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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-16, Page 2Page 2 May 16, 2007 • The Huron Expositor CIEGaiseritheale Insurance Brokers Inc. • Home • Auto • Farm • Commercial Please call Wayne or Kelly for any of your insurance needs at 1-888-482-9747 gkins@cabletv.on.ca Wayne Ische Kelly O'Leary 44 Ontario St., CLINTON 519-482-3401 wit' ft Built for Iife.Yours. No Interest No Payments for 12 Months! J D . H O MAN 9.nr. PLUMBING • HEATING - AIR-CONDITIONING 24 Hour Emergency Service Available Cali Jeff Holman at (519)345-0888 or (519)527-0220 OAC :,,tl Fin Celebrate & Enjoy y� � Due to the holiday on Monday, May 21 Deadlines for the May 23 edition will be... Display & Classified Advertising: Friday, May 18 at 12 Noon Editorial Submissions: Friday, May 18 at 12 Noon We hope you have a safe & happy holiday. The lu r 11 Main St., Seaforth 519-527-0240 OPEN MONDAY -FRIDAY 9am-5pm News Alliance getting head start on energy conservation Jennifer Nubbarld IIIMBEIMEEIEED While the 2005 Energy Conservation Leadership Act has yet to be enforced locally, the Huron -Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) is getting a head start on energy conserva- tion. "As an organization, the HPHA is now, and has been for some time, committed to the pro- tection and sustainability of our environ- ment," explained Chuck Meyer, director of building services and biomedical engineering. "Historically, and well before it became a trendy buzz word, we as an organization were very conscious of the many aspects of what is commonly referred to as `green' today" Meyer made a presentation about the ongo- ing green initiatives within the HPHA to the organization's board during a May 3 meeting at the Clinton Public Hospital. The provincial legislation, Bill 21, requires public agencies to establish energy conserva- tion plans. Anticipating set energy conservation tar- gets, Meyer said the HPHA has undertaken a number of projects he feels will meet or exceed any government directives. Though the term `green' often refers to a variety of eco -friendly activities, the focus is often on energy conservation, because "that's where the money goes," he added. Meyer said the most visible initiative is the HPHA's $3.5 million project with Johnson Controls. Following an inspection and analysis of the four Alliance hospitals, the company's propos- al recommended specific energy-saving actions. The Johnson contract guaranteed $3.5 mil- lion in savings over the next seven years, or "they'll cut us a cheque for the difference," Meyer said, noting it's too early to know what the outcome will be because the project has just begun. Recent changes include energy efficient light fixtures, variable speed drives, new boil- ers and a condensing tower to recover heat lost up the chimney. Optimistic about the project's success, Meyer said as of January 2007, the Alliance is showing a greenhouse gas emission savings of 466,061,276 kilograms. Power Factor Correction devices installed in the Stratford site have shown positive results. In the past, the hospital was losing 20 per cent of the. power it purchased due to ineffi- ciencies. Efficiency has now been increased to between 90 and 95 per cent. "Simply stated, I purchase the same amount of electricity and use it to run the same equipment in the same way, but I use at least 10 per cent less power to do it," Meyer said. "We also avoid penalties levied by the power company." Festival Hydro's Utilismart Energy Manager software is also allowing for better power usage. "We can monitor spikes in use, go back to find out what happened and make changes for the future to avoid peak charges," Meyer said. A partnership has been created with a com- pany called Ecosytem, to identify further effi- ciencies. Reports have already been received for the Stratford site and Meyer said the company will be reviewing operations at the Seaforth, St. Marys and Clinton sites in the future. Recycling — from glass, plastic and alu- minum to batteries, sharps containers and paper — plays a large role in the HPHA's green initiatives. A company contracted to shred and recycle confidential papers recently awarded the Alliance with a certificate of environmental achievement, for saving 187 trees in 2006. Changes to asset management, hot water production and storage and water usage are also being considered and a green purchasing policy is in the draft stage. The HPHA has also become a member of the provincial Greening Healthcare organiza- tion, a move Meyer said is proving beneficial after just two meetings. A staff member — dubbed 'the green guy' — has been appointed to attend meetings on behalf of the HPHA. "The idea is not so much to continually come up with eco -friendly projects; rather I've challenged (him) to learn to look at every- thing differently, with an eye towards conser- vation, while considering the environment," he commented. "This `green speak' is not going to go away. As the government gears up Bill 21 we will begin hearing much more. I believe the four sites of the Alliance are ahead of the curve and very well prepared for anything we might see ahead." New legislation will be valuable in long run for volunteer firefighters From Page 1 away. "This legislation will be valuable in the long run. Before, a lot of claims were thrown out but maybe now they won't be thrown out so easily," he says. Phillips says that with the number of chem- icals and plastics used in every environment today, firefighters must treat every fire as toxic. "You can't take a chance anymore," he says.