| Q: |
What is the Switch the ‘Stat program? |
| A: |
Switch the ‘Stat is a thermostat exchange program managed by the Clean Air Foundation that encourages the residential and commercial installation of energy-efficient programmable thermostats and responsibly recovers and recycles older mercury-containing thermostats. |
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| Q: |
Why is this program important? |
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Switching to newer, more energy-efficient programmable thermostats significantly reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, diverting from landfill and responsibly recycling older mercury-containing thermostats prevents mercury from contaminating our air, soil, and water. |
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| Q: |
How does the Switch the ‘Stat program work? |
| A: |
The Clean Air Foundation, in partnership with the Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI), works with over 1000 participating heating and cooling contractors across Ontario to encourage their residential and commercial customers to switch to energy-efficient programmable thermostats and to safely collect the older mercury-containing thermostats once they are replaced. |
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| Q: |
What happens to the collected mercury-containing thermostats? |
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Collection kits are provided to each participating contractor from the Clean Air Foundation for the collection of the mercury-containing thermostats. Once the kits are full, Purolator Courier picks them up and delivers them (at no cost to the contractor) to Aevitas in Ayr, Ontario. At Aevitas, the thermostats are dismantled, plastics and metals are recycled, the glass mercury bulbs are safely removed, and the collected mercury is safely stored. |
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| Q: |
Who are the program partners? |
| A: |
The Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) promotes, encourages and facilitates the participation of their members, and other heating and cooling contractors across Ontario, in the program. In addition Aevitas safely dismantles the thermostats, stores the mercury, and provides the Clean Air Foundation with collection data and reports. |
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| Q: |
Who funds the program? |
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The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Ontario Power Authority, Union Gas, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Imperial Oil Foundation are currently funding the Switch the ‘Stat program. |
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| Q: |
What are the program results to date? |
| A: |
As of April 30, 2008 the program has collected over 10,687 mercury-containing thermostat switches, which represents the safe recovery and storage of 27 kilograms of mercury. |
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| Q: |
Where does Switch the ‘Stat operate? |
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Currently, Switch the ‘Stat operates throughout the Province of Ontario but with planned expansion to other provinces in 2008. |
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| Q: |
How can I participate in Switch the ‘Stat? |
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You can visit the Participating Contractors page to identify a contractor in your area and enlist their services to replace your old thermostat with a newer efficient programmable model. |
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| Q: |
How much does it cost to participate? |
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The Ontario Power Authority is offering a $25 rebate off the purchase and installation of a programmable thermostat through the Cool Savings Rebate Program until December 31, 2008 (check out www.coolsavingsrebate.com for more information). In addition, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Union Gas both offer a $15 on-bill credit for the installation of any programmable thermostat (check out the Enbridge rebate Web page and Union Gas rebate Web page for more information). Newer programmable thermostats can cost between $70 and $300. However, there is no cost to consumers and contractors for the collection, transportation, and safe disposal of the older mercury containing thermostats. |
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| Q: |
Do new thermostats work as well as older, mercury-containing thermostats? |
| A: |
Yes, even better! New programmable thermostats provide more control over the temperatures and timing of your air-regulation system. For example, customers have an opportunity to save on their utilities bills by limiting their air-conditioning use while away from home. |
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| Q: |
What is mercury and why is it harmful? |
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Mercury is a potent and dangerous neurotoxin which is dangerous to the health of people and wildlife. Older mechanical thermostats can have 1-4 mercury switches each containing approximately 2.5 grams of mercury. Just one gram of mercury can contaminate an eight-hectare lake to the point where the fish in that lake are not edible for one full year. |
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| Q: |
How much mercury exposure is required before noticeable effects on an individual’s health? |
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As little as 0.07 mg/m of mercury can have harmful effects on humans¹. This is the maximum predicted concentration in a piece shark, swordfish, and fresh or frozen tuna. |
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| Q: |
What is the risk of having a mercury thermostat in my home? |
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A mercury thermostat is not a direct threat to your health and safety as long as the glass housing for the mercury switch is intact. The risk to the environment and human health comes when end-of-life mercury thermostats are disposed of. If an old thermostat is disposed of in household waste, then mercury is sent to the landfill to contaminate the air, soil, and water. |
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| Q: |
What other everyday items contain mercury, and what can I do about it? |
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Cars: Most pre-1999 vehicles contain between 1-3 grams of mercury. At the end-of-life of a vehicle, it is important for mercury-containing convenience light switches and automatic breaking assemblies to be properly removed and stored. Switch Out (www.switchout.ca), another program delivered by the Clean Air Foundation, deals with precisely this problem.
Fluorescent light bulbs, electronics, thermometers, batteries, etc.: There are a number of household items that contain small amounts of mercury. For more information on the safe disposal of liquid mercury and household items that contain mercury, please contact your local municipalities’ hazardous waste office. For a list of products that contain mercury and for more information, please visit Environment Canada’s mercury site. |
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¹Environment Canada "Mercury and the Environment" 2004-02-04 |
