The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Town urges everyone to participate Continued from pg. 1 also be translated into over 1,400 kilograms of greenhouse gas savings or the equivalent of not driving nearly 4,800 kilometres. Speaking about Earth Hour, Bonnette said: "Two years in a row, our community collaborated to make Earth Hour a success. This year, we hope to do the same by demonstrating that it is possible to take meaningful and practical local action against climate change. The participation of our residents, businesses and community organizations is key to achieving our goal. This year, in support of Earth Hour, the Town will: · Be an official Earth Hour participant. In a show of support, the Town will turn off all non-essential lights at all Town facilities during Earth Hour, without jeopardizing public safety and security, and interrupting regular service. · Celebrate Earth Hour on Friday March 26, since Town Hall is closed during Earth Hour on Saturday. Similar efforts will be encouraged at local businesses and schools. · Host a free family Movie Matinee at the Gellert Community Centre at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The movie matinee will feature an environmentallythemed movie. Light refreshments will be provided. Space is limited, so please RSVP your family's attendance by contacting Jennifer Spence at 905-873-2601 ext. 2290 or at jennifers@haltonhills.ca by Monday March 22. · Collaborate with the business community to (i) assist businesses in promoting Earth Hour to their employees and customers; (ii) encourage restaurants to offer special Earth Hour menus; and (iii) encourage special pricing on energy conservation items such as clotheslines and programmable thermostats. · Encourage Earth Hour registration by drawing for Earth Hour Gift Baskets (see details page 2). · Purchase green power from Bullfrog Power, a green electricity provider, to offset a portion of the Town's energy use during Earth Hour. For more information on the Town's participation in Earth Hour, please contact Damian Szybalski (Sustainability Co-ordinator) at 905873-2601 ext. 2289 or at damians@ haltonhills.ca. For more information about the Town's sustainability initiatives, please visit: www.haltonhills.ca/sustainability. Schedule an ecoEnergy Evaluation The ecoENERGY Retrofit Program is a federal program that was unveiled in January 2007 by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). This initiative is a focused mix of information and incentives targeted to improve the energy efficiency of Canadian homes. Under this, and the complimentary Ontario Home Energy Savings program, Ontario homeowners can receive a federal and provincial grants of up to $10,000 for undertaking recommended energy efficiency improvements on their home while helping to contribute to a cleaner environment. Participating homeowners will receive a personalized checklist of items that highlights both the best upgrades and the eligible incentive associated with each one. The checklist is developed during a professional evaluation by a licensed energy evaluator. Homeowners can expect grants that could defray costs associated with recommended retrofits such as the installation of new or additional insulation, the purchase of an energy efficient furnace or the upgrade of Energy Star(r) doors and windows. How will this benefit me? Peace of mind. NRCan-licensed energy advisors provide unbiased advice on how to improve your home's energy use. The service is also quality-assured by the Government of Canada to ensure the integrity of the residential energy assessment service. Understanding your options The residential energy assessment service provides a thorough basement-to-attic assessment of your home's energy use. The energy advisor's written report will help you to plan retrofits that will improve the energy efficiency of your home or multi-unit residential building. After you have completed your energy upgrades, experts will provide you with a second (post-retrofit) evaluation and a new energy efficiency rating label that indicates your home's improved energy use. Grants toward your retrofit expenses Only homes that have had pre- and postretrofit evaluations from an NRCan-licensed energy advisor are eligible for grants. The grant amount is based on each of the recommended retrofits you have completed and the relative impact the retrofits have on the energy efficiency of your home. How do You Apply? Your energy advisor will apply for the grants on your behalf after you have completed the recommended energy efficiency retrofits and your home has been re-assessed. Your advisor will prepare the paperwork for you and will be able to tell you exactly how much you can expect to receive. Your energy advisor will then forward your application to the Federal and Provincial governments. For more information or to download a copy of the grant table, visit www.GetEnergyGrants.ca or call AmeriSpec at 1-800-7945880 -- Article provided by By Jeffrey Brookfield, AmeriSpec Home Inspection Service Georgetown 3 Earth Hour Thursday, March 18, 2010 Renovating? Retrofit Your Home & Qualify for a Grant! Qualify for a grant for up to $10,000 from the Federal and Provincial governments when you do specific renovations to improve your home's energy efficiency. AmeriSpec can help you qualify! Schedule your evaluation today, call 1 800 794 5880 or visit our website www.GetEnergyGrants.ca Be sure to mention The Independent & Free Press when you schedule and receive our Home Repair Manual valued at $29.95!