SGC Admin "thoughts"

FYI RE: New “Smart” or TOU (time of use) Meters (electricity)

From the Editor:Washing-machine3

As many of you may be aware as of May 2011 our esteemed Ontario Energy Board directs us towards the most inexpensive time to do our household chores.

The reason behind this decision (I think) is to stop us from using too much energy during peak times.

Now I get that energy is an enviromental and financial  issue, I am of the “green” mind and so applaud any thoughts, decisions and ideas that relate to finding greener ways to use and produce the energy we need.

However, I fail to see how the “Smart Meter” is going to assists us. It is big business,  retail companies, auto and other manufactoring companies that use the bulk of our energy, this is only logical as it likely takes more energy to make a car or run a big office building then it does for me or you to bake and do our household chores.

Putting in the smart meters, means that our seniors, shift workers, homemakers, people who work from home and the unemployed are going to be the ones paying the higher “on peak” prices.  Cooking the family meal will also affect us, as most of us, including those who work outside of the home usually prepare the evening meal anywhere from 5pm to 7pm.Family_cooking_together : Mother and daughter preparing a chocolate cake Vector

Oh yes, we will all be able to do our chores on the weekend without being penalized as weekends and holidays are under the off-peak hours… Although I am sure most of us have other things to do during the weekend then cook, clean and do laundry, so I am sure how this is supposed to help any of us?

I am upset with this new system, and some may say, I get upset over the silliest of things, and that perhaps I should read the book “don’t sweat the small stuff” ☺ But to be honest it’s the principle of the thing that gets my goat, I mean why should I (or anyone else in my position) be penalized for doing my JOB during morning/day time hours… isn’t that a kind of discrimination??

Anyway, just in case there are those of you out there who aren’t aware of the “Smart Meter” situation, here is the breakdown of the off-peak, on peak and mid-peak pricing…. and if you are like me and are fed up with governments and “higher-ups” making decisions that affect our daily life, then don’t be shy send in your thoughts to the email address at the end of this post.☺

Times and Rates from May to October: (Summer) Weekends and holidays are priced as of-peak hours the whole year.

Off- Peak time: 7 pm to 7 am: (yes folks all night long)

Off- Peak pricing: 5.9 cents KWH (Kilo Watt Hour)

Mid-Peak time: 7:01 am to 11am and 5:01 pm to 7 pm

Mid-Peak pricing: 8.9 cents KWH (Kilo Watt Hour)

On-Peak Hours: 11:01 am to 5pm

On-Peak pricing: 10:7 cents KWH (Kilo Watt Hour)

Times  from November 1 to April 30 (Winter) Rates are the same as summer.

Off Peak Hours: 7pm to 7am

Mid Peak Hours:  11:01 to 5pm (at least the winter months allows us to do our chores and pay less than during the same hours then summer. ☺

On-Peak Hours: 7:01 am to 11am and 5pm to 7pm , (which means making dinner is going to cost more during the winter then it does during the summer).

If you have a contract with an electricity retailer TOU doesn’t apply to you and there won’t be any changes to your account. 

Our Ontario government is attempting to ease our financial burdens regarding energy expenses, by giving each of us 10% off our electric bill. The reason they say is because of their long-term plan to move the province of Ontario towards clean sources of power, while shutting down coal plants, (which pollute our air).  See note from ontario.ca/energy plan.

To help you with the increased costs of these essential investments (renewable energy industries, solar, wind and hydroelectric) the Ontario Government has taken 10% off your electricity bill, including electricity costs, regulatory charges, the debt retirement charge and taxes.”

This will be in effect for the next 5 years.

I am totally confused with this but hey, I will take the 10%  although I would rather it went towards the debt retirement charge instead. (I still have an issue with that and don’t understand why I am paying off the debt of someone else?)

Send your questions and comments regarding the smart meter issue to: consumerrelations@ontarioenergyboard.ca

Regarding the 10% clean energy benefit contact: 1-888-668-4636 or go to the Ontario.ca website:

And as always I welcome your comments on any of our posts…you can comment by clicking on the comment button at the top or bottom of this post or by sending us an email. ☺

SGC Admin "thoughts"

Canada’s Environmental Commissioner suggests carbon tax and road tolls:

Recently Canada’s Environmental Commissioner Mr. Gord Miller made some recommendations to the Government regarding toxic emission and traffic congestion.

Among the recommendations put forth is a carbon tax as Mr. Miller’s blog states:

“As discussed recently in my recently released Greenhouse Gas Progress Report, I believe that Ontario must establish a price for carbon.  Such an approach, whether in the form of a tax or a cap-and-trade system, is supported by the majority of energy and carbon intensive industries in Canada and is already being used in three provinces (B.C., Quebec & Alberta) to manage greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs).  A carbon price acts as a signal that encourages energy consumers to reduce the carbon footprint of their energy use, whether through reduced consumption (i.e. conservation) or a shift to low-carbon energy sources, and is thus critical for de-carbonizing the provincial economy and powering the growth of green industry” See the rest of this article…..

While this may be a great idea, I am unsure as to whether it will be what is needed to help everyone understand the environmental crisis we find ourselves in. In fact I am concerned it will only cause anger, and that a carbon tax will be viewed as another “tax grab”and the whole concept of educating people regarding emissions will be lost.

Another recommendation is to introduce road Tolls within the City of Toronto. On Mr. Miller’s blog he states:

“Traffic gridlock in our cities is only going to get worse if we stick to the current way of moving people and goods around. Based on these facts, we have basically two choices: 1) accept more traffic and greater gridlock as inevitable; or, 2) DO something about it by pricing the commodity. We will have no choice but to price this limited resource (our road capacity) and the downtown parking that supports (encourages?) its overuse. Click to read more …“

 A road toll sounds like a good idea, the states have tolls everywhere and it might work if it’s handled correctly and if the funds raised are put to improving our environment, and not towards the wage packet,  swanky offices, entertainment and fine clothes for government/municipal employees.  But I am hesitant to believe that this will work the way it is intended.

While the recommendations from the Environmental commissioner and his staff come with good intentions, I don’t think they are serious enough.  It is time that we move away from our dependence on oil, and I mean seriously move away from it. But in order to do this we need our government to back us up, they need to understand that change is needed, they have the power to make the changes. A strong economy is needed for a strong healthy country, but we need to take care of our environment too, and that needs to be at the top of the priority list right along with a strong economy.

Because of my concerns I sent an email to Mr. Miller and cc’d it to the party leaders with my thoughts. Included was my recommendation that all parties and each member within those parties need to be on the same page where our environment is concerned, with ego and competitive behaviour being put aside.

If you have concerns about our environment or perhaps you don’t believe there is a problem but you are fed up with the tax’s we constantly pay out.  And if you have ideas that may help our environment I am sure they will be well received.  Send in your thoughts and comments to the email address’ below.

Gord Miller:           commissioner@eco.on.ca

Jim Flaherty          jim@jimflahertymp.ca

Jack Layton:         layton.j@parl.gc.ca

Elizabeth May:     emaytowin@greenparty.ca

SGC Admin "thoughts"

“Thoughts” Through The Eyes of a Child ☺

Submitted by Dayle.

The Wisdom of Children ☺

“Children are an amazing inspiration. Unlike adults they are always open, and can see the beauty of the world around them just as it is.

I came home from work the other day to find a ring of rocks in the middle of my back yard with a red card glued to a popsicle stick inside. My first thought was that my daughter had made a pretend “camp fire”, but I was way off.   What I found instead was an example of the wisdom of children.

 
There in the middle of my yard were growing 4 beautiful crocus flowers. Apparently the squirrels had relocated a few of my bulbs last fall. Nothing surprising; goodness knows how many they’ve moved and eaten over the years! What did surprise me (even though it shouldn’t) was how my daughter chose to react to the situation. She circled the flowers in stone to keep them safe and made a sign to tell everyone, including our dogs, to please keep out.☺

  
I find this an incredibly beautiful and powerful act. Unlike an adult who would dig the flowers out and move them (or just run over them and not worry) my daughter chose to love and protect them just where they were. She honoured that life is precious exactly as it is without our interference. Her sign even worked. Our dogs were later spotted tearing around the yard and jumping the little shrine instead of ploughing through it. ☺
 

This little act of wonder from my four-year old got me thinking!  How often do we try to change our environment to suit ourselves? How often do we try to change people and cultures by imposing our own sets of beliefs? How much beauty and wonder are we missing by doing so?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if instead we just appreciated the beauty and diversity of the world just as it is wherever it may be? Why should we move a flower because we would rather it grew elsewhere? Do we think we know better than the universe that through miraculous circumstance and chance placed that exact flower in that exact location? Do we think that we should, just because we can?

Perhaps we should all look to our children as a guide in how to live our lives. Enjoy beauty where you find it. Protect it but don’t interfere, and allow every flower to bloom in its own way and its own time.”

From the Editor:

Thanks Dayle for sharing this heart warming story, it is clear that your daughter is learning from her mother to respect and cherish all living things. Children are indeed wise, and the move about their day in a simple way, and in this way they are apt to see more than we do. ☺

We welcome your comments on this post, simply click on the comments button at the top fo the page, your email address will not be posted. ☺

SGC Admin "thoughts"

“thoughts” Patience ☺

This “thought” is being shared by Dayle and her recent experience on a day out shopping.    ☺

 
“It seems to me we as a people have become very demanding, and have lost patience with the world around us.
 
 I had a moment tonight that reminded me we should never let frustration get the better of us.
 
My family was leaving Wal-mart, my 4yr old as always holding on to the cart while we walked.  As we crossed, we heard an SUV honking his horn loudly and rudely at a car that was pulled over waiting for someone. (I had the feeling he had been trapped behind the car for quite some time due to traffic , both foot and vehicle). After we crossed I realized  that my daughter was now opposite me on the outside, I asked her to please come over to the inside. But even as I said it, I decided to and get her myself. I’m glad I did because lo and behold the SUV gunned its way around the corner and up our isle. Had I not gone to her side, it would have been a close call for my child. Fortunately the driver saw me and swerved around us and everyone was okay.
 
At the time I would have loved to share some excellent examples of expletives had there not been “little ears” present. Now I realize I can relate to this driver.   He’s probably not a bad guy. I doubt he was best pleased when he realized there was a little girl around the corner.
 
Have we not all had times in our lives when we have been so “ticked” at someone or something we didn’t take care the way we should have? I have. We all have. We’re human. And as we are human we have the ability to make a choice in future.
 
Lets slow down and breathe. Getting upset and frustrated doesn’t get us around the corner any faster, it just makes us act foolish. Nothing is accomplished in the end. For my part I will try to take this lesson to heart.
 
*♣* Please lets all (try) to be patient. *♣*
 
You never know if just around the next comer there is a parent’s heart and joy in wait.☺”
 
Comment from: Editor:
Thanks Dayle for sharing your experience and thoughts with us. And yes it certainly seems at times that we forget there are other people around us. Living in our bubbles of work, family and stress, we sometimes do not see those around us who are also in their own bubbles… oh what a crazy circle we weave… Breath and slow down once in a while, catch a glimpse of life around you… people, plants, animals and trees…☺
 
Oh and Enjoy the Day…☺
 
SGC Admin "thoughts"

Thoughts: Buy Canadian (or at least North American)

Happy Friday Everyone… :)

I recently found out that my beloved brother lost his job as a screw machine set up operator, a position he has had for the past 30 years. His next birthday in June will see him at 52 years of age.

Ian lost his job not because he works too hard or because he is too conscientious about his work and not because he is and always has been a dedicated hard-working kinda guy. Nope he lost it because we don’t make things in Canada anymore, it’s easier and cheaper to get them from other countries. (and without targeting any, I am sure most of you know which countries).

This as you and I know has been going on for a number of years, buying our goods from overseas… In the beginning it seemed like a good idea, the big companies benefited because it was cheaper for them, (although how they manage to ship all that stuff over here cheaper than we can make it here is beyond me). And the little guy and gal like you and me benefitted also because it was cheaper, and with the cost of living going up and up and up all the time it is logical to be attracted to the cheaper price.  And the people of the countries making the products were afforded a better way of life, or so we believe.

However, if there is one thing I have learnt along my life’s journey is that nothing is for free (or cheap) in the end there is always a cost. The incredible cost of “us” conducting business this way is now becoming quite clear.

The “cheaper” products being sold don’t appear to last very long, they break easier and end up in our garbage landfills, while we go purchase another just like it until that one too brakes in a short period of time. In the past you could rely on certain name brands because they stood behind the product knowing it was made to specific standards.. Not anymore, it’s all made in the same place and therefore seems to been made by the same standards, even though we are “insured” quality control is on the top of the list of these big companies.

Good hard-working people in Canada and the United States are out of work and may not ever get a good job again. Like Ian many of these hard-working folk have been at the same job for a number of years, and now either have to re-train or take a job on a far lower financial scale then they have been used to.  And you try re-training for another job when you are over 50 … it’s very, very hard, the brain just doesn’t learn the way it did.

O.k. so what can we do? is it up to us? do we have a choice? can we make a difference?

Well we can start of by not buying things we don’t need, especially if they are made in a country other than North America. Besides we have too much stuff as it is…do we really need more? Thinking about our purchases in a common sense manner before committing to them can help us to see what we need and what we want.

Hubby and I have been checking the labels of products before purchase for a number of years now, and it’s hard, very hard to find product (even food) that isn’t made elsewhere. But logically if we all begin to stop buying little by little surely we can make ourselves be heard, and then maybe, just maybe the powers that be will begin to make the changes we need.

By constantly purchasing our goods from other countries we leave ourselves vulnerable and open to “attack”. Common sense dictates that we will be safer, happier and economically strong if we are as self-sufficient as we can be. This begins with manufacturing in our own country, we do not need to rely on others, all we need do is work together and understand that the more wages we demand the less likely it will be that the work will be available to us in the future.

In essence purchasing our goods (and so many of them) from other countries is not just an economic issue, it is a huge environmental one as well… Think about it… are the countries who make the goods concerned about the environment? Perhaps not if they make product that ends up in the landfill, and what about all the shipping across the ocean? This must have an impact upon the ocean life, which in turn has an impact on all life.

We welcome your responses and comments to this “thought”. Please submit below. (don’t be shy :))

Thank you Margaret Hefferman for your comment, it says it all, and your suggestions are “doable”.  Margaret Hefferman is the author of the fabulous childrens book “Bedtime Stories”. 
Comment:

 I agree with you Greta. One reason that it is cheaper to build overseas is thatshipping of the  the wages are so small and there are no benefits like we have become accustomed to here. I also agree that the goods is affecting our oceans and all the life that they support. Poor quality does make the dumps fill up faster as some people tend to throw stuff out before thinking if any of it could be recycled. I suggest:

 
Only buy products that we really need
Buy from local artisans, craftsmen, farmers etc.
Recycle as much as we can and/or see if we can give away something that we don’t use anymore to someone else that may want it
Grow our own produce, if we can. It may mean using a community garden plot, but that way we meet our neighbours and make new friends
Just a few suggestions, but I’m sure others can think of more. 

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Thank you for your response. ✨