The marriage of saving energy and sports
Laval has just announced its participation in a promotional campaign to save energy launched by Hydro-Québec that will generate financing for sport infrastructure projects.
The method is simple. Laval homeowners and renters are invited from now until October to fill out a questionnaire that will evaluate the energy consumption of their home and appliances.
Hydro-Québec will then write up a report that will deliver a diagnostic and include recommendations of measures one can take to save energy.
For every report, Laval will pocket $35 (for a questionnaire filled out online) or $30 (for a questionnaire sent in by mail).
If a third of Laval citizens participate, $800,000 will be invested in four new sporting infrastructure projects.
Small gestures
“The ultimate goal is to get people to apply the recommended changes,” said Bernard Massé, regional director for Hydro-Québec. He spoke at the official launch Monday for the launch of the residential diagnostic “Consume better.”
Wouldn’t it be advisable to conserve a part of the $30 or $35 to finance the costly renovations recommended to residents?
“Hydro-Québec already has programs in place, and our contribution won’t change much,” said mayor Gilles Vaillancourt. Measure taken in households will be self-financing, he added.
The spirit of the program is to have an effect on electricity bills, without modifying the comfort of households. It’s not always necessary to move sea and sky to make a difference. “Every small gesture counts,” said Éric Moisan, in charge of the communications and community team.
Energy saving light bulbs and hot water heating, the use of thermostats – a simple change in consummation habits can have an effect, he said.
“The diagnostic will give detailed ideas of ways in which we can conserve energy,” said Massé. “It will let us know what we need to do to get moving.”
For more structural changes, such as the changing of doors or windows, the Agence d’effacité énergétique offers several programs, noted the two Hydro-Québec representatives.
In addition, the report will construct an idea of what kinds of investments are necessary for these projects and their amortization.
Sticking together
With the goal of making the campaign successful, Laval sporting associations have all been informed, said the mayor. “The sporting associations are very structured and full of contacts. We have asked athletes to become promoters for the campaign. They will make up a chain of communication.”
Community organization are equally set to profit. This is the case with the Laval volunteering centre, which promotes social support and distributes a food bank in the area.
“We are going to recruit volunteers that Hydro-Québec will train, to help people fill out the questionnaire,” said Kathleen Gagnon, director. Their organization touches some 1,500 families, she estimates.
The collective effort will fund the repairing and cleaning of the tennis courts in Sainte-Dorothée; the planning of an extreme sports arena for teenagers in Val-des-Arbres; the construction of an indoor basin for rowing training in Chomedy and the repairing and reconstruction of synthetic soccer and football fields in various neighbourhoods.
“For collective and mobilization projects, Laval residents always answer with a ‘yes’” said the mayor. The City of Laval has already shown example, said Bernard Massé. The drinking water facilities, city hall and the arenas have already undergone renovations. In light of an energy efficiency protocol signed with Hydro-Québec, every project taken on by the City will from now on be the object of an energy evaluation.
Questionnaire online:
www.hydroquebec.comTo receive the questionnaire in the mail, call 514-ENERGIE (363-7443).
Steven Guilbeault - 
