HRAI Chapter hears energy efficiency message

Corey Diamond, executive director, Efficiency Canada

On Tuesday, October 29th the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) chapter of the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) hosted Cory Diamond, executive director of Efficiency Canada, at its regular dinner meeting.

Efficiency Canada is full-fledged advocacy group promoting an energy efficient economy across the country. The organization is working to drive greater awareness of the growing strength of the energy efficiency movement and the multiple industries involved in creating a more energy efficient future.

Speaking to contractors and suppliers, Diamond insists that following the recent re-election of the federal Liberals in Ottawa his group will hold the governing party to its election promises with respect to energy efficiency initiatives, which included: retrofitting some 1.5 million homes over the next five years, offering free home energy audits, providing up to $40,000 interest-free loans for home retrofits, and $5,000 grants toward the construction of new net zero homes.

According to Diamond there are 436,000 Canadians working in energy efficiency related jobs and it’s a growing industry.

His advice for HRAI members is to become champions of the energy efficiency movement. As part of the industry, he suggests “Tell the stories about the impact you are making every day.” He suggests contractors start aligning and promoting their work with the long-term transition to an energy efficient society. And he encourages joining Efficiency Canada’s ‘Our Human Energy’ movement, a campaign to put people’s faces behind the workforce that is creating an energy efficient future.

www.hrai.ca, www.efficiencycanada.org