Great Exchange a great success for Toronto

The Great Exchange Toronto enabled energy efficiency and recycling by swapping incandescent bulbs for CFLs and offering appliance rebates at Rona, The Home Depot, and Walmart, driving significant electricity reduction citywide.

Toronto Hydro-Electric System announced that its Great Exchange program succeeded in easing the burden on the power grid by over 7,100 MWh — the equivalent of taking approximately 790 houses off the grid for one year.

The Great Exchange, which encouraged residents to turn in their incandescent light bulbs, room air conditioners and dehumidifiers in exchange for rewards, exceeded electricity reduction targets, aligning with Toronto Hydro's PowerShift efforts, thanks to the efforts of thousands of Torontonians.

The Great Exchange set out to retire and responsibly recycle 150,000 incandescent light bulbs, 5,500 room air conditioners and 1,500 dehumidifiers, supporting Ontario's new energy tracking goals as well. Through 189 events at all Toronto-area Rona, The Home Depot and Walmart locations, as Toronto Hydro-Electric Energy Axis meters rolled out across the city, 150,000 incandescent light bulbs, over 8,000 room air conditioners and more than 1,800 dehumidifiers were turned in - breaking previous program records and exceeding targets by up to 45 per cent.

Toronto residents who brought in up to five incandescent light bulbs hiding in their homes during the Great Exchange had a chance to receive the same number of compact fluorescent light bulbs in return (and many IKEA stores accept fluorescent tubes for recycling) - a retail value of approximately $12. Residents who brought in room air conditioners and dehumidifiers received a $25 or $10 gift card respectively.

The Great Exchange ran on June 5/6, 12/13 and 19/20 at all Toronto Rona, The Home Depot and Walmart locations. Torontonians were also encouraged to visit the Great Exchange teams to learn how electronic vampires waste standby power at 26 events at select schools from the Toronto District and Catholic District School Boards, another 26 events at select Toronto Community Housing and privately managed properties and seven select Community Environment Days.

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