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io - WA'I'HtuX) customers - Wednesday. luly 22. 2009 -, W 5 R (1 th . . e uce e llllCe \mwxli without lifting a hug ’ ” ‘ By Maxim DAuoN this weekend Chronicle Staff " _ The African Women's Alliance of Waterloo WW try to five by the m . Region presents the eighth annual Afro Festival I Rs. They watch their energy con- i: this weekend 3‘ Waterloo ParklNest. . sumption and their pocketbooks ,- Qelebrateour diversity. unity and pride at the and make an effort to reduce the juice ; ‘ [95‘1“] ofAfncan cultures . ' _ mmm “ 1 Take pan in traditional drumming, incredible 50 when Wendy Ridgway spotted an 4‘? dance. delicious food. beautiful African art and ‘ ad for the peaksaver program on her . more. . _ _ hydro bill, she jumped on it. .. it Will be a special day for Africans and lovers of Not only did it mean a free. brand 1 “"03“ 011th"? from all overWaterloo. . new. highâ€"tech thermostat, n came ‘ . . The festival begins at noon and runs into the with a $25 rebate on her hydro bill. 4': " , evemng. . ‘ * “I'm always looking for a bit of a ‘ , For more information.mfl519-884-5332. deal," she said. “And, from an energy "' 13' l efficiency standpoint, if everybody . :2: '_" does their part, it's a good feeling to T'- "t I ' Opera retums to know we‘ve done what we can too." ’ Q g E The peaksaver thermostats auto- . uptown waterloo matically adjust the temperature by Wendy Ridgway had a peaksaver pr rammable thermostat installed in her Water- - - one or two degrees for a four-hour loo home in May. The devices amngtkalw turn up the temperature when a peak- . Opera Kitchener returns to the “’th square period on days when the electrical sys- saver activation is issued, indicating the power system is under significant strain. “nth WI and Gretel on July 29' tem is strained. A wireless signal is mum mom ““5 15 the second ofthree Operas ‘0 be featured sent to the programmable thermostats. most cases, they didn't realize there thermostats installed already across at the square ““5 sumrner. Th1? weekday evening i which raises the temperature in every was an activation.” said lanzen. “The Ontario and about 2.000 in Waterloo performance allows families wrth young children home where a peaksaver is installed. temperature will ramp up slowly dur- region and Guelph. to come 0‘" an empty. The idea is to ease the burden ing that period. but ifthe house is tight, _ “The thermostats are typically acti- The W999“ attracted 0“" 500 people to the caused by energy-sucking central air which it should be when the air condi- vated on sweltering. summer daywhen 0°” and ““3 one should be even grander. ‘ conditioners on sweltering days. doner is running. then there really isn't the temperature exceeds 30C and the Th“ free performance of the classtc story Of The decision to activate the peak- much ofa humidity gain and the com- air conditioners are just humming Hansel and Gretel iscomposed by E "WW saver measures is made by the Ontario fort level isn't affected.” away," lanzen said. and sung '" English. , Power Authority and is only used when in an effort to get more people on They are not activated in the winter. _ th3 your lawn Ch“ m 5““ umbrella and fan the system is pushed to its max, said board with the program, the four local since it's air conditioners that typically m love “"‘h "“5 magical “'9 all 0"" agam. ‘ John lanIen of Waterloo North Hydro. electricity distribution companies have place the most pressure on the system. For more details so to www.0perakitehener.com f “It helps reduce the peak demand banded together to issue a Neiytbour- The programmable thermostat is on those days.” he said. ”That's good hood Challenge. worth about $400. for a number of reasons. The less For every 10 homes that sign up per It can be set to raise the tempera- “may nigl'lt concerts power that is used. that's always good municipal ward. the hydro companies ture while you're at work or out of the for the environment. But, it also helps will plant one shade tree in the neigh- house and cool down again before you in the public square reduce the amount of power that has to bourhood come fall. step foot in the door. It even be adjust- . , be imported and the amount that is 'That helps the local community ed via the internet from anywhere if 000. down m the “WW MW mush“ "‘8'“- coal-fire generated. staygreen and helps the environment,” you forget to turn the air conditioning when the Waterloo Public .Square w'” be the "it’s good for the envimnment and lanzen said. off or want to return to a comfortable hottest 59” “"‘h free open 3" concerts featuring it's also good for the economy because They're also sweetening the pot by home. 133' blues. ”Ck and more. . . _ peak power is always the most expen- entering anyone who has their device But, if you're not tech-savvy. you Th" Thursday “0“""P m“ be Perfo'm‘hgi sive power.” installed before the end of the chal- don’t have to worry. lawn said. “’qu by I", orb" he?“ . , So far this year. there has only been longing in September into a draw for a The hydro companies provide a list if you re interested 1“ "‘0” free "“15“? theres one day when the system was activat- $500 gift certificate for a local bicycle of installers who will come to your also the Sunday night summer concert 5'3“” held ed. it was back on June 12 and it was shop. home. free of charge. and install the at the bandshell m Wateiioo M every 5"an at 7 just a test to try out the communicaâ€" The peaksaver program. funded by thermostat for you. They'll also pro- p.rn. tion systems Last year. there were five the Ontario Power Authority. has gram the device based on the needs of For a h’" "3‘ of performers. check 0‘“ activations over the course of the sumâ€" already been up and running for sever- your household. he said. www.mterlooca. met. al years. "The folks that we've talked to. in There are around 120.0(1) peaksaver Continued on pqe 12 ‘ I -l- 7 777 'V‘fi'i '7"'i"7 a" I” VIII! @ 3:59me â€"â€" l3 wwv:.thefoamstore.ca Sloop I! 519.748.1491 E“; E-Inlil: Welshman”!!! The Foam Store mm â€"- lone/Gothic] M-M mu Y Miran-I ' “Ring“? . y . I" ‘ on. ‘. mt . we SAVE 15070 “Is °T° A l "5 0H YOUR i’URl'HAgf ‘ Quality Foam Hath.“ . mm nus coupon