.  “We’re offering a truckload of energy-saving appliances, a fantastic fully installed solar hot water  system, $1,400 worth of green power and nine iPod Nanos to draw people’s attention to the easy things they can do to reduce their consumption of coal-fired electricity  and smog.”

Last summer as a result of the shutdown of five of Ontario’s nuclear reactors, Ontario had to import up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) of dirty coal-fired electricity from the U.S. per day to keep the lights on. 

>“There are so many better solutions than importing dirty coal power or running our own dirty coal plants full out.   This is the message that we want to get across with our contest – that there are many options available right now that can dramatically improve Ontario’s electricity productivity and competitiveness and reduce smog,” Mr. Gibbons said.

The contest awards points to participants based on taking actions such as tuning up their air conditioner and turning up their thermostat; enrolling in Toronto Hydro’s PeakSAVER program; upgrading to an Energy Star air conditioner or electrical appliance; purchasing green power or a solar hot water system; or switching to cleaner natural gas for water heating, cooking and drying clothes.  The more points a participant accumulates, the greater their chances of winning one of the $22,000 worth of prizes being offered.

According to Mr. Gibbons, “The answer to replacing coal is to make the huge range of  existing, available actions easy and attractive to implement – not to wait for some wishful technology like low-cost and reliable nuclear power or coal gasification to arrive.”

“We are confident that the people of Ontario are ready to jump on this bandwagon and we believe our contest will give them a fun way to get started,” Mr. Gibbons said.

Click here to read the backgrounder on the contest (PDF)

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For more information:

Jack Gibbons     416-926-1907 ext. 240