TXU Energy Contest Rewards Conservation With Cash

On June 10, the energy company launched the TXU Energy Power Saver Challenge, a reality contest open to both current and new TXU Energy residential customers in Texas.

This summer, TXU Energy will video selected families competing to lower their energy bills and reduce their impact on the environment by improving the energy efficiency of their homes. Each family’s improvement efforts will be featured on the Power Saver Challenge Reality Show.

"The Power Saver Challenge is a fun and interactive way to help our customers and their families integrate green living habits into their everyday lives, share that knowledge with others, and save money by using less electricity," said Jim Burke, CEO of TXU Energy.

To enter the contest, visit www.txu.com/powersaver before July 25, 2008, complete the online entry form and complete a brief essay, between 50 and 500 words, on why you and your home should be considered to compete in the Power Saver Challenge Contest.

Paper entries also were accepted at the TXU Energy booth at the Dallas CityArts Celebration, held this past weekend in downtown Dallas.

An Energy Star heating and air conditioning system is being installed in this Austin, Texas home. (Photo by Strand Brothers LLC, courtesy National Renewable Energy Lab)

The semi-finalists will submit either a video essay or a written essay combined with photos on home energy conservation themes.

Three finalists will be selected from among the semi-finalists - each representing a different geographic region of Texas. Each finalist will win an HD video camera, a $5,000 cash fund to use for home energy improvements, and a free in-home energy audit with recommendations on saving energy.

The 12 semi-finalists who do not move on to the finals will each win $100 in credits towards their TXU Energy bills.

The three final contestants' home audits and energy improvements will be videotaped for web voting to help select the grand prize winner.

In addition to web voting, an energy expert panel will evaluate each contestants' Home Energy Rating System rating improvements, ingenuity, and energy-savings behavior.

The grand prize winner will receive $30,000 for a home energy makeover.

To qualify as a contestant, a person must be a legal Texas resident at least 21 years old, who owns a single-family home that is at least five years old thatis in the deregulated energy part of the state.

Contestants must be willing to spend the $5,000 prize money awarded to finalists on home energy improvements.

"TXU Energy is committed to energy conservation and improving environmental quality," Burke said. "Educating our customers on how they can also make a difference is just one way of achieving that commitment."

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.