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YWCA aims to go green at Rockhill

Nicole Veerman
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 13, 2011

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - From low-flush toilets to front-loading washing machines, the YWCA is cutting costs through the installation of new energy efficient technologies at Rockhill apartments - home to families that would otherwise be homeless.

Between the technology improvements and the Turn Up the Heat on Homelessness campaign, which kicked off on Friday, the YWCA is trying to cut down on the nearly $150,000 it pays annually for heat, electricity and water in order to put more money toward working with families that need help finding housing stability.

"This year one of the things we were keen to do, given the cost of fuel and what it costs to heat this building, is to look for energy efficiencies," said Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA.

Last year the Rockhill apartments racked up $149,792 in utility costs. For the last fiscal year, the organization projected the cost of fuel to heat the building would be about $63,000, but it came in closer to $90,000 because of the increasing cost of fuel, said Fuller.

"If we can level that off to whatever extent, that'll make a huge difference for us," she said.

Utilities are included as part of the cost of rent, which is $1,150 for a one-bedroom and $1,350 for a two-bedroom unit.

"And it's simply not an option for us to increase rent," said Fuller, adding that affordability is key for the transitional housing program.

So far, with help from the Arctic Energy Alliance, five of the 30 units at Rockhill apartments have been renovated to include low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads, aerators on taps, compact fluorescent light bulbs and programmable thermostats. The carpets have also been replaced with linoleum and the walls have been painted.

It's like night and day when you compare a renovated suite to an unrenovated suite, said Sharon Pearce, a family support worker for the YWCA.

"It just makes you feel good," she said of the airy, bright renovated suites. "It's not as stuffy."

Fuller agreed. "It makes a huge difference. You want that sense of comfort, safety, airiness and happiness in the units here," she said.

The improvements extend outside of the individual suites as well, with new linoleum and lighting in the hallways and offices. There are also new front-loading washing machines in the common laundry area.

Julie Green, the director of community relations, said the new machines are magic because they don't use soap. The clothes are cleaned by bubbles created by an ionizer called Laundry Pure.

"People are having trouble getting their mind wrapped around it," she said. "It's just a machine that makes bubbles and the bubbles attach to the dirt."

The energy efficiency renovations were made possible by the territorial government's Energy Conservation Program and by De Beers Canada.

Along with all of the energy-saving improvements, the YWCA kicked off its Turn Up the Heat on Homelessness Campaign Friday.

The campaign began last year as a way for the YWCA to raise money to pay for the cost of utilities at Rockhill apartments. In 2010, the campaign raised about $60,000 - $35,000 from the community and $25,000 from BHP Billiton.

This year, BHP is donating $40,000 and hopes the community will match its contribution by purchasing heat for the organization.

Money to pay for heating costs is being donated in increments. For an hour, it's $10; for half a day it's $125; for a whole day it's $250; for a week it's $1,700; and for a month it's $7,000.

"It really, really makes a difference," said Fuller of the campaign. It frees up money for programs such as teaching tenants how to budget, cook and read, readying them to overcome homelessness and regain their independence, she said.

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