Cycle Transitions is Go Green Together's non-profit cycling service located in Cobourg at 739 D'Arcy St.

My wife and I live in Cobourg Ontario. It has been our dream for some time to live in a net-zero house, a house which produces as much energy as it uses for everyday activities. By net-zero I mean producing as much power annually as consumed annually, though not at the same time. We are getting closer to this goal. This article is a bit of an account of what we have been doing, remembering this is a house with 2 adults in the household.

My wife and I built a new house a bit over 5 years ago (around 2,000 s.f.). When we built it, we tried to make the house energy efficiency. Here is what we did:

• Structural insulating panel (SIP) walls (R-32)
• Rigid Styrofoam (blue board) insulation under the slab on grade floor (R-20)
• High quality windows (triple glazed with krypton gas)
• Lots of blown cellulose insulation in the attic (R-50)
• Good quality heat recovery ventilation (HRV) system
• Faced most windows south for passive solar heat gain
• Sealed the house fairly tightly (1.6 air changes per hour)
• Insulated all the water and heating pipes
• Insulated exterior doors, including double glazing and argon gas

SAVE WATER! SAVE MONEY!

Go Green Together in partnership with Lakefront Utilities is offering the Niagara Flapperless Toilet - guaranteed to save you water and money at the same time!

These toilets are offered at a special introductory price, with an additional discount for Lakefront Utilities customers.

[Cobourg, ON - 24 April, 2010] In celebration of Earth Week, Go Green Together is pleased to announce the winners of two contests promoting measures individuals can take to conserve energy—giving your home an Energy Audit, and using clotheslines to dry your wash.

“The first step to save energy around your home is to have a home energy audit to identify the most cost effective measures” said Neil Hamilton, Go Green Together’s residential and commercial Energy Auditor.  “There are rebates up to $5000.00 from the Ontario government which result from an energy audit and $150 rebate for having the audit done”, he continued.

Winners of Go Green Together's Home Energy Audit Contest each received $200.00 from Go Green Together to offset the cost of their home energy audit. Each contestant was required to have an energy audit and attend a workshop at the Go Green Together Centre.  The four winners are (left to right):

Ian and Jude Haas
Deana Piotrowski
Barbara and Andrew Buntin
Jennifer Powels

The Clothesline Photo Contest was held to promote clotheslines and publicize the recent changes in legislation that make clotheslines legal throughout Ontario.

You can save approximately $100.00 per year by using a clothesline or indoor rack to dry your clothes. Tip - to keep them from getting stiff put vinegar in the rinse instead of fabric softener.

Executive Director Judy Smith Torrie (shown here with Bea Rauch and Anneli Tolvanen) said that “Many in Northumberland County hang their clothes to dry. We held this contest to reward their efforts.” The winners were awarded with spring bulbs to plant in their gardens and the grand winner received a unique prize of a framed colour print of a clotheline donated by local artist, Eric Winter.

The Five Clothesline contest winners are:

Bea Rauch, Best Photograph

Anneli Tolvanen, Most Artistic

Elma Parker, Best Rotary Clothesline

Cathie Fleming, Best Extended Clothesline

Grace Barker, Most Committed Clothesline

Grace Barker was the winner of the Eric Winter print.

Congratulations to all!

Go Green Together celebrated its Grand Opening with friends, local dignitaries, press and well-wishers with an afternoon open-house on Wednesday.

The Town Crier, Tom MacMillan, opened the ceremonies, and Mayor Delanty offered his best wishes and congratulations.