FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2006
Contact: Beth Nagusky, Director of Energy Independence, 207-287-4315

“Whole House” TV Program to Award
Energy-Saving Makeover to One Lucky Maine Family

Augusta, Maine – Maine Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®, a pilot program developed by the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security, is partnering with Maine’s WB-TV, the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Efficiency Maine program, the national ENERGY STAR program, and other local businesses to present one lucky Maine family with a “Whole House” of energy-related home improvements.

The “Whole House” Contest is asking homeowners in Androscoggin, Cumberland, and York Counties to examine their energy bills to see if they are higher than their neighbors’ bills and higher than those of others that they know. If so, they are an ideal contestant for a “Whole House” Energy Makeover. The home energy makeover will reduce energy bills by between ten and fifty percent, while improving the comfort, health, and durability of the home.

The home with the greatest potential to demonstrate home energy savings will receive a free “whole house” energy makeover. The winning home will be featured in a television show in which the Maine Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program conducts an analysis of the home and recommends how to cut energy bills. The television show will also demonstrate the installation of the energy-saving measures.

“We will show how consumers can save dramatically on their energy bills when they make the right home improvements,” said Beth Nagusky, Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security. “Energy prices are climbing, and homeowners can benefit significantly by having trained professionals analyze their homes and make cost-effective improvements to reduce energy bills. We are excited about the overwhelming interest that this program has generated from the Maine businesses and organizations supporting this contest.”

Contest sponsors are donating the products and services featured in the television program. The sponsors include: the Maine Public Utilities Commission’s Efficiency Maine program, Northern Utilities, Lee Toyota, WarmTECH Solutions, Energy Kinetics boilers, Paradigm Windows, and Carpet & Rug Depot.

The deadline for entries is Sunday, September 10, 2006. Contest entry forms are available online at www.mainehomeperformance.org or www.maineswb.com.

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About Maine Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®:
The Governor’s Office of Energy Independence and Security is sponsoring development of a pilot a residential energy efficiency program, Maine Home Performance with ENERGY STAR? (Maine HP).

The MaineHP pilot program will emphasize a whole-house approach to reducing energy bills, improving comfort, reducing maintenance costs and improving the health of buildings. This three-year pilot program will provide training and marketing support to contractors in York, Cumberland, and Androscoggin counties. MaineHP is affiliated with the national Home Performance with ENERGY STAR? initiative.

Participating contractors and consultants will be taught to use green energy technology and building science to solve a wide range of problems, and will be instructed on the use of software to calculate the energy savings from a wide range of improvements.