The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 12, 1994 - BS omeldeas PSIG ~ S Nation-wide Power Smart celebration reflects interest in “wise resource use” VANCOUVER, - B.C., OCTOBER 1, 1994 -- This October for the first time ever, Power Smart Month will be cel- ebrated across Canada, as utilt- lies, environmentally conscien- tious Canadians, retailers ‘and manufacturers of energy-effi- cient products promote the wise use of energy. The nation-wide event reflects the growing interest of Canadians. in using resources wisely as well as (he phenomenal growth of Power Smart in Canada and abroad, That's the view of Doug, Davison, Chair of the Board of Power Smart Inc., the Vancouver-based consortium which rocketed to prominence last April whea Ontario Hydro and Hydre-Québec joined the organiza- tion, effectively creating the world’s first national energy effi- ciency strategy. “Canada’s vast energy resources are- nevertheless finite and Canadians are becoming increas- ingly aware that using energy wisely is in the long term benefi- cial economically as well as envi- ronmentally,” he said, “Energy efficiency equals competitiveness in the world marketplace. Canadian ulilities under the Power Smart umbrella are playing their part.” “Duct Tane Caulk will cuff cold wave _ After the plastic has ‘been : The recent bursts of cold weather have sent blasts of drafts flowing through our house. The main culprits in this criminal cold wave are the windows and the doors. The windows are double-hung sash windows, with what appears to be very ineffective aluminum storm windows. The upper wind- ows no longer move as they have been painted into position. There are gaps at the top of some of them. What would be the best way of draft-proofing the windows? The back door lo the kitchen also is in a very sad state. To begin with, the window for the storm door has been fost and the - storm door frame no longer fits as snugly as it should.In addi- tion, culd air pours in around the interior. door. Are. there any quick fixes to my problems? And what should I do in terms of long-term weather- proofing? _ Slart the rehabilitation of this criminal cold wave by installing . removable caulk on all mating surfaces of the window joinery to create a sealed unit. This type of caulk. is designed solely for weather stripping and can be peeled off in the spring. ”. Wash the window surfaces to make sure that no grease or dirt is present to interfere with the caulk bonding to the window. There are two types of caulk available for this kind of weather stripping. One is the traditional dark gray, ropy caulk. The other is available’in tubes and should be applied with a caulking gun. | Caulk..between the interior window frames. and the ‘sash’ stops — the wooden moldings that hold: the -windows.in their channels — and along the gap where the bottom of the upper window and the top of the lower window meet, of at any location where you feel a draft. INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY , To increase (he energy effi- . elency of your windows, you also might want to:install’ a plastic - insulation kit. These are sheets of plastic attached to the interior window moldings by two-sided b oe properly mal - tape applied to the tape, a hair dryer or . heat gun usually can be. used:to shrink the plastic and eliminate - 2 the majority of wrinkles that may — have developed in the plastic sur- face during installation. Once again, wash the surfaces to which the tape is to be applied in order to make sure that the tape will bond well. The tape:is applied to all four sides of the window frame in as straight and level a manner as possible. Start attaching the plastic at the top of the window and proceed along one side. Keep the material as tight as possible, To attach the plastic to the tape, simply press _ the plastic on to the adhesive sur- face of the tape. While this job . can be done by one person, it helps to have someone hold the: plastic away from the rest of the tape and to keep the plastic as taut . as possible. Using the same technique, | press the plaslic on to the tape,on the other side of the window. and at the bottom. . Now use a hair dryer-or. heal gun to shrink the plastic film, to... further reduce any wrinkles. thal might have occurred and remove. any sags in the plastic.” TEMPORARY REPLACEMENT The plastic treatment can-be- used as a very temporary replace- ment for the missing back-door . window. Weather stripping should be applied around the door frame to further reduce drafts. . . While these temporary meas- ures can be used to reduce the - amount of cold weather seeping into your house, you should price the cost of having permanent. improvements made. If you can;t find a replacement window for the | back door, you might have ta get a new storm door installed, : As for the windows, you: should get new exterior storm . windows and instal] weather strip- ping on the interior windows. -Arguments will be made to convince you to have the wind- ows replaced entirely. If possible, -you should avoid-this as they are an ‘intrinsic part of a building’s: ‘architecture and. whenever -passi- place -and ble should be teft in in. the United - States, apt All leading electric utilities across Canada are participating members of Power Smart Inc., which was founded in 1990 by B.C. Hydro to promote the Power Smart energy efficiency strategy and programs across Canada and internationally. , Power Smart is now established the Caribbean, the Stovak and Czech Republic and Mexico as well as Central America’ and other countries. “We plan to build on this estab- lished recognition,” said Davison, “and to increase markel presence for the Power Smart name and logo. in North America and abroad.” He said that today utilities and government agencies around the world face the challenge of keep- ing environmental standards high - while maintaining reasonable elec- tricity rates and supporting eco- nomic growth. ; “Power Smart provides the umbrella under which these bodies can join together to find better ways to meet this challenge,” he said, * Currently, Power Smart Inc... has a membership of 33 electric. and gas utilities and government agencies. [t is equally owned by seven Canadian utility sharehold- ers: B.C. Hydro, Hydro-Québec, Manitoba Hydro, Newfoundland Power, Ontario Hydro and TransAlta Utilities. = -One of Power Smart Inc.'s stic- cess stories is. its Product.’ ~ od gh: ~ A, One efitry per person. “3, Eniries will be jidged on originality and how well the P _Thessage is Communicated, Entries that da not ineet all quallticitior 7 .oF contest rules will automatically be disqualitie _-X Entrants must be between the ages bf.5 and 8. 4. The contests open to childtan who are residents 6 Nova Scotia Power, - . PMhpes pe Bo fgg, ot bs 5, iyo Pleas "by ve Aa RULES AND REGULATIONS. Endersement Program which has resulted in licensing agreements with almost 90 manufacturers and the certification of almost 2,000 preducts ranging from energy- efficient showerheads to compact . fluorescent light bulbs. “The products ‘are tested by impartial third-party agencies and, if they meet our criteria of con- tribuling to the efficient use of energy, (hen they will be certified and the. manufacturers can use either the Power Smart Saves logo or the Seal of Energy ’ Efficiency mark on their packag- ing and in their advertising,” said Mike Powell, Director of : es Oo Obes Re suns “sheet of paper anden numbe mir upp coe - ais WDERS CAN Win tow, IHHWIER SMART. Saves More Than: Mon Marketing for Power Smart Inc. Another of Power Smart's suc- cess stories have been the National Retail and Consumer Marketing Programs. More than 4,000 Canadian retailers, repre- senting 17 major national and regional retail chains participated in the 1993/94 retail promotion. Canadian retailers such as Beaver Lumber, Canadian Tire and Home Hardware are participants, Power Smart Inc. is working - closely with. its members and with Natural Resources Canada - on the design afid delivery of energy management projects and services. The first ever National tig, Display é dtl}: Floor, Vancduver; Regulators’ Roundtable on Barriers to Energy Efficiency and the first ever National Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling Roundtable were held recently. “We live in a glabal economy where the business of the envi- ronment is increasingly: being conducted through partnerships of individuals and corporations dedicated to an environmentally sustainable economy,” ’ said Davison.. “By linking together key elements in the national economy, Power Smart. Inc. is playing. a°-vital’role.-in’ that process.” Pose