Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda · Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on...

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Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda Like many things in life, “it takes a village” to make energy efficiency a reality. That’s why the City of Champaign launched “Grow Green Champaign,” an ambitious initiative to educate and motivate residents to embrace energy efficiency. The city itself leads by example. For instance, by switching all of its traffic lights to high-efficiency LED fixtures, the city of Champaign is saving more than $163,000 in energy costs every single year. “City leaders are a pretty progressive group of people,” says Paul Faraci, an economic development professional and native of Champaign. “They want to help residents become more energy efficient and save money.” As a member of Champaign’s City Council himself, Faraci was eager to take the city’s sustainability mission to the home front. Like most homes built in the 1970s, Paul and Stephanie Faraci’s two-story house had room for energy-saving improvements. “Air was coming in around windows and light fixtures and I knew we could benefit from more attic insulation,” says Faraci, who also switched to high-efficiency light bulbs throughout the home. Faraci hired a Program Ally — a specially trained contractor registered with Ameren Illinois — to seal air leaks in the home and add much-needed insulation in the attic. Those simple measures are saving the Faraci family an estimated $300 every year in energy costs, more than 10% of their average annual costs. It’s a difference they can see on their monthly bill — and feel in their home. “There has been a noticeable change in drafts, and we were pleasantly surprised by the difference on our power bill,” says Faraci, who saw his Ameren Illinois Budget Billing payment drop by $30 to $40 in the first month alone. Those energy efficiency improvements may pay off in other ways, too. Research shows that for every dollar saved in energy costs, you can expect to add $20 to the market value of your home. (continued on next page) ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE EASY Ameren Illinois aims to make energy efficiency easy. The following programs are available to help residential customers save money on their power bills: Energy-Efficient Lighting Heating and Cooling Multifamily Properties Home-Efficiency Program (Income-Qualified) * Visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/MyHome to learn more. * Only available in select Illinois counties. BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY Reduced energy costs Greater comfort in home Conservation of precious natural resources Increased long-term value of home

Transcript of Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda · Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on...

Page 1: Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda · Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda Like many things in life, “it takes a village” to make energy efficiency

Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal AgendaLike many things in life, “it takes a village” to make energy efficiency a reality. That’s why the City of Champaign launched “Grow Green Champaign,” an ambitious initiative to educate and motivate residents to embrace energy efficiency.

The city itself leads by example.

For instance, by switching all of its traffic lights to high-efficiency LED fixtures, the city of Champaign is saving more than $163,000 in energy costs every single year.

“City leaders are a pretty progressive group of people,” says Paul Faraci, an economic development professional and native of Champaign. “They want to help residents become more energy efficient and save money.”

As a member of Champaign’s City Council himself, Faraci was eager to take the city’s sustainability mission to the home front.

Like most homes built in the 1970s, Paul and Stephanie Faraci’s two-story house had room for energy-saving improvements.

“Air was coming in around windows and light fixtures and I knew we could benefit from more attic insulation,” says Faraci, who also switched to high-efficiency light bulbs throughout the home.

Faraci hired a Program Ally — a specially trained contractor registered with Ameren Illinois — to seal air leaks in the home and add much-needed insulation in the attic.

Those simple measures are saving the Faraci family an estimated $300 every year in energy costs, more than 10% of their average annual costs.

It’s a difference they can see on their monthly bill — and feel in their home.

“There has been a noticeable change in drafts, and we were pleasantly surprised by the difference on our power bill,” says Faraci, who saw his Ameren Illinois Budget Billing payment drop by $30 to $40 in the first month alone.

Those energy efficiency improvements may pay off in other ways, too. Research shows that for every dollar saved in energy costs, you can expect to add $20 to the market value of your home.

(continued on next page)

ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM ENERGY EFFICIENCY MADE EASY

Ameren Illinois aims to make energy efficiency easy. The following programs are available to help residential customers save money on their power bills:

• Energy-Efficient Lighting

• Heating and Cooling

• Multifamily Properties

• Home-Efficiency Program (Income-Qualified)*

Visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/MyHome to learn more.

*Only available in select Illinois counties.

BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY

• Reduced energy costs

• Greater comfort in home

• Conservation of precious natural resources

• Increased long-term value of home

Page 2: Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda · Councilman Puts Energy Efficiency on Personal Agenda Like many things in life, “it takes a village” to make energy efficiency

“We’re not planning on selling — but if we ever do, energy efficiency will be a good selling point,” says Faraci, who is sold on the idea of reducing his family’s carbon footprint.

The energy saved every year by the Faraci family — 2,243 kWh of electricity and 176 therms of natural gas — is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 65 tree seedlings grown for 10 years or the carbon dioxide emissions from 2,678 pounds of coal burned.

Based on his own experience, Councilman Faraci is eager to spread the word that home improvements can benefit both the environment and the household budget.

“The savings on your utility bill will make it worthwhile — plus, incentives may be available to help you pay for the up-front costs,” says Faraci. Perhaps most important: “I feel better about my home now.”

ALLIES IN EFFICIENCYOur Program Ally Network consists of independent contractors who are certified by the Building Performance Institute as insulation/air sealing specialists and/or HVAC professionals. These specially trained contractors will help you identify improvements that deliver the biggest bang for the buck — as well as incentives to help pay for them. To find a Program Ally, visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/AllySearch.

“The savings on your utility bill will make it worthwhile — plus, incentives may be available to help you pay for the up-front costs. I feel better about my home now.”

— Paul Faraci, City Councilman and Champaign Resident

TOP 10 ENERGY TIPS1. Wash clothes in cold water.

2. Install a smart or programmable thermostat.

3. Use your window shades. Close blinds on the sunny side in summer to keep out the hot sun, and open them in winter to bring in warm rays.

4. Turn off all lights, appliances, and electronics not in use. A power strip can help turn off multiple items at once.

5. Change to high-efficiency light bulbs.

6. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on a wide range of consumer products.

7. Use water-saving faucet aerators and shower heads to reduce water bills.

8. Clean or change filters regularly. A dirty furnace or A/C filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool.

9. Reduce water heater temperature to 130° F to save energy and money; and wrap the water storage tank in a specially designed “blanket” to retain the heat.

10. Seal air leaks and properly insulate to save up to 20% on heating and cooling bills, while also increasing home comfort.

Energy Efficiency Program

Source: Alliance to Save Energy (www.ase.org)

READY TO BEGIN?AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/MyHome

1.866.838.691806/17