On The Road
June 24, 2010
Sports teams aren't the only ones using 'Towel Power'
Posted by Gavin Smith
Where: Lumby Days festival, Kamloops
Community Outreach representatives heard a success story while in Lumby for their town festival. Another Local Champion was found spreading the conservation message not just to her friends and family in the community, but across the province as well.
Linda Fawcett has taken her passion for the environment to the next level with a little help from BC Hydro. It all started in the summer of 2008, when she participated in BC Hydro's Product Incentive Program. The program walkthrough provided energy-saving retrofit options for the heritage café she was running. It also got her mind thinking of ways to be more Power Smart at home.
In 2009 Linda visited the Community Outreach reps that were on location at the famous Lumby Days. She picked up a tip that would that would soon multiply its effect. By throwing in a dry towel with her laundry, Linda found she could reduce drying time by 50%. Since she realized the dryer is one of the worst energy hogs, she wanted to share the news.
On a three month camping trip all the way to Dawson City and back, Linda saved her money for the dryer at each laundromat she visited and spread the conservation tip to all the travelers she met along the way. "People loved the tip, especially when you're using coin-operated machines, you can see the savings first hand," said Fawcett.
When she returned home to Lumby after her northern road trip Linda was not done yet. She was so impressed by the response to the tip she solicited the local government. The Village of Lumby puts out an information booklet every year, and this year it contains the old familiar tip about dryers.
Recently at the 2010 Lumby Days festival, Linda was all too excited to ignore the big green BC Hydro tent when she saw it. She approached the Outreach Team just to say thanks. Perhaps the reps should have been thanking her for all of her enthusiasm and dedication to the environment. Thanks Linda!
Gavin Smith is a Community Outreach representative based out of Kamloops and will be at community events throughout the summer.
