On Thursday May 17^th, 2012 Peterborough This Week opened their doors to the public to showcase how their facility was renovated to become more energy efficient.  Not only did PTW lower their energy bills but they were able to take advantage of over $3K in energy rebates.  As a new member of the Sustainable Peterborough Co-ordinating Committee I was excited with the opportunity to not only visit such an energy conscious local business, but to see how they implemented conservation as part of an operational improvement strategy.

The open house was hosted by Peterborough Distribution Corporation (PDI) who gave a very informative presentation on how businesses both big and small can benefit from the various programs available both through PDI and Ontario Power Authority.  Local business can benefit from an impressive lineup of programs to help fund energy audits, to replace energy-wasting equipment or to pursue new construction that exceeds existing codes and standards. In addition there are incentives available for controlling and reducing electricity demand at specific times.  Small businesses can be eligible for thousands of dollars in rebates for everything from lighting and HVAC upgrades to replacement of motors, pumps and fans.

Energy is a critical component of the quality of life we enjoy today and PTW is a shining example of how a business can reduce their electricity costs at the same time they are minimizing their environmental footprint.  Kudos to PTW and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.