What are you doing to conserve energy as demands reach peak levels? The Ontario government is requesting that people set their air conditioners no lower than 26 degrees, keep blinds closed, and use flourescent bulbs.
I also think it's a good idea to have an minimum temp at which retail stores and offices must keep their indoor environment during times of peak energy usage; stores which do not comply with this would be fined. I am thinking in particular of a Food Basics store in my area which is about 20 degrees indoors - no lie. The energy-sucking refrigeration and freezer units in the store go a long way to keep the temperature down; freezing the customers serves no purpose and only increases the demand on the Ontario power grid.
(Update: my Weather Network.com Weather Eye says we've slipped to a chilly 29 degrees.)
I read an article today (link) that referred to previous records set for Ontario electricity demand; up until the beginning of the new millennium or so, those records were set during extremely cold winters as people turned up the heat. All of the current top twenty peak days, have been set during summer heat waves. What is meeting the demand on those days? Plants operating on nuclear power, hydroelectricity, wind power, and, of all things, coal.
I strongly believe that Ontario has the capability to become, at least, a North American leader in the pursuit of sustainable and renewable forms of energy. Geographically, our province has a hugely diverse landscape spanning from Point Pelee to Hudson Bay, the St. Lawrence & Great Lakes Lowlands to the Canadian Shield - in those vast expanses between, there must be sustainable sources of energy we can harness. We know they are there; the money to develop these must be a priority for Ontarians if we expect to see our descendants live into the 22nd century and beyond.
Katie The Tree Hugger says, Don't be a power hog! :)
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