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Campaign to raise awareness of conservation measures wins regional award
WENATCHEE, Wa - Chelan County PUD’s campaign to introduce customers to energy-efficiency rebates and benefits in 2013 has been recognized with a top community relations award.
The Puget Sound chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recognized the PUD’s “Conservation Makes Cents” outreach campaign with a “Totem Award” at the Thursday evening annual awards banquet in Seattle. The award is the top honor in the organization’s Community Relations category.
2013 was the first year that Chelan County PUD offered a comprehensive menu of energy-efficiency measures to residential customers. The measures were introduced through a Conservation Department outreach campaign called “Conservation Makes Cents” that included an animated video by North 40 Productions of Wenatchee, print and radio ads, billboards, and fliers available at local stores, home shows and other public events.
Chelan PUD customers who took advantage of energy-efficiency programs saved 20,761,200 kilowatt hours of energy last year – enough to power about 1,000 homes in Chelan County.
The savings helped the PUD surpass its 2013 conservation goal by about 40 percent.
Some 1,890 homeowners participated in programs to save energy and money including rebates on appliances, windows, insulation and ductless heat pumps; duct sealing for manufactured homes; and refrigerator/freezer recycling. Thirty-five businesses installed energy-efficiency improvements with help from the PUD. And 94 low-income households received weatherization help using PUD funding through the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council.
Saving energy is a winning proposition for everyone. Customers save money by reducing electric bills. When customers save energy, more power is available to sell at wholesale rates on the open market; those revenues help keep local retail rates low. Customers also help the PUD meet state-mandated targets under the Energy Independence Act.
Surveys of customers who participated in programs last year showed high satisfaction with their products and PUD customer service.
There’s still time to participate this year as all programs are continuing. The Conservation Department’s 2014 theme is “Better Ways to Save.” The 2014 program kicked off last week with another short North 40 video that stars a chicken.
Find details and application forms for 2014 programs on the PUD’s website.
