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It’s no secret that when the weather spikes, so do energy bills. This summer, Ryerson University is launching a new program that shows Torontonians how to save money by simply finding energy pitfalls in their homes.

The team behind Energy Savers, an initiative run by Ryerson’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and the Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) will canvas Toronto’s older neighbourhoods and perform home audits that can reduce homeowners’ bills by as much as 50 per cent.

“Older houses are usually not properly insulated or weatherized to contend with extreme weather changes, such as those hot days in summer,” says Tyler Baird, Energy Savers’ lead project manager. “When a house isn’t weatherized or sealed, it creates drafts – letting air escape. When the A/C is on, these homes lose a significant amount of cold air. By simply weatherizing them, we can reduce the use of gas or electricity for cooling, cutting their bills in half while also doing something good for the environment.”

Starting in May 2012, the team will hit areas such as Cabbage Town, Riverdale, Rosedale, Moore Park, the Annex, Little Italy and Little Portugal, where houses tend to be 50 to 100 years old.

Energy Savers will conduct an initial inspection and look at windows, doors, appliances, and even smart meters, to see where further energy conservation measures can be taken. Once the inspection is done, the team goes on to perform tasks like caulk windows, install timers, teach homeowners how to properly program their thermostats and educate them on available programs and government rebates for further savings. The total amount of work is about two to three hours long and can save homeowners $150 to $300 a year.

“The cost of hiring contractors for the same time of work can be expensive,” says Baird, who was a contractor for five years before going back to Ryerson as a full-time student. “Our team goes through the same amount of training and can perform many of these kinds of tasks all at a fraction of the cost.”

Led by students, Energy Savers is a not-for-profit social enterprise that will also use some of its revenue to provide the same services to low-income homeowners for free.

About Energy Savers

Energy Savers is a student-led, not-for-profit social enterprise developed by Ryerson University’s Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) and Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE). Energy Savers’ mission is to help Toronto energy users save on their costs by educating them on the value of energy conservation and empowering them to take advantage of other existing opportunities.  

About CUE

The Centre for Urban Energy (CUE) is an academic-industry partnership that is exploring and developing solutions to urban energy issues, such as the advancement of clean energy technologies, energy conservation and demand management, energy storage and smart infrastructure.

For more information visit www.cue.ryerson.ca 

About SIFE

SIFE is an international non-profit organization that brings together student leaders to create a better, more sustainable world through the positive power of business. SIFE operates in over 40 countries with the involvement of 1,500 college and university campuses. Students form teams on their university campuses and apply business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

For more information visit www.siferyerson.com

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For more information contact:

Karen Parucha
Marketing and Communications Manager, Centre for Urban Energy
Ryerson University
Cell: 416-898-4336
Office: 416-979-5000 ext 2988
kparucha@ryerson.ca