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Why is 85-year-old Douglas Brunner a happy man?

June 14, 2013 - Who is Douglas Brunner? This 85-year-old recently accepted a symbolic key to his newly energy-upgraded home and, although he has lived at the same address since 1954 and the house is not new to him, the lower energy bills should be.

June 14, 2013  By  Anthony Capkun



The Seniors’ Month celebration was focused on how significant energy savings will be realized through Toronto Hydro’s saveONenergy Home Assistance program and Enbridge’s Home Weatherization Program. Brunner received several thousand dollars in energy-efficient home improvements free of charge, which should save him hundreds of dollars every year.

Brunner was an enthusiastic host at his home in northwest Toronto, where he greeted Gord Miller, Ontario’s chief energy conservation officer, and senior representatives of Toronto Hydro, Enbridge and GreenSaver (an organization that coordinates and delivers free energy conservation programs that help seniors and others on fixed incomes save money).

“Our best opportunity to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions is to improve the energy efficiency of buildings we already have. These programs accomplish that, while also giving practical assistance to seniors so that they can stay in their homes,” said Miller.

Thanks to the SaveONenergy and Enbridge Home Weatherization programs, Brunner has new energy-efficient lighting throughout his home, a new Energy Star refrigerator, wall cavity pour-foam insulation, blown cellulous attic insulation, along with air sealing and draft proofing measures in his previously un-insulated natural gas-heated home. It is estimated this will save him almost 19.5% on his electricity bill, and about 28% on his natural gas use.

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“I tell all of my neighbours and people at our neighbourhood seniors’ centre: Don’t delay, pick up the phone and check out these energy-saving programs,” said Brunner. “Enbridge and Toronto Hydro are providing an important and valuable service for seniors like me.”

PHOTO (left to right): Vladan Veljovic, president and CEO of GreenSaver; Chris Tyrrell, VP customer care and chief conservation officer, Toronto Hydro; Douglas Brunner; Jamie Paris, manager, residential energy solutions, Enbridge Gas Distribution; and Gord Miller, Ontario’s environmental commissioner. Photo CNW Group/Toronto Hydro Corp.


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