Ottawa Public Library - MEDIA RELEASE

November 18, 2005

“Kill-a-Watt” meters on loan from the OPL

Ottawa (November 18, 2005) – Library patrons can save electricity and money with the new “Kill-a-Watt” lending program that allows OPL cardholders to borrow a compact digital power meter to measure the consumption of home appliances. The Kill-a-Watt meters help people become informed energy users and thus reduce their power consumption and costs.

“The Library is a great resource for information on energy conservation and environmental issues and now, with this unique service, people can reduce electricity consumption and save money,” said OPL Board Chair, Rick Chiarelli. “This is another great example of how the OPL is more than meets they eye, with initiatives and services that respond to a variety of needs in the community,” he added. 

The service is comparable to the Library’s pedometer lending program, a partnership with the Public Health Department that encourages library users to borrow a pedometer to measure (and increase) physical activity. Approximately 75 Kill-a-Watt meters are in the OPL collection and can be borrowed from any OPL branch for a three-week loan period. OPL viewed this partnership as an efficient way to provide a valuable service to our patrons with relatively little effort because our business is already circulating resources.

“Thanks to support from the City’s Community Environmental Projects Grant Program, we’re pleased to offer this money-saving service to library users,” said Dana Silk, the General Manager of Ottawa’s EnviroCentre, a non-profit organization that delivers energy-efficiency services. “EnviroCentre promotes energy-saving initiatives and this is a great opportunity to partner with the Library to expand meter use and raise awareness of how to become more energy efficient,” he added.

Contact:

Wayne Pender, Communications Assistant

Community Partnerships and Programming

Ottawa Public Library

580-2424, ext. 41468