Saving energy and money on the James Bay Coast

Families along the James Bay Coast are working on saving energy and cutting electricity bills, and their children are leading the way.
The Five Nations Energy Inc (FNEI) held energy conservation fairs in Fort Albany, Kashechewan and Attawapiskat earlier this March, where students in each community taught their families what they have learned on energy conservation in school.
The fairs capped an eight-week school program, where over 400 students from Grades 5 – 10 participated in hands-on workshops on energy conservation.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled with how the educational program and Community Energy Conservation Fairs went,” said Lucie Edwards, CEO of FNEI. “The students were engaged in the activities and having parents and others from the community get involved helped to bring home our energy conservation message.”
The education program is just one aspect of an ongoing energy conservation program FNEI has been conducting along the coast. FNEI is trying to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy use in each home in the three communities. The program started a year and a half ago.
Gail Lawlor, the project manager of the FNEI Conservation program, said that the idea is to have everyone in the community have the tools to save energy at home and cut the cost of their energy bill.
Lawlor pointed to one aspect of the program, that has provided homeowners with energy saving products such as pipe-wrap insulation, low-flow shower heads, block heater timers and power bars that prevent the loss of phantom power from appliances and electronics.
“We have tried to enhance energy savings opportunities in each home by giving products to families that will make a real difference on their energy bills,” Lawlor said.
The program has also involved education outside of schools, from mailing out tips for energy saving to making a 2012 calendar with artwork from local students featuring tips for energy savings.
The FNEI Conservation Program is a partnership between FNEI, Ontario Power Authority and Mushkegowuk Environmental Research Centre.
The program has also launched a contest on its Facebook page where it will give away a pair of locally-made moccasins.