FortisBC is bringing its “famous” Rossland Energy Diet to the Boundary, which was created to try and reduce residents’ energy consumption.
The Rossland project was wildly successful, according to Patricia Dehnel of FortisBC, as 22 per cent of residents participated and of those, 80 per cent did some form of energy upgrades to their homes.
“What was really impressive is that $1.6 million was spent in the local economy over that winter in purchasing some of the energy efficient upgrades, said Dehnel at Greenwood City Council on Monday.
Fortis will be launching the program on June 18 with an outreach event in Grand Forks.
Dehnel explained that registering costs $60 dollars and comes with a certified energy adviser assessing ones home.
Rebates upwards of $6,000 are included in the program.
“There will also be an information sessions for the trades, the one in Grand Forks is on the fifth and that is to invite the trades people to breakfast to talk about the program because of course they will be busy,” she said.
For more information on the Kootenay Energy Diet go to: http://bit.ly/18IZwmk.
Junky yards could get fined
Residents with “junk “ on their property could be hit with a fine as city council looks at ways to try and clean up Greenwood.
If ratepayers don’t clean up their own yards, then council is going to have to create a policy that allows the city to get involved, said Mayor Nipper Kettle.
“If people don’t want to clean up properties by themselves, especially the ones that are on the main drag off the highway… then there is definitely going to have to be a policy come forward,” said Kettle.
Councillors agreed that a policy needs to be set in place and one of the suggestions mentioned fining people for having an “unsightly” property.
“We need to have a policy in place to act upon,” said Councillor Barry Noll. “I think it’s just getting out of hand.”
City staff will be looking into the matter and bringing it back to council for further discussion.
City debates chickens within city limits
City council is pecking at the idea of allowing residents to raise chickens within city limits.
“I’ve had many discussions with people that already have chickens within our city and we are living with them already, we just haven’t made a bylaw yet,” Noll said.
Noll is concerned that allowing chickens to be raised within city limits could lead to controversy as people have also asked about the inclusion of ducks, geese and turkeys.
“It’s going to have to be well thought out,” he said.
Kettle agreed that if a bylaw were created it would need to be “picked apart” at council.
He asked the city administrator to look into drafting a bylaw to bring back to council.