New program offers energy reduction opportunities

Manufacturers can reduce their energy costs by up to seven percent through a new program offered by the APMA.

At the association’s 57th annual general meeting at the APMA-AUTO21 conference, Janet Haynes, with the APMA’s environment and energy committee, discussed a new partnership with National Resources Canada (NRCan) in which they will be developing and delivering an energy-efficiency program to APMA members.

“Our industry faces a difficult economy this year, but we are also facing a number of environmental and energy-related challenges, including rising energy prices and increased environmental regulations,” she explained. “The APMA and National Resources Canada are going to be working together on this energy-efficiency program to help reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.”

Through the APMA Energy Efficiency Project, members will be provided with a web-based tool to track energy use. The program will be open to all APMA members at no cost, and members should save at least five to seven percent of energy costs through this program.

She also discussed the proposed Ontario Toxic Reduction Act, and expressed the APMA’s concern over the process in which the standards are being developed and the fact that it is moving away from a harmonized provincial/federal approach, which is more complex and costly for companies to comply with. The Act, she said, will have an impact on APMA members that work with toxics. The association is lobbying the government on this and letting them know about the negative economic impact caused by the proposed act.

The APMA is hosting an information session on June 12 at its offices in Toronto, to educate members about the environmental issues and opportunities affecting them. The session will also cover the Ontario Green Energy Act, the APMA Energy Efficiency Program and the Energy Conservation Fund – a program that the APMA is exploring to help make the financing of energy-efficiency capital projects much easier for members.

For more information, visit AUTO21 at www.auto21.ca or the APMA at www.apma.ca.