Town Energy Savings Challenge Winner Announced
Energy-use awareness was the big winner, but Lunenburg also earned bragging rights and a new tree in a friendly municipal council competition with Mahone Bay.
The challenge was launched in June as an added promotion to the Shared Atlantic Vision for Energy Efficiency (SAVE) program. Both communities distributed energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs from Conserve Nova Scotia during June and July. As an added incentive, the two town councils challenged each other to save energy.
"This is a great demonstration of communities leading by example," said Bill Dooks, Minister responsible for Conserve Nova Scotia. "By partnering with these communities, we're helping more Nova Scotians discover ways they can use less energy and help the environment."
The challenge was administered and verified by the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation using the Tree Canada Energy Footprint calculator. Council members were asked to track their kilometres, kilowatt hours of electricity, and air travel. The information was translated into a score that determined how many trees would be required to offset the carbon-dioxide emissions generated by the energy use. During the challenge, Lunenburg council members generated 14.81 tonnes of carbon-dioxide emissions, while the Mahone Bay council generated 18.13 tonnes.
"We're pleased to see leadership in energy efficiency from both the municipal and provincial governments involved in this project," said Brooke Cook of the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation. "We need to change the way we use energy in order to help reduce our emissions and help make our communities healthier."
As the runner-up, the Town of Mahone Bay will plant a tree in the Town of Lunenburg. Both communities will also make a donation to the Adopt-A-Book program at the South Shore Regional Library.
About 8,300 compact fluorescent light bulbs were distributed by the municipalities. The SAVE program is a joint initiative of the Council of Atlantic Premiers. During the four-province campaign, 97,000 energy efficient light bulbs have been distributed. Nova Scotia has distributed about 45,000 bulbs during the SAVE initiative through municipal electrical utilities, regional development authorities, and community not-for-profit groups in 10 rural communities.