EEI, Alliance to Save Energy, and NBC Universal's SCI-FI Channel Announce Energy-Efficiency Home Makeover Contest Winner

Washington, DC () - Cathy Clites, a Baton Rouge, Louisiana homemaker, has won the Eureka $mart House Energy Efficiency Challenge sponsored by Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the Alliance to Save Energy, and NBC Universal’s SCI FI Channel.  Clites will now receive a home energy efficiency makeover worth up to $25,000.  The makeover will appropriately take place during October—Energy Awareness Month.

The Eureka $mart House Energy Efficiency Challenge was inspired by SCI FI’s hit series “Eureka”, which is a fictional town located in the Pacific Northwest where the government has been relocating the world’s geniuses and their families.

“I’m a fan of ‘Eureka’,” said Clites.  “I learned about the contest during one of this season’s episodes.  I entered, in part, because I thought it's really important for me to do something about climate change, so I can protect my grandchildren's future."

“Our congratulations go to Cathy,” said Thomas R. Kuhn, President, EEI.  “Her enthusiasm for making her home more energy efficient is remarkable.  Cathy knows that energy efficiency is smart.  It not only benefits the homeowner, but their power company and the environment benefit too.  On behalf of the nation’s electric companies, I encourage everyone to contact their utility to find out how they can make their own home more energy efficient.”

Cathy’s prize includes an overall energy audit to identify her home’s energy problems.  Based on the energy audit by CMC Energy Services, the Clites family will receive energy-efficiency improvements worth up to $25,000 from the following campaign partners to create a “smarter” home, including:

• Whirlpool ENERGY STAR-labeled kitchen appliances.
• Computer and other energy-efficient electronics and wiring of the home by Consumer Electronics Association and its member companies.
• Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting by OSRAM Sylvania.
• Sealing of air leaks by The Dow Chemical Company.
• Appropriate insulation for the climate, as well as a programmable thermostat, low-flow showerhead, faucet aerator, ventilating fan, and much more.

Cathy, one of nearly 9,000 entrants, was selected as the winner of the home energy-efficiency makeover by a panel of judges from EEI, the Alliance to Save Energy, a leading energy-efficiency organization, and SCI FI Channel’s public affairs initiative, Visions For Tomorrow.  Contestants were asked to answer a few energy-oriented questions about their home and write a brief essay about why they should win an energy-efficiency home makeover.  Along with the sponsors noted above, other campaign partners include the U.S. Department of Energy, the American Gas Association, and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.

“We are delighted that Cathy, an Entergy Louisiana customer, has won the Eureka $mart House Energy-Efficiency Challenge,” said E. Renae Conley, President and CEO of Entergy Louisiana.  “The Challenge has been an innovative way to promote both energy efficiency and greater protection for the environment, two goals that we at Entergy are hard at work trying to accomplish every day.  Congratulations to Cathy, and we encourage all of Entergy’s customers to become ‘winners’ by making their home more energy efficient too.”

Cathy and her disabled war veteran husband, Charlie, live in a one-story, four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in a subdivision of Baton Rouge.  Living with them are Cathy’s daughter Sheri, and her husband Nate, along with their four children, ages 2, 3 ½, 9 and 10.  Nate’s 19-year old hearing-impaired son also lives with them.  Yet, the family still opened their doors to Katrina victims who escaped to Baton Rouge.

Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan said, “Home energy costs are a major concern for many Americans, and needless to say, Cathy’s three-generation household living on Veterans Administration and Social Security disability benefits is on a tight budget.  By making simple changes to their home and using smart energy practices, the Clites family will see significant reductions in its home energy bills.  Once the home energy-efficiency makeover is complete, they can expect to save anywhere from 10 to 30 percent a year on energy costs.”

"The Eureka $mart House Energy Efficiency Challenge demonstrates how effectively SCI FI Channel utilized Eureka's characters and storylines to educate millions of Americans about critical energy issues and the simple steps each of us can take to really begin to make a difference," said Dave Howe, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SCI FI Channel.  "We are thrilled with how many people were inspired by our multi-media public affairs campaign and with Cathy's commitment to share energy-efficiency information with her community."

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The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.