BC Hydro’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program has helped residents at Lion's Valley View Estates in Courtenay to lower their energy consumption and save on hydro bills.
The program — which provides qualified, low-income account holders with free energy evaluations — assessed 33 units. All but two received new Energy Star fridges.
The new Kenmore models use about half the energy as fridges made before 1993.
Valley View Estates is a BC Housing complex managed by the Low-Income Housing Society. Manager Ann Jansen has noticed a reduction in the hydro consumption of the units.
"Money's always tight here, so it was nice," Jansen said. "Our hydro costs are pretty high.
"We pay about $4,230 a month for the whole complex. We recover only about $1,880 per month from our tenants. We subsidize quite a huge amount per month in hydro costs, so anything we can do to bring down our hydro usage is pretty important. Because that just goes back into helping to run the place."
For more information about BC Hydro’s low-income program visit www.bchydro.com/powersmart.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com