the Power $aving Network

1. the Power $aving Network An overview Community Renewable Energy Waterloo - CREW

2. 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

3. 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

5. 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

6. Step 1: Foundation Physical Toolkit • the powercost monitor • the plug in watt-meter • CD • printed instructions

7. Step 1: Foundation Virtual Toolkit • instructions for the Watt-meter and PowerCost monitor • suggested techniques for the monitoring process • tracking sheets • spreadsheet calculations

8. Step 1: Foundation Virtual Toolkit • reading hydro bills • backgrounders • top ten myths • tips for reduction • invitations to the Energy-Aware presentation

9. – KW Hydro Billing example: Electricity is sold in units of kilowatt hours 1 kWh = 1000 Watts for an hour Ex. 1kWh = 10 lights with 100 watt bulbs (this is a 1 kW load) turned on for I hour 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. Note- there are 2 different rates for the electricity used . These are based on time of year and amount used. In winter, the first 1000 kWh are charged at the lower rate . This threshold decreases to 600 kWh in the summer. As of June 2007, actual costs are @ 12 cents per kWh.

10. Billing : example Backgrounder: Understand Your Hydro Bill This household used 5,436,000 Watt hours over the course of 2 months or 5436 kWh Note: You may not be able to account for all of your electrical usage.

11. Backgrounder: example

12. 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

13. Step 2: Investigation Use the toolkit resources and instructions to: • determine how your energy is being used • compare it to your hydro bill • identify potential conservation opportunities

14. 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

15. Step 4: Conservation The host will: • continue to track and implement reduction techniques discovered through investigation • discover ways to reduce energy in other seasons

16. 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