Mr. Speaker, we've talked a little about energy initiatives in this House, renewable energy projects, opportunities for local gas development, but we hardly ever talk about energy efficiency; how we can help community members and local businesses avoid using so much energy in the first place. Too often, when we're tightening our belts, we consider energy initiatives as a luxury we can't afford.
Mr. Speaker, wasting energy is a luxury we can't afford. In each year's budget, we devote more and more millions to energy subsidies, electricity rate subsidies, seniors' home heating subsidies, fuel subsidies for communities in crisis, such as Norman Wells. These offer much needed relief, but they don't address any of the root causes of high energy costs, leaving the government on the hook for ever increasing subsidies. We could reduce the amount of subsidies needed by ramping up our energy efficiency rebates and incentives.
The Arctic Energy Alliance has been busy delivering these kinds of programs in all NWT communities and can point to many successful case studies. For example, a family in Yellowknife took their 1970s era trailer and added insulation, sealed up air leaks, and replaced old windows, saving them over $6,000 per year in utility costs and paying back their investment in only around six years.
The Arctic Energy Alliance also helped a family in Fort Liard buy an energy efficient washing machine which is saving them $50 a month on water bills, plus lower electricity bills for the dryer.
AEA has worked with 13 communities, including Tsiigehtchic, Deline, and Gameti, to replace old wood stoves with more efficient ones that use 50 percent less wood. They're also way more convenient, and I know because I have one myself. They burn longer, so you can get up in the morning and it's still burning 12 hours later. A new wood stove represents about $3,000 a year that people don't have to spend on heating oil.
With sunsets in federal funding, we have significantly reduced our rebate programs, leaving more and more folks choosing inefficient furnaces, boilers, and appliances because they seem cheaper upfront but it's costing them much more in the long run. It's also costing the climate and costing this government. We are sliding backwards.
Mr. Speaker, failing to support our residents and businesses with energy efficiency is a luxury we cannot afford. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife North. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
