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