Baldwin EMC Names Home Energy Makeover Winner
September 29, 2010
Michael and Julie Walz of Bay Minette (holding check at center) have been named the winners of Baldwin EMC's Home Energy Makeover contest. Co-op representatives Melissa Vaughn (left) and Tim Hobbs (far right) surprised the couple at home with the announcement.
(SUMMERDALE, Ala) – Michael and Julie Walz of Bay Minette got a huge surprise at their front door on Friday, September 24. Representatives from Baldwin EMC came to the couple's home to announce that they were the winners of the cooperative's second annual Home Energy Makeover contest.
The Home Energy Makeover is a series of energy-efficient renovations carried out free of charge at the home of a deserving Baldwin EMC member. Renovations at the Walz home will include the installation of efficient window glass and ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans and appliances, along with a high SEER heat pump and an ENERGY STAR rated heat pump water heater. The makeover team will also change out incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lights, upgrade the home's insulation to sprayed-in foam and caulk around windows and doors.
Last year's Home Energy Makeover, conducted at the home of John Thompson in Foley, has resulted in an average of 40 percent reduction in energy costs. The Walzes are looking forward to similar cost savings. Prior to applying for the Home Energy Makeover contest, the couple researched the possibility of doing the renovations on their own, but say they were hindered by the high costs involved.
According to Karen Moore, Baldwin EMC's vice president of member services and public relations, the Home Energy Makeover was designed to not only benefit the winner, but to also serve as an educational opportunity for all the co-op's members. "Once all the renovations are complete, the Walz home can serve as a model for other members looking to make similar improvements," Moore says.
The makeover will be completed throughout the month of October, just in time for the start of winter, when cooler temperatures often lead to higher power bills.
Participating with Baldwin EMC in the Home Energy Makeover are the following businesses: South Baldwin Home Builders, General Electric, Great Kitchens, M&M South Baldwin Electric, Inc., Robertsdale Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc., Glass, Inc., Mayer Electric Supply, Energy Solutions, and Polk Plumbing, Inc.