DEMAND RESPONSE CURTAILMENT CALLED FOR TODAY!

ALL EMPLOYEES AT WOODBINE & MOHAWK:

Please be advised that the Ontario Power Authority has issued another power curtailment for the Woodbine and Mohawk facilities for today, Thursday, September 10 between the hours of 1:15 pm and 5:15 pm.
It is very important that everyone does their part to reduce their energy consumption during these curtailment periods. WEG is under contact with the Ontario Power Authority to meet or exceed specific reduction commitments.
Employees can help by "turning off" all unnecessary lighting and equipment ie. task lighting over desks, desk lamps etc. during these hours.
If you have any questions or suggestions about energy conservation, please contact John Marhong at Woodbine, or David Fleming and/or Ron Aspden at Mohawk.
Thank you!

WEG's Broadcasting Department Reducing Its Paper Consumption

WEG's Broadcasting department, in an effort to reduce paper, has restructured its attendance format. Previously, they were using approximately 91 sheets of paper/week, 364/month.
With the new format paper consumption is down to approximately 60 sheets/month. An 83% reduction.

Broadcasting's goal is to go completely paperless in the near future.

DEMAND RESPONSE CURTAILMENT CALLED FOR TODAY!

ALL EMPLOYEES AT WOODBINE & MOHAWK:

Please be advised that the Ontario Power Authority has issued a power curtailment today, Thursday, September 09 between the hours of 2:15 pm and 6:15 pm. for the Woodbine and Mohawk facilities.

It is very important that everyone does their part to reduce energy during these curtailment periods. WEG is under contact with the Ontario Power Authority to meet or exceed specific reduction commitments.

Employees can help by “turning off” all of unnecessary lighting and equipment ie. task lighting over desks, desk lamps etc. during these hours.

If you have any questions or suggestions about energy conservation, please contact John Marhong at Woodbine, or David Fleming and/or Ron Aspden at Mohawk.

WEG Congratulates the GTAA's Partners In Project Green

The Mississauga News announced today that the organization that runs Pearson International Airport has been honoured for its efforts to make environmental sustainability a daily reality.
The Greater Toronto Airports Authority recently received Airports Council International-North America's Special/Innovative Projects award as part of the organization's 2009 Environmental Achievement Awards.
The honour recognizes the GTAA's Partners in Project Green and Pearson Eco-Business Zone program.
Partners in Project Green, launched in 2008, is a partnership between Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the GTAA that "seeks to deliver programming to help businesses reduce resource costs, uncover new business opportunities and address everyday operational challenges in a green and cost-effective manner."
The GTAA said Pearson's "eco-business zone" is home to more than 12,500 businesses and 355,000 employees in sectors related to transportation and logistics, automotive supply chain, food and beverage processing, as well as businesses directly related to the airport. The goal of the program is to allow the GTAA and other businesses an opportunity to implement projects and business initiatives that turn challenging environmental goals into practical and sustainable business opportunities.
In a release announcing the award, ACI-NA lauded the GTAA for "showing significant leadership in moving this project forward."
Pearson is the first airport to earn the award.
"We are extremely proud to receive this award from ACI-NA," said GTAA president and CEO Lloyd McCoomb. "So much work has gone into the development of this program, which is significant because it doesn't just focus on energy and waste management issues, as important as they are, but it also looks at green space improvements, employee health and productivity and, ultimately, green jobs."

WEG is Partners In Project Green's Founding Business Partner. For more information on this project go to www.partnersinprojectgreen.com.

Woodbine Racetrack's Food Court Reducing Waste

In an effort to reduce waste effective August 27, Woodbine Racetrack's food court will stop providing the small paper side plate that is currently being served with the soups and Chilli's. These are the little plates that the soup and chilli containers get put on when given to customers.

The plate will still be available for other side dish's or if requested by the customer. This small change should result in both a reduction in waste and overall cost savings. Even though the paper plates are recyclable we know that most of them are currently ending up in the waste system.

Cost Savings

2008 we served a total of 54,404 soups and chili's. To date in 2009 we have served a total of 38,170 soups and chili's.

Based on rough estimates (about 10 % of the customers we serve may still like a plate) this change should result in a reduction of over 50,000 plates a year at a cost savings of $3,000.00 (based on 2008 figures).

Waste Reduction Numbers

Based on 2008 numbers

1000 Plate Case Weight of 21 pounds will reduce overall waste weight from this facility by 1,050 pounds.

WEG & The Regional Municipality of Halton Partner on Special Waste Drop-off Days

To make the recycling of household hazardous waste and electronic waste more convenient to residents, Halton Region is holding Special Waste Drop-off Days throughout the year.

On October 31st, Mohawk Racetrack, located at 9430 Guelph Line, Campbellville will host a Hazardous Household Waste Drop Off Day from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)

• Acceptable materials include: pesticides, paint, stains, motor oil, antifreeze, varsol, fuels, cleaners, pool chemicals, pharmaceuticals, propane tanks, household batteries, car batteries, and fluorescent tubes and bulbs.
• Unacceptable materials include: needles, syringes and lancets, asbestos, commercial and industrial waste, PCBs, explosives, and ammunition.

Electronics

• Acceptable items include: computers, stereos, phones, TVs, VCRs, DVD players and computer monitors
• Unacceptable materials include: metal and appliances, wooden console TVs, microwaves and scrap metal

Please note that Special Waste Drop-off Days are for Halton residents only. No commercial wastes are accepted.

WEG In Support Of The Ontario Power Authority’s Call For Energy Curtailment

Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) will reduce its energy consumption at its Woodbine and Mohawk facilities between 1:15 pm and 5:15 pm today as part of the Ontario Power Authority’s (OPA) Demand Response Program (DR3). The recent hot temperatures and humid conditions put tremendous pressure on the Province’s electricity grid. An overly stressed electrical grid can result in “brown-outs” or in worse case situations, “black-outs”. As well, it prevents the need for importing expensive power from the U.S. to keep up with the demand, or the need to use coal powered plants to produce more electricity.

As a preventive measure, the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) created its Demand Response Program. This is a contractual peak load shedding agreement between the OPA and energy aggregators like Direct Energy with the objective of reducing electricity usage when Ontario’s electricity grid is overly stressed. Businesses are compensated in two ways: for being on standby to shed power during selected hours and for reducing their power consumption when asked.

WEG’s curtailment strategy will be initiated through Woodbine’s Building Automation System (BAS) and manually at Mohawk. “The use of automation allows for a smooth and controlled transition from normal operations to a more efficient mode, which can only be sustained for brief periods of time.” states John Marhong, WEG’s Director of Infastructure and Energy Efficiencies.

In addition to increasing equipment set points, shutting down non-critical equipment and cycling some units on/off, employees are asked to do their part by turning off any unnecessary lights, equipment etc. in their work areas during this time.

Direct Energy, in partnership with its clients, including WEG, have committed to reducing electrical demand by 25MW when requested by the OPA. This is enough power to ensure that 10,000 homes will have a consistent electricity supply.