People hoping to make their home more energy efficient can still access a provincial grant program that provides some funding for energy-efficient projects.

Alex Mortlock, manager of energy services with Peterborough Green-Up, said the federal government recently cancelled its EcoEnergy program, providing federal grants, up to $5,000, for eco-friendly renovations such as energy-efficient furnaces and new insulation.

The provincial government had been part of the program, Mortlock said, matching any federal grant homeowners received. That meant homeowners could receive up to $10,000.

The federal program was cancelled about two weeks ago, he said, dropping the federal share of the rebate.

Area students will soon be able to keep tabs on their daily energy usage through a new device that will be installed in every area public high school.

Chris Barker, manager of energy and environmental services for the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, said the board is installing utility monitoring devices in all 16 public board high schools.

“The kids will be able to monitor the electricity and natural gas usage live within their schools every day,” he said. “The idea is that the kids will be able to use that information in their math, geography, science classes or environmental clubs.”

The initiative will be launched in about six to eight weeks, he said.

Paul Bichler says he can’t understand why every laundry room isn’t eco-friendly.

The co-founder of Peterborough’s Eco Laundry Room on Simcoe St. said he has recently expanded to Toronto where a new location opened its doors in January.

To bring some green star power to the official grand opening, the owners tapped Toronto mayoral candidate George Smitherman to speak on April 21, he said.

“He will talk about eco-conscious businesses and how Ontario’s Green Energy Act is affecting businesses like us,” he said. “We’re getting a lot of good response.”

The Toronto Eco Laundry Room, at 2741 Danforth Ave., is the first of its kind in the GTA, he said.

While much of the downtown was bathed in darkness on Saturday night for Earth Hour, friends Linda Phillips and Karen Cameron decided to join the party at Peterborough Square.

“We went to Riley’s for dinner, and I was so pleased to see they turned off all their lights and had candles on,” Phillips said. “It was really lovely. We saw lots of places downtown turn their lights off as we walked by.

“There’s a real feeling of unity because the entire globe is participating at the same time.”

On the count of 10 the lights in the Peterborough Square courtyard went black for Earth Hour, a global campaign created by the World Wildlife Fund designed to raise awareness and show support for action on climate change and illustrate the need for energy conservation.

Everyone has a memory from a power outage. Growing up in rural New Brunswick I was no stranger to the lights going out on occasion, especially during strong winter gales.

We’ve become a world of electronic devices that seems to barely function when they no longer operate, such as in a power outage. I recall my grandmother forgetfully saying, “Well, lets put it in the microwave!” after she could no longer finish cooking whatever was in the oven when the lights went out.

Memories from the great blackout of 2003 likely come to mind for many in this area. It’s one of those events where you remember where you were and what you were doing for years after.

While not on the scale of the 2003 blackout, it is hoped an event coming up on Saturday will have a similar effect -get people motivated to live for a short period without lights and recognize the effects of climate change caused by our ever increasing demand for electricity.

Plans for the local celebration of Earth Hour are beginning to shape up.

For the third year in a row, Peterborough residents and businesses, together with people throughout the world, will recognize the event by turning off their lights and other electric-powered appliances for a full hour, beginning at 8:30 p.m. on March 27.

Earth Hour is intended both as a means of conserving energy and as a show of support for environmental initiatives.

Local residents who want to prove their dedication to environmental causes now have a special incentive to do so.

This month, Peterborough Green-Up is offering prizes to those who pledge an “act of green” as part of the non-profit group’s One Thousand Acts of Green contest.

The local organization is asking the people of Peterborough to register on its website, where they can calculate their personal impact on the environment—their “carbon footprint.”

Those who register will have the opportunity to commit to a simple act, such as turning off the tap while they brush their teeth, to reduce their carbon footprint and decrease their environmental impact.

The Trillium Lakelands District School Board has officially given its backing to a City of Kawartha Lakes group looking for the Ontario government to produce an independent study on the health effects of wind turbines.

The board’s trustees voted to support the group’s initiative in principle when the minutes of the Feb. 9 meeting were approved on Tuesday.

The empty former Craftworks building at George and Sherbrooke streets is back to life as the Ministry of Natural Resources has begun its three-year lease of the building.

Moving trucks and contractors have been at work during the last two days converting the former furniture and craft store into temporary workspace for MNR employees.

Staff will be rotated in and out of the building while suites at Robinson Place at 300 Water St. are renovated to make them more efficient and green, spokeswoman Jolanta Kowalski said.

The clock is ticking towards Earth Hour and Town Ward Coun. Dean Pappas is calling for volunteers to help with this year’s event to show support for action on climate change.

Pappas met with the media at Peterborough Square on Wednesday. The downtown mall will host the local Earth Hour event on March 27 starting at 7:30 p.m., one hour before the World Wildlife Fund is encouraging people and businesses around the world to shut off their lights for an hour (8:30 to 9:30 p.m.).

The local event will once again feature musical performances and displays from local environmental groups and businesses, Pappas said.

“It’s an awareness campaign,” he said. “It’s nice to have more people participating. I think that’s the goal.

“Peterborough is part of a bigger community. It’s part of the world…. The whole world is doing this.”