Province Helps Antigonish Residents Save Electricity

Residents in the Antigonish area who buy electricity from the municipality can get a free set of compact fluorescent light bulbs to help cut their energy costs and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

The new program is a joint project between the province and the Town of Antigonish Electric Utility. The province's energy efficiency agency, Conserve Nova Scotia, is paying $5,000 towards the cost of the lighting project.

"Small changes in how we use energy can add up to significant economic and environmental savings," said Bill Dooks, minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia. "This program helps encourage residents in Antigonish to make smart energy choices and introduce energy efficiency into their daily lives."

Beginning today, Dec. 11, residents who bring in their most recent utility bill from the Antigonish electric utility can pick up the set of lights at Town Hall, 247 Main St.

Kay Chisholm, mayor of Antigonish and chair of the municipal electric committee said the project will reduce electricity costs for the utility's consumers by up to $190,000 collectively and cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 1.6 million kilograms.

"We are really pleased to partner with the province on such a worthwhile project," said Ms. Chisholm. "This will bring about immediate results, and we hope it will inspire our community to investigate other ways to save energy."

A 13-watt compact fluorescent light bulb provides the same amount of light as a regular incandescent 60-watt light bulb, but uses 75 per cent less electricity. The energy efficient lights also last eight times longer, saving up to $50 over the lifetime of each bulb.

The Town of Antigonish Electric Utility is the largest of six municipally owned and operated electric utilities in the province.