Chosen as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for 2011:
By Kristina Leung and Richard Yerema, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editor
(
Apr 20, 2011)
Some of the reasons why Toronto Hydro Corporation was selected as one of Canada's Greenest Employers (2011):
the utility's longstanding "peaksaver" program continues to save energy and dollars each year -- employees and customers volunteer to install technology that ensures central air-conditioning systems automatically cycle down when demand is peaking -- over 10,700 installations were completed last year reducing peak demand from the grid by approximately 12 megawatts
expanded upon its highly popular "Keep Cool" air conditioner exchange program and launched "The Great Exchange!", in partnership with the Home Depot, Rona and WalMart -- the initiative has been expanded to include incandescent light bulbs (over 150,000 last year), old dehumidifiers (over 1,800 last year), air conditioners (over 8,000), and over 600 customers signed-up for the peaksaver program
continues to operate the "Great Refrigerator Round Up" program that removed and recycled over 5,700 old energy inefficient applicances last year, and donated many to artists for creative recycling at the city's "Junction Arts Festival"
since 2005, the company has worked with the City of Toronto and the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas to host "Festival Light Exchange" programs across the city, providing customers with one free string of LED Christmas lights for every two incandescent strings returned -- over 29,000 strings of old incandescent lights were collected last year
through "Business Incentive Program" (BIP), a unique energy conservation initiative, the company pays business customers (up to $800/kW or .10 cents/kWh, whichever is greater) for energy efficient retrofits that reduce peak electricity demand
also works with the Ontario Power Authority through the "Power Savings Blitz" energy conservation program that is designed to encourage small business to invest in energy efficient equipment and lighting -- helping them reduce demand and save money along the way
maintains one of the city's first solar panel arrays at its head office, which features over 189 panels that produce enough power to run five average homes for a year (offsetting over 37 tonnes of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere each year), and is planning to install a rainwater collection system for use on its grounds
has also introduced numerous endeavours to reduce its own energy consumption, including extensive recycling and reuse programs (from office waste to electrical transformers), use of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper products, green-house gas reduction targets, and fuel-efficient fleet procurement (including hybrid vehicles where possible)
employees are also active supporters of the annual "Clean Air Commute" program every June, getting to work via the TTC, bicycle, rollerblades, scooters or through organized carpool
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