Water Efficiency

Water conservation extends the life of municipal infrastructure, allows for population growth, and reduces the cost of treating and pumping water and sewage. Our water conservation programs empower families and businesses to save money, reduce the environmental impact of utility services, and help home owners manage excess water on their properties.

Rain Barrel Program

In its thirteenth year, our rain barrel program continues to be popular with our community.
Watch our video to learn more.

Rain barrels help protect the environment by reducing the amount of treated lake water used for watering plants and lawns, diverting significant quantities of rainwater from the sewer system during storms. They help conserve energy by reducing the amount of water and wastewater that needs to be treated and pumped.

2019 results: 

Rain Barrels in 2019
Delivered 701 rain barrels to customers. Many thanks to our customers for 12,652 rain barrels delivered, since 2006. This saves 24,000 cubic metres of water (since 2006), supplying 130 average residential customers.

Water Conservation Garden

Featuring native, water smart plants and sustainable gardening tips, this inspiring space provides public education on how to use less treated water on lawns and gardens during summer peak consumption times. You can enjoy a beautiful and low maintenance garden. 

In 2019 we hosted 143 visitors to the garden, including participants of four Everything Drainage Workshops. Participants learned to manage excess water on their property, prevent basement flooding and comply with the City of Kingston’s Sewer Use Bylaw.

Photos showcasing the water conservation garden in 2019.
In 2019, we hosted 143 visitors to the conservation garden.

Energy Efficiency: Electricity

Conservation is the cleanest and least costly way to increase electricity system capacity, while empowering customers to manage their electricity use and save money. It can extend the useful life of existing infrastructure and reduce the environmental impact of electricity distribution.  

From 2015 to 2019, Utilities Kingston and its electricity customers have saved an average of nearly 7.4M kWh/year  – or enough electricity, cumulatively, to power approximately 4,631 homes.Highlights in 2019:

270

 Customer Projects Funded 
through Save On Energy

10.3M
kWh

Saved Per Year

 1,122

Enough to Supply 1,122 Average Residential Customers

Incentives of $964,218 Helped Realize

$2.5M

in Customer Projects

By helping customers access grants and incentives for conservation investments from provincial Save on Energy programs in 2019, Utilities Kingston actively invested in making local businesses more competitive and local homes more affordable to live in.

Caitlin Newey, Conservation Officer for Utilities Kingston, reviews energy efficiency upgrades at Queen’s University.
You can count on Caitlin for expert advice! Caitlin Newey, Conservation Officer for Utilities Kingston, reviews energy efficiency upgrades at Queen’s University.

Smart Thermostat Program

In the first year of the Smart Thermostat Program, 39 customers took advantage, saving approximately 32,682 kWh of electricity and approximately 13,455  m3 of natural gas.

A $100 bill credit was offered on the purchase of smart thermostats to eligible customers in 2019. Residential customers who receive both gas and electricity services from Utilities Kingston are eligible to apply for this Save on Energy Community Program. 

Affordability Fund Trust

If the cost of energy-saving upgrades is out of reach, Ontario’s Affordability Fund Trust is here for you. We are working with the Government of Ontario and community services to help you improve your home’s energy efficiency with free energy-saving upgrades, which can lower home energy use and your electricity bill. You may qualify for free upgrades; including ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs and appliances (including fridges), insulation and weather stripping. 

Utilities Kingston is now delivering the program to Kingston Hydro electricity customers. In 2019, 40 customers took advantage of the Affordability Fund Trust, saving 69,711 kWh. 

Energy Efficiency: Natural Gas

In 2019, we offered natural gas conservation incentives for the fourth year. Since the inception of gas incentives in mid-2016, we have helped support nearly $31M in investments. 

Incentives of $29,747,971 Helped Realize

$30.8M

in Customer Projects

Stimulating the Replacement of

8 Projects

Including Boilers and
Ground Source Heat Pump

189,531 m3

Natural Gas
Saved Annually

Enough to Supply

 81

Average Residential Customers

Congratulations to Our Customers for Your Conservation Efforts!

CFB Kingston is Committed to Increasing Energy Efficiency

Canadian Forces Base Kingston recently implemented various energy efficiency initiatives, such as high-efficiency HVAC equipment, lightning retrofits, and more. 

Overall, this work has generated annual energy savings of 2,100 megawatt hours (saving approximately $190,000 in electricity costs) and greenhouse gas emission reductions of 75,000 kg per year.

Providence Care Hospital High-Performance Construction Saves Enough Energy to Power 45 Homes

Providence Care Hospital is dedicated to energy efficiency! The hospital implemented various energy efficiency initiatives in the high performance construction of its new facility on King Street. 

Overall, these measures are projected to save approximately 423,000 kWh electricity and 1,760,000 kg carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (CO2e). That’s enough electricity to power 45 homes and emissions equaling 374 passenger cars, driven for a year.


Congratulations to both CFB Kingston and Providence Care Hospital on the success of your energy saving initiatives.

To help fund these improvements, Utilities Kingston’s president and CEO Jim Keech presented an energy incentive cheque to Base Commander Col Kirk Gallinger.
To help fund these improvements, Utilities Kingston’s president and CEO Jim Keech presented an energy incentive cheque to Base Commander Col Kirk Gallinger.
To help fund these improvements, Randy Murphy, Chief Financial Officer and Caitlin Newey, Conservation Officer for Utilities Kingston (on the right) presented an energy incentive cheque to Michelle Podhy, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Michele Mahoney, Planning Executive Assistant, Chris Mackey, Director Facilities Management (left to right).
To help fund these improvements, Randy Murphy, Chief Financial Officer and Caitlin Newey, Conservation Officer for Utilities Kingston (on the right) presented an energy incentive cheque to Michelle Podhy, Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, Michele Mahoney, Planning Executive Assistant, Chris Mackey, Director Facilities Management (left to right).
Conservation Outreach in 2019 Click to enlarge
13,910 customers use MyUtilities to better understand their utility use. Over 400 customers received one-on-one conservation advice from an expert. We attended 7 community events, providing tools and advice to save water and energy. At these events, we delivered 250 draft-stopping gaskets, 71 children's educational activity books, 199 informational fridge magnets, 1398 reusable bags, 700 toilet leak testing tablets, 800 shower timers, 700 packages wildflower seeds, and 800 LED light bulbs.

For one-on-one assistance to help save water, energy and money, contact our experts at
613-546-0000, and say ‘conservation’.