City of New Westminster announces Grand Prize Winner of Community Energy Challenge

New Westminster, BC – The City of New Westminster is pleased to announce the grand prize winner of the Community Energy Challenge, a local contest designed to inspire residents to make energy improvements to their homes.  Available through Energy Save New West, the challenge offered a grand prize of $3,500 worth of Energy Star® appliances along with ten secondary prizes of $150 VISA gift cards.

“We wish to thank all the residents who participated in the Community Energy Challenge by completing an energy evaluation and taking the next step to make an energy improvement to their home.” said Norm Connolly, City of New Westminster’s Community Energy Manager.  “We received a great response from local homeowners interested in reducing their energy bills and improving the comfort of their home.”

New Westminster’s Brennan Anstey is the grand prize winner selected via a prize draw after completing a number of important energy improvements to his 1950s home, including a high-efficiency furnace, Energy Star® tankless water heater and energy-efficient windows.  In addition, the Ansteys insulated their exterior walls, added insulation to the attic and fixed a number of air leaks throughout the home.

“Participating in Energy Save New West helped us choose which retrofits were best for our home to make it more energy-efficient and comfortable, as we had access to good information and advice,” said Anstey.  “We are grateful for the prize and are planning to purchase a condensing clothes dryer which is an emerging technology that uses half the energy of our current dryer.  We have a toddler in our house, so our dryer runs constantly in the winter.”

Energy Save New West is a community energy program designed to improve the energy efficiency of residential homes and businesses in New Westminster.  The program focus is to deliver a better experience that makes it easier to improve the energy performance of a home or business.

“Energy-efficiency is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the City’s goals outlined in our Community Energy and Emissions Plan,” said Mayor Jonathan Coté.  “Local residents want to save energy and money, and Energy Save New West helps them do both.  Our program educates homeowners about energy efficiency and assists them in implementing changes to their home.”

For New Westminster residents who didn’t participate in the challenge but still want to improve the energy performance of their home, there are a number of exciting offers and incentives available from Energy Save New West:

• EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation (only $60) – A $240 savings to the homeowner.
• ENERGY STAR® Appliances – $50 to $200 rebates on select washers, dryers and refrigerators.
• ENERGY STAR® LED Lights – $2 to $10 individual rebates on select light bulbs and fixtures.
• Home Energy Rebate Offer (HERO) – Up to $4,500 in rebates for upgrading insulation, air-sealing, and space heating from BC Hydro and FortisBC.  Plus, a limited number of $500 “Top Up” incentive for City of New Westminster residents who complete three or more energy upgrades.

Individuals interested in participating in Energy Save New West can register online at energysavenewwest.ca or call 604.515.3818.

Once registered, homeowners will be contacted by a Certified Energy Advisor to schedule a home energy evaluation and blower door test.  An EnerGuide assessment report will be customized to each home and identifies energy-saving opportunities and expected savings all for the subsidized rate of $60.  Additionally, Energy Save New West also offers free professional energy coaching to answer questions and help evaluate the best options for your home.  Residents who complete one or more energy improvements before March 31, 2016 can take advantage of up to $4,500 in rebates from the HERO program.  Note that to take advantage of the Energy Star® appliance rebates, an appliance must be purchased before November 30^th, 2015.

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Contact:

Norm Connolly
Community Energy Manager
City of New Westminster
604.527.4572