Community Energy Program

She:kon, my name is Stefan Tylak and I’m the Community Energy Specialist with the Wahta Mohawks. The goal of our program is to help increase energy security for the Community – so we rely less on electricity, propane and oil brought from afar, making the Community less vulnerable to future price shocks.

On Reserve Hydro One Delivery Credit: While residential homes on Reserve are currently exempt from paying the Hydro One delivery charges, this may end before too long! Preparing now with energy efficiency and renewable energy will help buffer cost increases and keep you comfortable (less drafty home, better lighting, etc.), while putting even more savings in your pocket and helping funds stay in the Community.

We have a tip sheet and one-pager and 10 Tips to More Efficient Heating for reducing energy use in the home, which offers helpful advice on using energy better (e.g. using time-of-use rates to your benefit!).

I’m undertaking interactive community outreach and education with a focus on energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions for homes and the Community as a whole. When we focus on the long-term life cycle cost (including energy and other operational costs), rather than just the upfront capital cost, we can better appreciate total, real costs. While we don’t know the cost of energy in the future, it goes UP more often than down! Between 1990 and 2015, energy efficiency improved in Canada by 26.5%. In 2015, these improvements saved Canadians $38.2 billion!

Programs for Financial Incentives – FREE Money!

The SaveON Retrofit Program applies mainly to businesses and offers up to $2,000 in FREE lighting, up to 50% of the costs for an energy assessment and up to 50% of project costs for things like occupancy sensors, HVAC, pumps, fans, etc.

For financing, mortgage insurance, etc., there’s the:

RBC Energy Saver Loan (flexible loan offers 1% discount on interest rate, or $100 rebate on assessment, 1-800-769-2511);

CMHC Green Loan (15-25% rebate on mortgage insurance, depending on level of efficiency, 1-800-668-2642); and

Genworth Canada Energy Efficient Housing Program (25% rebate for energy efficient new builds, 1-800-511-8888).

Education and Training

Between 2013 and 2017, a total of $ 22.2 billion was invested in renewable energy in Canada. If renewable energy and energy efficiency interests you (e.g. efficient building construction, renovations, solar photovoltaics, etc), perhaps you’d like to consider working in this area. There’s potential for education and training that I’d be more than happy to look into.

Reports/Resources

February 2018 – Indigenous Community Energy Symposium, Post-Event Report

March 2018 – Indigenous Conservation Programming: A New Approach

I look forward to working with the Community as we build a sustainable future that provides for the present while respecting at least the next seven generations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’ve got any questions/concerns, or if I can help in any way.

Nia:wen,

Stefan
stefan.tylak@wahtamohawks.ca

Stefan Tylak, M.Sc.
Community Energy Specialist
Wahta Mohawks
2664 Muskoka Road 38
PO Box 260 BALA,
ON, P0C 1A0, CANAD
1 705 378 0048
1 778 348 3881 

This initiative was made possible in part through the financial support of the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Education and Capacity Building Program. Wahta Mohawks is solely responsible for implementation of, and the content of any materials produced by, this initiative, and the IESO has no responsibility or liability whatsoever in the event that any person suffers any losses or damages of any kind as a result of the initiative.