In this issue: upcoming solar webinar, air source heat pumps, and more...
Greetings,
We have a lot to tell you about! So we'll get right to it....
In this issue:
Are you interested in exploring solar energy and battery-backup as possibilities for your home? Can solar help you reduce your energy use or even get your home to net-zero? What about increasing your home’s resiliency when the power goes out? In this inspiring introductory webinar brought to you by the Pocket Change Project, you’ll learn about the options available, how to know if solar is right for you, Ontario’s net-metering system, the benefits and costs/rebates involved, battery storage, how to work with contractors, and more.
Featured Presenters:
Emceed by Paul Dowsett, Retrofit Coach, Pocket Change Project. Bring your questions! A Q&A will follow the main presentations.
The Pocket Change Project is a group of dynamic, fun, and motivated folks, all working together to help our community reach net zero. However you want to contribute, we have a place for you! In particular, we are looking for volunteers to help:
If you are interested in green energy efficiency and home retrofits, or love biking, EVs, transit and getting around sustainably, get in touch. Everyone welcome! - students to retirees, whether you live in The Pocket or not... Email [email protected] and tell us a bit about yourself and your volunteer interests. Please put "POCKET CHANGE TEAM" in the subject line.
In December 2022, The Pocket got its first on-street public EV charging stations - three double stations, to be exact. You can read more about them and learn how they work on the Sustainable Transportation page of our website.
Since our last newsletter, there has been more significant media coverage about the work that our incredible Pocket Changemakers are doing to green their homes with support from our home retrofit coordination service, including on The National, CBC's flagship national TV newscast. You can see and listen to it all here on our blog.
We have added a LOT of new stories, resources, and information on our website recently. Check it out:
Lower-income Canadians (both renters and homeowners) do not get a break when it comes to home retrofits and energy costs, and are at a disadvantage. Pocket Change believes that everyone should be able to do a home retrofit, but there is too little financial support specifically for low-income homeowners, who are at risk of being left behind in the green energy transition - as are those who rent their homes and apartments. Our friends at Efficiency Canada are running a campaign right now calling on the federal government to provide rapid relief to Canadians struggling with home energy costs by modifying existing programs and providing more funding directed to Canadians with low-income status. The goal is to make home energy efficiency improvements available to all.
You can learn more and support their campaign by writing to your MP now on their website.
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Thanks for reading, and best (and green) wishes to all,
Your friends at the Pocket Change Project
Harnessing the power of community to become one of Canada's greenest neighbourhoods.
Would you like to support what we do?
The Pocket Change Project is a committee of the Pocket Community Association. We are able to do what we do thanks to financial support from the PCA, which itself is funded through membership fees from supportive, community-minded people - like you! If you'd like to support our work, we encourage you to become a PCA member today (or a "Friend of the Pocket member" if you don't live in the Pocket). Memberships are just $10 per year. You can purchase your individual/family or Friend of the Pocket membership on the PCA website. Thank you!
Not sure how to deal with climate change or the emotions and thoughts it brings? Maybe we don’t need to figure it out on our own. Check out this inspiring story from one Pocket resident who started her own climate change support group among friends and neighbours.
The story of one Pocket Changemaking family who focused their retrofit on creating more space for their kids and lowering their home’s carbon footprint. Now they’re 100% electric, enjoying air conditioning in summer and greater comfort in winter, and loving their much lower utility costs.
