Aamjiwnaang First Nation Community Energy Champion

Hi again Aamjiwnaang community! I want to thank all those who have signed up to be involved in the First Nations Conservation Program as well as the Home Weatherization Program over the past few weeks while I have been distributing applications. Today and tomorrow will be my last few days circulating applications in the community and so if you know anyone who is interested in the program please let them know that they can reach out to me by phone or email ([email protected] 519-330-2955). To all those who have signed up, we will be contacting you via the phone number you provided over the coming weeks in order to schedule the audit in order to examine the appliances to be potentially upgraded. Even if you do not qualify for the bigger free upgrades like fridge or stove, I would still recommend getting involved as even in just changing out your old light bulbs for lower watt LED bulbs and by installing smart power strips you can save money on your electricity bills as well as help save our environment by reducing our energy use as a community.

Hello Aamjiwnaang community! You have more than likely seen me going door to door during the past couple weeks distributing applications for the free appliance upgrade program as well as the insulation/power strip/bulb upgrades. The original deadline for the application was set for June 15th but I was able to secure an extension in order to get more community members involved in these free energy saving opportunities.... The new deadline is June 30th, If you know anybody who may be interested but is not computer literate or has not received the application in the TRIBE-UNE please let them know there is still time to get involved. You can give them my email ([email protected]) or my personal cell number (905-979-2644) and I would be happy to answer any questions and help in the completion of the application.

UDDATE: Program deadlines currently being circulated within the community are extended util JUNE 30th. Hi community members of Aamjiwnaang, I have reached out to many of you with energy/money saving opportunities and upgrades in the past but none as large as this one.... We have the opportunity to provide free appliance upgrades (fridges, freezers, AC units and more), insulation upgrades, LED bulbs, power strips, smart timers, pipe wrap and low flow taps if you wish to switch to them. The First Nation Conservation Program (FNCP) will be delivered jointly with the Home Weatherization Program (HWP) and you need only fill out one easy form to apply to both. The HWP is only applicable to homes using gas heating through enbridge however the FNCP is available to any home in the Aamjiwnaang community. As far as qualification goes, if your home is on the reserve then you automatically qualify for the FNCP and need only fill out the single form attached below. As for the HWP if your house is heated by gas provided by Enbridge then you will qualify for this one as well. Once signed up, an energy audit will be booked in id June where we will determine how much each home qualifies for. If you have any questions or trouble filling out the form or accessing it feel free to email, message me on Facebook, or call me and I can walk you through it no problem. My work phone (listed below) is currently on the fritz so you can reach me at 905-979-2644 until I get it back in working order. Unfortunately given COVID has reduced the ability to provide such programs we are on a short schedule and so the sign up window will not last long. EDIT* I can't seem to link the fillable application to this post so please send me a message or email and I can send you the fillable form.

Not many take note until a specific day (April 22, Earth Day) but this upcoming month in its entirety is Earth Month! This April take some time out of your days to enjoy nature. Earth month is not solely about reducing water usage, electricity usage and reducing our overall carbon footprints (these are exceptional things to strive for of course) but it is also about simply taking some time to go on a nature walk, do some bird watching, plant vegetables. Spend some time outsi...de enjoying nature as things bud, blossom and return into our lives. If I can gather enough interest, I would love to run a home gardening workshop for anyone interested in getting a home garden started this season or anyone who has gardened the community in the past and would like to share any tips they have picked up along the way. COVID pending I would even be able to help ready the land for any community member who wants to turn some wasted space into some free food that happens to help our environment along the way. If you would be interested in something like this please leave me a message so I can gage interest. Happy Earth Month to All!

**ALL SPOTS ARE FILLED :) THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO RESPONDED** Attention community members of Aamjiwnaang First Nations, important energy saving opportunity below! (Free 100$ Visa gift card for the 15 homes who qualify). Here at Aamjiwnaang we are in the process of teaming up with Enbridge Gas and First Nations Engineering Services as part of a pilot program to strengthen future opportunities aimed at helping conserve energy as well as protecting the health and the environm...ent of First Nations communities. To get the program started we need 15 volunteers from 15 different homes for a free home energy assessment. Houses selected will have a community member accompany a home expert assessor in conducting a building report (based on electricity use, gas use, occupant health) to identify additional energy saving opportunities in the community. Please reach out to me if you are interested or have any questions regarding the opportunity. The first 15 to respond will likely be chosen unless the home does not qualify (i.e electrically heated). I will then provide you with a brief survey (either in person or via email) and then we will work together to schedule a date for the energy assessor to come by for 1-2 hours for an energy audit in mid-March and you will receive your 100$ visa gift card. We have the chance here to help move this program forward so that it can more accurately benefit our community as well as many other First Nations communities in the future. **EDIT: Pease note the end of the survey says "This section to be completed by project lead" however you should complete this portion to the best of your abilities.

Not many take note until a specific day (April 22, Earth Day) but this upcoming month in its entirety is Earth Month! This April take some time out of your days to enjoy nature. Earth month is not solely about reducing water usage, electricity usage and reducing our overall carbon footprints (these are exceptional things to strive for of course) but it is also about simply taking some time to go on a nature walk, do some bird watching, plant vegetables. Spend some time outsi...de enjoying nature as things bud, blossom and return into our lives. If I can gather enough interest, I would love to run a home gardening workshop for anyone interested in getting a home garden started this season or anyone who has gardened the community in the past and would like to share any tips they have picked up along the way. COVID pending I would even be able to help ready the land for any community member who wants to turn some wasted space into some free food that happens to help our environment along the way. If you would be interested in something like this please leave me a message so I can gage interest. Happy Earth Month to All!

Energy Affordability Program (EAP) Information you need for application (step 1) Name:... Mailing address with postal code: Email: Phone number: Best time to reach you for setup call: Hydro company (most likely Bluewater Power): How you can benefit... -LED bulbs (energy star) -Power bars (smart power strips) -Showerheads -Faucet aerators -Drying racks (indoor) -Energy efficient fridge -Window AC unit -Additional benefits available to electrically heated homes (such as insulation and draft-proofing for attics and basements and weather stripping windows) If you would like help in filling out the application please email me at [email protected] and we can arrange a time to meet at the community center to fill out the required forms (or via video call due to COVID restrictions). Alternatively, if you provide me with the information above, I can get the process started for you and Greensaver will then reach out to you for step 2. Or simply go to https://greensaver.org/energy-affordability-program-applic/ and fill out the application to get started right now and save sooner. Please note: There is an income eligibility requirement. If your household makes above the following limits (before tax) you will be unlikely to qualify. 1-person home = $36,578, 2-person = $51,729, 3-person = $63,354, 4-person = $73,157, 5-person = $81,791, 6-person = $89,598, 7-person = $96,775

Ontario Energy Savings Program (OESP) Application Guide You could get 35$-75$ in monthly credits towards your electricity bill (or more for homes that qualify as energy intensive). Adds up to yearly savings of $420-900 for homes with average energy use. Here is what you need to complete the application...... 1. Your Electricity bill. -Utility Account # (near top right on electricity bill). -Utility account holders full name (as it is written on your electricity bill). -Utility account service address (under service address on bill, likely home address). 2. All 18+ members of home must have filed for tax once in past 2 years. 3. Know the # of people living in home, and for each member 18+; their birthdates, names and SIN#. 4. Total annual household income after taxes (yearly net income, line 23600 on tax returns) (Combined income of all members of home after taxes). 5. Mailing address including postal code. 6. Contact information; phone # or email. Additional information to gather before filling out application. Is your home primarily heated by electricity? Do you have kidney dialysis machines, ventilators or oxygen concentrators in home? Does anyone in the home collect CPP permanent disability pension? If you would like help in filling out this application, please email me at [email protected] and we can arrange a time to meet at the community center to fill out the required forms or we can work together via phone/video call to make the process easy for you (due to COVID restrictions). Or you can get started right now at the link below. Go to https://ontarioelectricitysupport.ca/SelfAssessment and fill out the required information to start saving on your monthly energy bills sooner rather than later.

Are you collecting your rainwater? On a community-wide scale the use of rain barrels can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Much of our natural environment has been covered over by surfaces water cannot pass through (like asphalt and cement) and as a result much less water is filtered gradually back into the water table and lake. When we have heavy rainfall it results in much of the water flowing as surface runoff directly into our water supply/lake carry...ing with it whatever it washes away at the time (problem substances include pesticides, herbicides, excess nutrients from fertilizers, oil, small debris). In the summer it is easy to use the collected water as you can water your lawn with it or even better you can use it to water that new vegetable garden this year. If you are already watering a lawn or garden this can save you quite a bit of money on water bills as these irrigation costs can add up to 40% of residential water costs in the summer seasons. Believe it or not but an average rainfall of 1 inch over a 24 hour period can produce 700 gallons (2600 liters) from the runoff of a typical home. Saving money, putting less stress on the environment, and having less reliance on energy/water distributors are 3 excellent reasons to set up a rain barrel system this year or come to my rain barrel workshop later this winter/early spring (COVID pending of course). Happy New Years everyone, lets hope this year is a better one!

Our wildlife and natural environment have been steadily declining over the past decade and a half that I have been paying close attention, and much longer than that when you look into the numbers. The reasons for this are innumerable however there is at least one relatively simple change we can all make right now in order to fight back against the loss of our natural environment... Use less. It is as easy as that. Many people will do the obvious (such as recycle, avoid wastin...g food or water, avoid littering) but these same individuals can go a step further without much compromise to everyday life. For example; today we keep our houses on average 4 degrees warmer than our parents did or the generation before them despite the ambient temperature being higher now than it was in the past (even though its not as cold out we are working our furnaces harder than ever and using up more energy). By lowering the temperature on the thermostat we can save significant energy in heating costs daily which in turn puts less strain on the grid as our population grows with an increasing energy demand. We have already devoted countless acres of land to energy providers (from electricity power lines to natural gas processing plants), and if we do not work to use less as the population increases we will be forced to dedicate more and more of our little remaining natural environment to the production and transmission of energy. It can be difficult and expensive to make huge changes like solar power installation (even though it pays off after a few years and begins making money for the homeowner) however there are countless small changes that most people could comfortably make today (rain water collection systems, properly shaded homes, properly insulated, etc). If you would like to audit your energy use and find out how you can help preserve energy and the environment please reach out to me here in Aamjiwnaang's CIDL building or through this Facebook page and I would be happy to help.

Are you collecting your rainwater? On a community-wide scale the use of rain barrels can have a significant positive impact on the environment. Much of our natural environment has been covered over by surfaces water cannot pass through (like asphalt and cement) and as a result much less water is filtered gradually back into the water table and lake. When we have heavy rainfall it results in much of the water flowing as surface runoff directly into our water supply/lake carry...ing with it whatever it washes away at the time (problem substances include pesticides, herbicides, excess nutrients from fertilizers, oil, small debris). In the summer it is easy to use the collected water as you can water your lawn with it or even better you can use it to water that new vegetable garden this year. If you are already watering a lawn or garden this can save you quite a bit of money on water bills as these irrigation costs can add up to 40% of residential water costs in the summer seasons. Believe it or not but an average rainfall of 1 inch over a 24 hour period can produce 700 gallons (2600 liters) from the runoff of a typical home. Saving money, putting less stress on the environment, and having less reliance on energy/water distributors are 3 excellent reasons to set up a rain barrel system this year or come to my rain barrel workshop later this winter/early spring (COVID pending of course). Happy New Years everyone, lets hope this year is a better one!

Our wildlife and natural environment have been steadily declining over the past decade and a half that I have been paying close attention, and much longer than that when you look into the numbers. The reasons for this are innumerable however there is at least one relatively simple change we can all make right now in order to fight back against the loss of our natural environment... Use less. It is as easy as that. Many people will do the obvious (such as recycle, avoid wastin...g food or water, avoid littering) but these same individuals can go a step further without much compromise to everyday life. For example; today we keep our houses on average 4 degrees warmer than our parents did or the generation before them despite the ambient temperature being higher now than it was in the past (even though its not as cold out we are working our furnaces harder than ever and using up more energy). By lowering the temperature on the thermostat we can save significant energy in heating costs daily which in turn puts less strain on the grid as our population grows with an increasing energy demand. We have already devoted countless acres of land to energy providers (from electricity power lines to natural gas processing plants), and if we do not work to use less as the population increases we will be forced to dedicate more and more of our little remaining natural environment to the production and transmission of energy. It can be difficult and expensive to make huge changes like solar power installation (even though it pays off after a few years and begins making money for the homeowner) however there are countless small changes that most people could comfortably make today (rain water collection systems, properly shaded homes, properly insulated, etc). If you would like to audit your energy use and find out how you can help preserve energy and the environment please reach out to me here in Aamjiwnaang's CIDL building or through this Facebook page and I would be happy to help.