The Power Pledge Live | Power Pledge

“Did you know that phantom power can make up almost 15% of power consumed by an Ontario household per year? Instead plug into a power bar with timer or auto shut-off.”

Join other Ontarians and make a positive impact on the
environment. it's easier than you think!

Take The Power Pledge, and join the thousands of Ontarians who have already pledged. See how it’s working in your community, along with great ways to save! Let’s work together to share and learn great ways to conserve energy while saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Unplug Your Stuff Grand Prize Winner Goes Out on the Town!

Grace Cochrane, from Whitby, (second from Left) receives her tickets to see a Green Day concert in Toronto on August 18, from Tim Taylor, Ontario Power Authority Manager of Corporate Marketing. Grace, the grand prize winner of the two-month contest which encouraged Ontario youth to fight phantom power (the power that’s used by electronic appliances even when they are turned off). Helping Grace celebrate are her sister, Amy and mother, Edith. The Grand Prize included transportation to Toronto, dinner, three tickets to a concert of her choice and $500 in spending money. Grace says she will use some of her winnings to buy Green Day music for her MP3 player—“but I will charge it using a smart power bar”, she promised.

Tracey Tiersma with the Town of Aylmer sent us this photo from a Conservation Awareness event they had at a local Canadian Tire - great stuff!

Ok, this is really cool. We got an email from Leigh Pearson at Staples Canada's offices. She's just sent out this missive below, to enourage Ontario stores to support The Power Pledge. Thanks, Leigh!

"This message is for all Ontario Stores.

The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has recently launched the Power Pledge campaign – a conservation awareness initiative developed by the OPA and co-sponsored by WWF Canada. There are two components to this program: One focuses on what you can do personally and asks Ontarians to "take the pleddge http://www.powerpledge.ca For taking the pledge participants will receive 20 Air Miles, plus 10 extra Miles will be donated on your behalf to a participating charity of choice.

Second is a Mega Watt Challenge in which we are all encouraged to reduce electricity use as much as possible on Challenge Day, August 11, 2010 to mark the anniversary of the 2003 Blackout.

This great initiative was brought to our attention by colleagues at store 205 in Orangeville. They are participating by reducing their lights for the day and are encouraging associates/customers to take the pledge by putting up the attached poster. In support, we will be reducing the lighting in Ontario stores (those that participated in our annual Lights Out program only) August 11th and we encourage all to read over the pledge to see what changes you can make personally and professionally to reduce consumption.

Thanks, "

We were intrigued when we heard that Kim Meadows, a Collingwood Collegiate Communications Technology teacher, had encouraged her students to consider phantom power—the power that’s wasted on many electronic devices while in standby mode—as the foundation for a class video project. Three students took up the challenge and used information from the OPA’s Unplug Your Stuff. Win Sweet Prizes. Campaign (part of the province-wide Power Pledge initiative) to research the topic. When we saw their work, we applauded. We know you will too…

The good folks at Sudbury Hydro have taken to the airwaves there to let people know that it's time to Rethink, Replace and Reduce. Check out their ad!

On Friday, July 16th, Horizon Utilities brought The Power Pledge to the Hamilton Tiger Cats game at Ivor Wynne Stadium. The weather was gorgeous, and hundreds of Ticats fans pledged to take simple, meaningful acts of electricity conservation. And to top it all off, Hamilton won, beating Winnipeg 28-7. What a great day!

The Gloves are off in Haldimand County!

Cindy Santopadre sent us the blow-by: "The attached picture is from July 7th,2010 when Haldimand County Hydro staff gathered with Haldimand County staff to tell them about the power pledge and gathered pledges.

(Picture: left to right - Haldimand County Mayor Marie Trainer, referee Jane Albert (Haldimand County Hydro Consumer Service Manager), customer service representative Jenn Dorr and Haldimand County Hydro President & CEO Lloyd Payne)

Karen Spain from Brant County Power sent us this update from their latest Power Pledge event. Check it out!

"Brant County Power embraced the opportunity to promote The Power Pledge at the First Annual Downtown Paris Summertime Streetfest. On Saturday, July 10th Brant County Power Staff was on site offering free bucket truck rides which is very popular for children of all ages!! This was our chance to speak with our customers about phantom power and we had a tent set up with The Power Pledge as our main theme. We advertised as well, our Community BBQ coming up July 23rd, with the main focus on taking The Power Pledge and unveiling our new phantoms."

This past Saturday was Power Pledge Day at BMO Field for the Toronto FC game. More than 20,000 people learned a little bit more about conservation and the boys in Red beat Colorado 1-0. What a day!

Congratulations, Ontario!

At about 10:15 this morning, we received our 100-thousandth Pledge. Great news! If someone you know has not yet taken The Power Pledge, be sure to send them the link - there's still time to "Rethink, Replace, Reduce!"