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ANAHEIM HOME RECEIVES FREE ENERGY MAKEOVER
ANAHEIM, CA (October 1, 2008) - Home energy improvements were recently completed at the Damon and Diana Riddle residence in Anaheim, the winning home in the Home Investment Package (HIP) Home Energy Makeover Contest. The contest, sponsored by Anaheim Public Utilities and the Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA), demonstrated how homeowners can significantly reduce their energy costs and improve home comfort and safety.
Nearly 500 Anaheim residents submitted their homes for consideration in the contest, which offered up to $50,000 worth of energy-efficient upgrades, such as a new heating and air conditioning system, upgraded insulation, efficient windows, air sealing, lighting and energy-efficient appliances. Twenty finalists were selected through an application screening process that identified those homes with the greatest potential to demonstrate energy savings. Each of the 20 finalists received a free comprehensive home energy analysis, funded by Anaheim Public Utilities and valued up to $1,000.
“As soon as the energy improvements were completed, the difference in our home was like night and day,” said Damon Riddle. “We have consistent temperatures throughout every room in our house.”
“We can now sit comfortably in our family room anytime,” added Diana Riddle. “Our daughter can do her homework at her desk without feeling the heat through the window. And, our air conditioner is no longer running all the time. For the first time in our lives, we’re actually eager to get our next utility bill to see how low it can go.”
“Our goal with this contest was to raise the exposure and awareness level of our HIP Program,” said Mariann Long, assistant general manager for Anaheim Public Utilities. “With close to 500 entries in the contest, it’s obvious that home investment and home energy savings are top priorities for Anaheim homeowners.”
The Riddles’ home received a comprehensive diagnosis and installation of high-efficiency equipment, safety measures and conservation measures to improve overall performance and comfort. Improvements included the installation of: a high-efficiency heat pump air conditioner; a high-efficiency condensing furnace; ENERGY STAR appliances; high-performance dual-pane windows; ceiling, wall and floor insulation; a new sealed air duct system; air sealing of the building envelope; a tankless water heater; water-saving showerheads; an ultra-low-flush toilet; and water-saving faucet aerators.
“The Riddle family can expect a significant drop in their future energy bills,” Long said. “In fact, we are installing a time-of-use meter that will track the changes in the home’s energy consumption as a result of these improvements.”
Anaheim’s HIP Program bundles various rebate offers into a one-stop shop designed to make homeowners sit up and take notice of the more than $15,000 in savings they can realize through the program. These savings include a waiver of permit fees for energy-efficient improvements that can cost up to $1,000, and up to $14,000 in incentives.
HIP is Anaheim’s version of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a national program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy. The program offers a comprehensive “whole-house” approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment.
Home Energy Makeover Contest sponsors donated the products and services featured in the Home Energy Makeover. In addition to Anaheim Public Utilities and the EGIA, co-sponsors included Southern California Gas Company, Eagle Shield, Global HVAC, Ruud Air Conditioning, GE Money, Anlin Window Systems with American Vision Windows, Air Secure, Alstate Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, Quality Comfort Systems Purifications and Conservation Services Group.
Anaheim residents interested in learning more about the HIP Program are invited to attend the Home Investment Package Workshop from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, at Haskett Library (2650 W. Broadway). For more information, click here. To RSVP for the workshop, call 714/765-4291.
PHOTO CAPTION—Marcie Edwards (right), general manager of Anaheim Public Utilities, poses with the Riddle family, winners of the $50,000 Home Energy Makeover Contest. Download Photo
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ABOUT ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility. For more information on Anaheim’s Home Investment Package, please visit www.anaheim.net and click on Public Utilities, then Home Investment Package. The City of Anaheim is one of the nation’s premier municipalities and California’s 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and over 2,100 City employees. The municipal corporation’s annual budget is $1.3 billion.
ABOUT ELECTRIC & GAS INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION The Electric & Gas Industries Association (EGIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions through a nationwide network of contractors, distributors, manufacturers and utility companies. EGIA is a leading provider of resource efficiency services and energy efficiency program administration for utility companies and water agencies. EGIA also provides the home improvement industry with comprehensive consumer energy efficiency and solar financing solutions and has administered some of the nation’s largest utility and state sponsored energy efficiency financing programs. For more information, please visit www.egia.org. ### ABOUT ANAHEIM PUBLIC UTILITIES For more than 100 years, Anaheim Public Utilities has served Anaheim water and electric customers with low rates and reliable service. Anaheim Public Utilities is Orange County's only publicly owned water and electric utility.
ABOUT ANAHEIM The City of Anaheim, founded in 1857, is one of the nations premier municipalities and is Californias 10th most populous city. Anaheim covers 50 square miles with more than 345,500 residents and more than 2,100 City employees. The municipal corporations annual budget is $1.3 billion. Anaheim supports a thriving business community with companies such as CKE Restaurants, Inc., L-3 Communications, Pacific Sunwear, and Disneyland Resort. Successful sports franchises call Anaheim home, including Angels Baseball, Anaheim Ducks, Anaheim Arsenal, and the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winning USA Men's Volleyball team. Anaheim also boasts world-class meeting and entertainment venues with the Anaheim Convention Center, the largest on the west coast, Honda Center, The Grove of Anaheim, Anaheim GardenWalk, and Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Annually, Anaheim welcomes millions of visitors to the city, truly making it where the world comes to live, work and play. For more information, please visit www.anaheim.net.
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