the Power $aving Network
Community Renewable Energy Waterloo - CREW
An overview
Our Goals
assist a hydro customer in measuring their electricity usage patterns
help identify areas of improvement specific to that household's actual situation
facilitate behavioural changes in residents to help maintain energy savings
Our Goals
present a basic introduction to electricity consumption and billing
give practical conservation tips
dispel common myths
provide background information on various topics
make the ratepayer excited about spreading their experiences to others
The Power $aving Network- the process
You as the Homeowner Volunteer
Foundation – 1st Visit
Investigation – Using the Toolkit
Presentation – Sharing your Findings
Conservation – Putting Knowledge into Practice
Step 1: Foundation
A trained volunteer--a Power Messenger-- will visit your residence to:
show you how to measure your electrical consumption install a PowerCost monitor demonstrate use of a plug-in watt meter explain the step-by-step toolkit
Step 1: Foundation
Physical Toolkit
the powercost monitorthe plug in watt-meterCDprinted instructions
Step 1: Foundation
Virtual Toolkit
instructions for the Watt-meter andPowerCost monitor
suggested techniques for the monitoring process
tracking sheetsspreadsheet calculations
Step 1: Foundation
Virtual Toolkit
reading hydro billsbackgrounderstop ten mythstips for reductioninvitations to the Energy-Aware
presentation
– KW Hydro
Note- there are 2 different rates for the electricity used . These are based on time of year and amount used.
Electricity is sold in units of kilowatt hours 1 kWh = 1000 Watts for an hourEx. 1kWh = 10 lights with 100 watt bulbs (this is a 1 kW load) turned on for I hour
In winter, the first 1000 kWh are charged at the lower rate . This threshold decreases to 600 kWh in the summer.
Although, the cost of electricity would appear to be 5.5 cents here, do not forget the cost of transmission & maintenance provincially & locally, plus paying down Hydro One’s debt.
As of June 2007, actual costs are @ 12 cents per kWh.
Billing example:
Billing : example
This household
used 5,436,000
Watt hours
over the course
of 2 months
or 5436 kWh
Backgrounder: Understand Your Hydro Bill
Note: You may not be able to account for all of your electrical usage.
Backgrounder: example
Step 2: Investigation
Use the toolkit resources and instructions to:
measure the electricity consumption of a variety of sources in your house
record and calculate usage via simple tracking sheet or spreadsheet
Step 2: Investigation
Use the toolkit resources and instructions to:
determine how your energy is being usedcompare it to your hydro billidentify potential conservation
opportunities
Step 3: Presentation
You will have invited neighbours and friends to your home where:
the Power Messenger will introduce the Power $aving Network concept
you can showcase your household electricity usage discoveries and plans for reducing consumption
guests are encouraged to volunteer to go through the same process
Step 4: Conservation
The host will:
continue to track and implement reduction techniques discovered through investigation
discover ways to reduce energy in other seasons
Step 4: Conservation
The Power Messenger will return to:
remove the PowerCost monitor (if kept for further investigation)
document any changes in behaviour and usage with you