Energy Conservation Urged As Heat Wave Continues
Posted August 2, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Thursday officially went down as the hottest day of 2007, as tempetatures reached 35C in Toronto, just eclipsing the 34.6 record we set back in 2006. Add humidex values in the 40s, and it was unbearably hot for most. An Extreme Heat Alert remains in effect across the GTA, and residents are being asked to conserve electricity whenever possible to avoid the threat of brownouts and blackouts. The Independent Electricity System Operator expected demand to reach a high of 26,302 megawatts Thursday.
That’s just shy of the 27,005 megawatt-record set August 1, 2006. In order to keep the grid up and running, the IESO recommends people cut back on their power use between noon and 8pm.
Among the ways to conserve: turning off the lights, setting air conditioners to 26C, and avoiding using power-guzzling appliances like dishwashers, washers and dryers. What’s the latest demand? See it here.
As if that’s not bad enough, we remain under a humidex advisory, while much of the province is also wheezing through a smog warning. To check the current air quality in your area, click here.
The heat also poses a risk to seniors, the infirm, and young children. It’s important, in this weather, to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity.
Things aren’t expected to break even slightly until the latter part of the long weekend.
As a result the City of Toronto has extended pool hours until 11:45pm at the following nine facilities:
Alex Duff Memorial Outdoor Pool, 750 Bloor St. W.
Alexandra Outdoor Pool, 275 Bathurst St.
Cummer Park Community Centre, 6000 Leslie St.
Giovanni Caboto Outdoor Pool, 1369 St. Clair Ave. W.
McGregor Park Outdoor Pool, 2231 Lawrence Ave. E.
Monarch Park Outdoor Pool, 115 Felstead Ave.
Regent Park Outdoor Pool, 415 Gerrard St. E.
Sunnyside Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool, Lake Shore Blvd. at Parkside Dr. Smithfield Outdoor Pool, 173 Mount Olive Dr.
For additional information on pool locations and operating hours, residents can call the Pool Hotline at 416-338-POOL (7665).
For a list of all the city’s pools, click here.
For a list of the city’s splash pads, click here.
For help with the heat, call the Red Cross information line at (416) 480-2615. It’s open from 9am-9pm.
List of cooling centres and the signs of heat stroke
Why you have bad hair days in the humidity
