Knowledge is power

Rossland residents are making a concerted effort to reduce their power usage

The Rossland Energy Diet is helping Rossland residents learn about living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. — Photo courtesy Nicole Bogdanovic

Every January, people make commitments to implement positive changes in their lives. One of the most popular resolutions is to lose weight—but a group of motived Rossland residents have decided to go on a diet before the snow flies. This diet, though, isn't about cutting back on sweets but on energy usage.

On October 11, 2011, Rosslanders gathered for information sessions held by the City of Rossland, Columbia Basin Trust, the Nelson and District Credit Union and FortisBC to discuss their energy diet. Nicole Bogdanovic, the corporate communications specialist with FortisBC, said this was the first time that the company had been approached by a community.

"This is a community that really wants to do the right thing, but they’re aware that they’ve got older housing," said Bogdanovic. "There’s a sustainability committee in Rossland and they identified that they are high energy users. They approached us and we wanted to put something together sooner rather than later because the grants right now are much more lucrative."

FortisBC is offering Rossland residents more than 200 free home inspections by a certified energy advisor. Residents can also receive guidance on the federal and provincial incentive programs, such as LiveSmart BC, available to those improving their energy efficiency. These programs are available to all FortisBC customers, not solely those in Rossland, and some are specifically tailored to the business community.

How can the average person go on an energy diet? Curtailment activities, such as turning off lights, are one method. The electricity powering appliances not in active use—the light on your computer when in standby mode, for example—is known as phantom power. On an individual basis, it may not add a lot to energy bills; while $50 per year might seem insignificant to a consumer, to an energy provider, it equates to thousands of dollars spent on energy that isn't benefiting anyone. Power bars can be set on timers to reduce phantom energy usage.

One of the most important things people can do to conserve power is ensure their properties are properly insulated. Fall is an excellent time to inspect a building for energy leaks; when turning back the clock in November to revert to standard time, check windows, doors, roofs and other areas to see if anything need addressing.

"Keep the heat in your house—you’re paying for it," said Bogdanovic.