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BOMA Canada powers down for Earth Hour - Environmental Communication Options/Huff Strategy

BOMA Canada powers down for Earth Hour

Mar 27th, 2009 11:56 AM

Media Release Attn: Community/Energy/Environment/News Reporters and Editors BOMA Canada powers down for Earth Hour (Saturday, March 28, 2009) BOMA members all over Canada will participate in the second annual Earth Hour by turning off their lights between 8:30 and 9:30 pm this evening. "BOMA is proud that so many of our members are participating in this great event," said Diana Osler-Zortea, President of BOMA Canada. "This is such a great way to demonstrate how a little thing, like conserving energy, can have a huge impact when we're all onboard." BOMA is an active supporter of sustainable building and energy conservation efforts in the built environment The organization offers four levels of certification through its BOMA BEST (Building Environmental Standards) program, aimed at helping building owners and managers to operate in an environmentally responsible and energy efficient manner. The average BOMA certified building consumes roughly 11 per cent less energy than it did ten years ago, and some have adopted energy management strategies and building retrofits that reduce their energy consumption by up to 30%. BOMA certified buildings in Halifax, Winnipeg and Montreal save a collective annual total of 268,280,312 kWh - that roughly the same amount of energy it takes to power 26,828 Canadian homes. These savings aren't always obvious to casual observers. Many office buildings leave their lights on after hours, which may seem wasteful at first. But energy efficient lighting, as well as energy management systems, help to conserve energy when staff is working late, working off hours, while cleaning or construction is going on, or in buildings that operate 24 hours a day. "Conservation is a big part of the BOMA culture," said Nada Sutic, BOMA Canada's Manager of Environmental Initiatives. "Earth Hour is a powerful visual reminder of how we use our energy, and we encourage everyone to carry that consciousness with them year round." For further information, and to schedule interviews, please contact: Tina Siegel Environmental Communication Options 416-972-7404 (office) or 416.389.5570 (cell) or tsiegel@ecostrategy.ca The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada is the voice of the Canadian commercial real estate industry with over 2,500 members in regional associations across Canada. On behalf of the building owners, managers, developers, facilities managers, asset managers, leasing agents, brokers, and the product and service providers to over 1.9 billion square feet of commercial real estate in Canada, BOMA Canada addresses issues of national concern, and promotes excellence in the industry through information, education advocacy and recognition.