Image via WikipediaOntario power authority has announced a list of projects to benefit from its conservation fund ( set up to provide funding for sector-specific electricity conservation pilot projects to test new or unique conservation program elements) to the tune of $2 million.

projects to be funded are:-

Canadian Plastics Industry Association – A combination of outreach and educational tools and electricity-use assessment to promote energy conservation within the plastics industry, a large consumer of electricity.

Colleges Ontario – To provide energy management training services and real-time energy management systems to provide the colleges with the facilities they need to reduce energy consumption.

Council of Ontario Universities Holdings Association – Ontario Universities will help to establish a benchmarking system for energy use at each of Ontario’s universities.

Tags: Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Geothermal heat pump, Ontario Power Authority, Photovoltaics, Solar Energy, Solar hot water, Water heating

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Cate Blanchett’s bid to save the planet has hit the headlines as she ‘greenovates’ her luxury $10 million Sydney mansion. Apparently Cate, and her playwright husband Andrew Upton, are investing more than $1.5 million on the energy conservation renovations, which will transform their home into an eco-friendly haven for her family. Conservation measures include: Grey water recycling, a 20,000-litre water tank, solar panelling and energy-saving lights. Palm Beach-based Lesiuk Architects, a company which specialises in environmental projects, is in charge of the renovation. Lesiuk Architects, PO Box 30, Palm Beach, NSW 2108. p: (02) 9974 1010 f: (02) 9974 5502

Chief spokesperson for Who On Earth Cares? a website campaign that brings together Australians from all walks of life who are concerned about climate change and want Australia to reduce its greenhouse pollution.

Tags: Australia, Cate Blanchett, Energy Conservation, Sydney, Sydney Theatre Company

Image via Wikipedia Powerfactor energy savings - also known as Demand Side Management

Energy consumption was brought into focus for industry when the Climate Change Levy (CCL) was introduced. There is a proven way to save energy costs and reduce this levy that large electricity users may be overlooking. While there are no tax benefits for installing efficient and effective power factor correction measures yet, the Government is to introduce Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA) that enable the full cost of certain energy saving devices, when used in certain applications, to be written down against taxable revenue in the first year (Why power factor correction equipment was not included in the tax allowances introduced along with the Climate Change Levy is a complete mystery!). However the fact remains that by applying powerfactor correction methods, many large electricity consumers can reduce their electrical energy costs significantly.

Tags: AC power, Climate Change Levy, Energy Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Power-factor correction