WFIITBY FREE PRESS PROGRESS EDITION, WEDNESDAY MARCH 2, 1983, PAGE 15 SALUTE TO, PROGRESSý Whitby Hydro peaes toopen nwpln The Whltby Hydro Electrie Commnission lias . embraced the' town's rapldly growing population and increas- ing hydro needs with the construction of a new plant on Rossiand Road. The new office and storage facility, which is expected to be com- pieted by May, 1983, more than doubles the' capacity of the present Mary Street facility. "It wii be a -real im- provement over 'the Mary Street fclt; says TPom May, the com- mission's general manager. "As the town grew, il just became too small. " - The new plant is a 16,000 square foot build-, ing that will ailow for in- door storage of al vehicles and equipment. It wil centralize the hydro operation and wil also include the com- mission's meter depart- ment. As well,'offices wiil be located at the new site. Mr. May points out, however, that custom- ers wiJ. stiil use the Brock Street offices'to pay their bis as ad- ministrative offices wiil stiil be located there. Winvally Construction Limited is about haif- way through construc- tion of the $1,020,ooo pro- jet. The hydro com- mission acquired the land in a land swap with the town of Whitby. Thanks to the town, says Mr. May, a $207,000 grant was obtained from the Ontario gov- ernment to offset the cost of constructing the new plant. The facility will make the hydro operation more efficient because vehicles and eqwipment wil no longer be "'scat- tered throughout the town in substations," Mr. May said. Another recent and successfui project un- dertaken by the Whitby Hydro Electric Com- missionÙ was the Heat Save Project sponsored by Whitby Hydro and the Ministry of Energy. More than 1,500 resi- dents, or approximately 20 per cent of ail home- owners in Whitby, visit- ed free clinics held at Duramonid' expands in 1'982 (From page 2)> is the main objective. They hire two new ap- The two men attribute prentices each year, their success to the fact and keep them on when they have experienced they compiete the four- machinists from' bth 'year apprenticeship. North America and "If you can do the job, Europe, and these there's enough work," dedicated workers have Mr. Holter says, "And stayed with the com- there is no lack of busi- pany since the beginn- ness." ing. the Whitby Maîl and in Brooklln from Jan. 19 to 29. The clinics were de- signed to give practical and inexpensive tips on how to conserve heat and save heating dol- lars. "Generaliy, the clinics were very wel accepted because peo- pie went away with practical ways to save energy," Mr. May said. Ministry staff used "thermograms" (infra- red pictures) to demon- strate how much heat is lost from average, homes in Whitby. Some homeowners were surprised to learfi that by far the greatest heat loss i most homes is through simple air leakage. This means that inexpensive things such as weatherstrip- ping, caulking and seai- ing can save home- owners up to $124 each year in heating biils., Whitby was the first municipality in the re- gion to have the Heat Save Program. Oshawa is expected to run the program in the faîl of 1983. "A person who went to the clinle and made some repairs just bas to do a simple rating next year to find out if he's decreased the heat loss, " said Mr. May. The Whitby Hydro Electrie Commission bas kept in stride with modern needs as Whitby continues togrow, and wil be -Wel-prepared for the town's bright future. WHITBY HYDRO ELECTRIC Co MMISSION Working to serve the commun ity. ChaIrman: GeraldE 128 Brock St. S. Whitby )Cox General Manager: B.T. May t, kIL F-A id.