23 Calgary community groups get $97,075 to replace old freezers, appliances and lighting

String lights hanging in front of a building. Stock image. Photo: Kouji Tsuru / Unsplash

Twenty-three Calgary community groups are sharing $97,075 to swap aging appliances and lighting for energy-efficient ones, the Federation of Calgary Communities says. This year's recipients are 19 community associations, three seniors' clubs and an arts centre.

The money comes from Energizing Spaces, a grant program the Federation runs with Enmax. Groups can get up to $10,000, and organizations without their own building can use it for outdoor string lighting.

The idea is that lower power bills leave more money for programs, according to the Federation. Since 2015, Enmax and the Federation have handed out 262 grants worth more than $1 million to more than 100 community organizations.

This year's projects include replacing old fridges, freezers and kitchen appliances, and new lighting to make indoor spaces and underused outdoor areas brighter and safer.

For the Acadia Community Association, it's a freezer. In its application, the association wrote that its freezer sometimes couldn't hold a safe temperature, "forcing us to discard food at events when our community is most engaged."

The Federation didn't say how much each group received.

More on the program is on the Federation's Energizing Spaces page.