Dana Silk demonstrates an energy meter outlet that measures specific power usage. (Darren Brown, OBJ)

With the arrival of summer, the humidity moves in and the air conditioning units start to rumble around town, emphasizing the importance of energy conservation. Fortunately, there are a number of programs in Ottawa for businesses to conserve energy, water and money.

Area merchants are going to find out that saving energy is "cool" once again with the Cool Shops Ottawa program. After successful first-time results in 2005, four team members have already hit the street this year, armed with two free compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) per store.

"The CFLs use 75 per cent less energy and last 10 times longer and we're also changing the incandescent bulbs to light emitting diode (LED) bulbs in each store's exit sign," says Cara Sweeny, Cool Shops program manager. "Last year, we visited 550 stores in Ottawa and businesses said they saw a reduction of over $10,000 in energy-efficient savings on their energy bills from the changes they made. This year, our goal is to reach 1,000 businesses in the city."

Cool Shops, which is supported by Hydro Ottawa and the Ontario Ministry of Energy, is an offshoot of a successful Toronto program that began in 1998 through the Clean Air Foundation. Ms. Sweeny says their goal to show businesses the big difference small changes can make. They also provide each business with a free energy audit and give out incentives to go further with energy conservation through discounted product offer sheets.

Cool Shops will also run a traveling road show sponsored by Hydro One this summer in Ontario's rural communities, with stops in festivals and small towns, such as Smiths Falls and Carleton Place.

Conservation was also a big topic at city hall last week, with the approval of a plan to offer residents and businesses rebates when they install low-flush toilets. Phase one of the city's water efficiency plan also includes a subsidy program for high-volume users (HVU), which includes large offices, manufacturing plants and institutions.

"Fifty per cent of the water consumed in the city is attributable to just five per cent of the water service accounts with the HVUs," says Ken Brothers, the city's director of utility services. "We need to engage the HVUs through this initiative and get them interested. We also need to focus on partnerships with all the groups in the city who offer water efficiency and conservation programs."

For Envirocentre's general manager Dana Silk, conservation awareness is key. He would like to plaster the city with signs warning businesses that smart meters are coming soon.

"We think the smart meters will be required by 2007, but it could be sooner and by 2010 every household and business will be at the time-of-use rate," he says. "We think most businesses are going to see dramatic consequences with their hydro bills doubling or tripling when it happens."

The Ontario government has already begun implementing its smart meter program in Ottawa, which is part of its electricity conservation act. The meters will help consumers measure their energy use, but they will also involve the time-of-use price plan. The price consumers pay for electricity will vary based on the time of day when the electricity is used. For example, off-peak times overnight and during weekends will cost 2.9 cents per kWh, while on-peak times during the evenings in the winter and during the afternoon in the summer will cost 9.3 cents per kWh.

Last August, the Envirocentre started its Smart Business Ottawa program, which includes a professional energy audit and costs $300, after a $200 subsidy by partner Hydro Ottawa of the full $500 cost.

"We go it and make measurements, we do an audit of equipment, but the most useful thing is we do a load profile where we attach a meter to their electrical box and leave it there for a week," Mr. Silk says. "We then provide them with a seven day time-of-use load profile, which a lot of people don't understand or appreciate, but they will when the time-of-use rates kick in throughout Ontario."

Typical recommendations made by the audit include changes to lighting, water conservation, boiler replacements, ventilation upgrades, insulation and electrical load reduction.

"For a lot of small businesses, it's hard to justify changing the overhead lights if you aren't going to be around the five years it will take to pay it back," says Mr. Silk. "The people who are paying the electricity bills aren't the people who are benefiting from the capital investment, so we're looking at really cost-effective and behavioural changes that can really pay back in two to three years."

He points out that businesses who are interested in these measures should look into conservation services now, because once the time-of-rates come into effect, the Envirocentre expects to be swamped.

"Once the hydro bills with the smart meters start coming in, the business owners are going to go ballistic and they'll call us for help, but we'll have a long waiting list. Right now, we can really help them prepare before the rush starts."