Community Energy Challenge celebrates 500 homes

Media contact:  Alex Ramel, Sustainable Connections Energy and Policy Manager
     (360) 305-5079, alex@sconnect.org
Shawn Collins, Opportunity Council Community Energy Challenge Manager
     (360) 676-6099, shawn_collins@oppco.org

MEDIA ADVISORY
August 3, 2011 – Bellingham, WA

Community Energy Challenge celebrates 500 homes

BELLINGHAM, WA – The Community Energy Challenge (CEC) will host a community celebration for the completion of 500 home energy assessments, helping more than 200 local homes complete energy efficiency retrofits. The event is set for August 15, 5:00 p.m. at the Boundary Bay Beer Garden and is open to the community. CEC Program staff, contractors, and participating households and businesses will meet to mingle and celebrate this achievement, as well as hear a short presentation and have the chance to learn more about the program.

 The CEC is a Whatcom County program that helps local homes and businesses save energy and money through low-cost energy assessments and personalized recommendations, has cause for celebration.

"We opened the doors for this program just over one year ago," says Shawn Collins, the CEC Program manager with the Opportunity Council. “In that time, we have helped 500 homeowners make smart decisions about how to cut their energy costs. Along the way we have helped get a lot of people to work and given a needed boost to our local economy. We are proud of this achievement."

The CEC has found potential annual savings of $200-$400, or 20-30 percent of energy costs, per home. As for local businesses, 74 have signed up so far and are finding the potential for an average of $500-$1,000 in annual savings per business, or three to five percent of energy costs per year. Saving energy cuts pollution associated with power generation and stimulates the local economy by keeping money in our community and reducing the need for costly new energy infrastructure. The CEC also supports approximately 60 local construction sector jobs through demand for energy efficiency projects generated by the program.

The Community Energy Challenge is a collaboration between two non-profits, Sustainable Connections and the Opportunity Council. The program guides participants through every step of a cost-effective energy efficiency makeover. Participating Whatcom homes or businesses receive a low-cost home energy assessment, a custom action plan, an energy advisor to answer questions, vetted contractors to complete the work, third party quality assurance, and financial incentives and low-interest loans to help finance the work. Energy efficiency has never been easier!

If you would like more information about the CEC or want to sign your home or business up for an assessment, visit www.CommunityEnergyChallenge.org or call 360-676-6099.

What: Community Energy Challenge 500 Homes Celebration.
When: Monday, August 15, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Where: Boundary Bay Brewery Beer Garden
Who: CEC program partners, staff, participants, press and any other interested members of the community.