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To kick off the program each year we do a media launch in each participating city. This helps to generate awareness about the program and create a buzz in the community. At the launch we highlight a store in each city that has independently done recognizable changes, making their store more energy efficient. We applaud the following businesses for their efforts and encourage shoppers to support their green decisions.
The most recent launch happened June 20, 2008 in Kelowna BC.
2006 | 2005 | TOP
Oxford Street Apparel
423 Dundas Street, Woodstock ON
(519) 533-0657
www.oxfordstreetapparel.com
This ladies wear retailer opened in November 2006 and several initiatives have been established to ensure that the business is energy efficient. Some of the changes already in place by Alex Rappopoulous (owner) and Mary Margaret Taylor (manager) include using: a Honeywell MagicStat Programmable Thermostat, a timer on store front display lights, a HVAC upgraded system, CFLs, florescent Phillips ALTO T12s in store, and front window caulking.
The Cheeky Monkey
130 Christina Street North, Sarnia, ON
(519) 332-0978
Store owners Roland and Mary Anne Peloza have changed their old inefficient T12 fluorescent tube lights to newer, more efficient T8 lights. This action alone has saved their store over $250 annually on their hydro bills. In addition, the Cheeky Monkey also saves money by using ceiling fans and a programmable thermostat to minimize heating and cooling costs when the store is closed.
Rabba Fine Foods
24 Wellesley Street West, Toronto, ON
rickr@rabba.com
Rick Rabba, who is heading up the energy conservation initiative for the business, has completed major lighting retrofits in all of the Toronto locations, which are run 24 hours a day. They have replaced their old, T12 fluorescent tube lighting with newer, more efficient T8 technology. This also involved switching to newer electronic ballast fixtures and decreasing the number of bulbs while installing reflectors. These retrofits alone have decreased energy consumption by over 60,000 kWhrs and saved Rabba over $7,000/yr at each store!
Bali Distinctive Interiors
252 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa, ON
(613) 241-4816
Bali Distinctive Interiors has been operating in downtown Ottawa for over 20 years. Store owner Augette Chabot has initiated several energy efficient upgrades to ensure that the business is energy efficient and to save money on the store’s utility bills. To date, Bali Distinctive Interiors has retrofitted all incandescent bulbs to newer compact fluorescent lamps, changed all halogen track lighting to newer fluorescent PAR fluorescents, and completed a T12 to T8 fluorescent tube lighting retrofit. As a result of these changes, Bali is saving over $1,630 on their energy bills per year!
Britannia Cleaners
17 King St. E., Stoney Creek, ON
1 800 787-2018
Originally founded in 1932, this family business is committed to protecting the environment, and has taken significant steps towards reducing energy consumption. Using energy-efficient appliances and LED seasonal lights have helped Britannia Cleaners save money on their utility costs. Britannia Cleaners’ 2006 summer plans are to install more CFLs and LED exit sign bulbs, which will increase their energy savings even more!
M&M Meat Shops
250 Dundas Street South, Cambridge, ON
(519) 620-1360
480 Hespeler Rd, Unit 22, Cambridge, ON
(519) 623-5055
Owner of both Cambridge M&M Meat Shops franchise locations, Peter Charters, recently developed a resistor for his freezer heater circuits that reduced the energy load on average by 70-75%. That’s an energy savings of $250-$300 per month! In addition, Charters has also changed the existing 100 watt incandescent freezer lighting with 28 watt compact fluorescent lamps, installed programmable thermostats, and installed motion sensor light switches in bathrooms and storage areas. Peter has also seen his energy bills decreased by 25% through switching his T12 fluorescent tube lights to newer T8 lights at the Hespeler location.
The Working Centre
58 Queen Street South Kitchener, ON
(519) 743-1151
www.theworkingcentre.org
The Working Centre has taken significant steps towards energy efficiency by changing 200 older T12 fluorescent tube lights to newer, more efficient T8 lighting. Old lighting fixtures were recycled, windows are being opened to let natural light in to reduce lighting costs, and a programmable thermostats has been installed. These changes have reduced The Working Centre’s energy bills by over 30%!
Loop Clothing
46 King Street North, Waterloo, ON
(519) 746-1688
Princess Twin Cinemas
46 King Street North, Waterloo, ON
(519) 885-2950
www.princesscinemas.com
Both tenant (Alnoor Keshvani, Loop Clothing) and property manager (John Tutt, Princess Twin Cinemas) of a multi-use cinema/retail complex established in 2004 are collectively the first official “Cool Shops” of Waterloo, Ontario. Upon opening Princess Twin Cinemas in January 2005, Tutt converted the existing T12 fluorescent tube lights to more efficient T8 lighting and recently changed the existing 150 watt incandescent spotlights to 13 watt compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).
Also, established in late 2004, Loop Clothing is a new concept retail design lounge that functions as a lounge, retail store and as an art gallery. By December 2005, store owner Alnoor Keshvani committed to save money on energy bills by switching the existing 75 watt halogen spotlights to newer, more efficient, 13 watt CFLs. Each of these small lighting retrofits have saved both businesses over $2,000 in energy costs per year!
Home Furniture
10 John St., Brockville, ON
(613) 342-2012
Peter Hoogendam is the President of Reliable Home Furniture in Brockville and also owns Riverwalk Mill and Audiotronic. He was visited by the Hydro One Power Saver touring team who also delivered the Cool Shops program. Mr. Hoodendam made some significant changes after being visited by the Cool Shops team. He went on to purchase over $500 worth of energy efficient lighting which will reduce his energy costs significantly!
2006 | 2005 | TOP
Gypsy Co-op
815 Queen Street West
(416) 703-5069
Toronto’s Gypsy Co-op bar and restaurant adopted easy, low-cost energy efficient measures. With help from Cool Shops, they replaced all non-mood lighting with compact fluorescents in the office, washroom and kitchen areas – which alone is saving them hundreds of dollars each month!
Ring Audio
742 Queen Street East Toronto, Ontario
(416) 693-7464
info@ringaudio.com
www.ringaudio.com
Ring Audio, located in South Riverdale in Toronto , sells high-end retro electronic equipment as well as provides a repair service. Running the small store has tight profit margins. Owner Ted Syperek is always looking for ways to lower his operating costs. Switching all his existing light bulbs to compact flourescents just made economic sense. With the small investment of $60.00 Ring Audio is now saving 75% on their monthly lighting bill. Ring Audio proves that small changes are important in saving money and reducing energy.
Global Village Backpackers Hostel
460 King Street West Toronto, Ontario
(416) 703-8540
Buildings that are over 100 years old will inevitably have high energy bills, and the Global Village Backpackers Hostel is no exception. While not a traditional store front operation, the small hostel in Toronto has many of the same issues facing many street facing retailers. The hostel switched all incandescent light bulbs to CFL's. Additionally, management undertook an overhaul of housekeeping practices which are helping the hostel save money on their energy bills. These include: cleaning baseboard heaters, ensuring fans were circulating the proper way according to the season, closing front door when air conditioning is on and changing filters in a newly installed energy efficient furnace. Signage will encourage guests to follow the new" house" rules, and the hostel has plans to begin promoting themselves as energy-saving gurus!
360 Health Care
360 King Street East Toronto, Ontario
(416) 360-1300
Following the Cool Shops energy audit, the 360 Health Centre store front facility undertook some inexpensive greening alternatives that yielded lower utility bills and more comfortable premises for staff and clients. The main issue was a bay window facing the street that was allowing drafts enter the building and air conditioning to leave the building. A quick fill of the gaps with expandable foam help to better the situation. Additionally, a gradual replacement of incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents yielded further energy savings.
Timothy's World Coffee
1070 Eglinton Ave. West Toronto, Ontario
(416) 785-8600
At Timothy's on Eglinton Ave. West in Toronto, being a part of the community is part of being in business, Located on a busy neighborhood corner, the café works tirelessly to provide comfortable community meeting place and central focus of the Upper Village area. Addressing environmental issues is also a strong focus- one that saves money, increases custom loyalty and enhances their image in the community. Customers who bring in their own mug for coffee receive a free upgrade to a larger size. Through the City's Yellow Bag Program, the coffee shop has managed to divert 84% of its waste, saving more than $2,000 annually.
BEACH SOLAR LAUNDROMAT
2240 Queen St. E. Toronto ON
(416) 712-1488
Alex Winch has made some mind blowing changes with his laundromat located in the beach. He has switched to solar hot water heating, switched all of his T12s to T8s and has successfully reduced his natural gas consumption by 30%. Winch’s revenues have grown by 160% as customers actively choose the Beach Solar Laundromat due to its environmentally friendly energy initiatives |
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