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CUB Launches Campaign To Slash Wheaton Energy Costs, CUB Energy Saver Can Cut Utility Bills By Average Of $200 A Year
WHEATON, October 18, 2010—The City of Wheaton and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Monday launched a campaign to slash energy bills through CUB Energy Saver, a free online service that has shown households how to save an average of about $200 a year and rewarded them with free or discounted items from hundreds of local and national businesses.
New Website First In The Country To Reward Consumers For Energy Reductions With Points Redeemable With Hundreds Of Businesses
Standing with Wheaton Mayor Michael J. Gresk, CUB Executive Director David Kolata said residents who sign up for www.CUBEnergySaver.com will get mailed a free money-saving Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulb and qualify for periodic drawings to win a month of free electricity. CUB also will give the city five CFLs for every resident who signs up for CUB Energy Saver, up to 10,000 bulbs. Plus, the Wheaton household that saves the most electricity through CUB Energy Saver by the end of 2010 will win up to 50 CFLs plus a month of free power. CUB Energy Saver is the first service of its kind in the nation in that it allows Commonwealth Edison customers to visit a website, www.CUBEnergySaver.com, obtain money-saving recommendations tailored to their homes, and earn points for cutting energy use that are redeemable with hundreds of local and national businesses. The first 10,000 ComEd customers who join CUB Energy Saver are eligible for the points program. “Wheaton is proud to add CUB Energy Saver to its Turn Wheaton Green campaign, which the City launched in 2008 to encourage residents to make environmentally conscious decisions,” Mayor Gresk said. “CUB Energy Saver proves that it pays, literally, to be energy efficient.” “As Wheaton families try to cut energy costs during the long, cold winter, CUB Energy Saver can be their source for saving money,” Kolata said. “Energy efficiency isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about doing the same or more, but using less energy. CUB Energy Saver means savings without sacrifice. The service is a win, win, win situation--for the planet, our pocketbooks, and Wheaton’s economy." A pilot version of CUB Energy Saver has been showing participants how to cut their energy usage by an average of about 6 percent, for savings of roughly $200 a year. CUB Energy Saver only needs a consumer’s e-mail address, home address, and ComEd account information to build a household’s money-saving plan. Those who connected CUB Energy Saver to their ComEd accounts will receive monthly e-mails on how their actions are directly impacting their power bills, along with suggestions on how to improve. Those who connect to the rewards program will earn 100 points immediately and are eligible to earn more points for ongoing energy reductions. Points can be redeemed for rewards from major retailers and brands such as CVS/pharmacy, the Coca Cola Co., Huggies, and Bed Bath & Beyond. As part of the campaign, CUB will hold a free workshop giving valuable tips on how to cut electric, natural gas, and telephone bills on Thursday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. at the Wheaton Community Center, 1777 S. Blanchard Rd. (at the corner of Blanchard & Naperville). CUB's phone advice has been showing consumers how to cut their bills by hundreds of dollars a year. Kolata said the state-of-the-art CUB Energy Saver website is the result of a partnership involving the nonprofit CUB and two New York City-based companies: Efficiency 2.0 and RecycleBank. About CUB CUB is Illinois’ leading nonprofit utility watchdog organization. Created by the Illinois Legislature, CUB opened its doors in 1984 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has saved consumers more than $10 billion by helping to block rate hikes and secure refunds. For more information, call 1-800-669-5556 or visit www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org. About Efficiency 2.0 Efficiency 2.0 is a leading energy efficiency software and program administration company. Efficiency 2.0’s programs and software help consumers and businesses across the country better manage their energy costs. For more information, visit www.efficiency20.com. About RecycleBank RecycleBank® motivates people to recycle and rewards consumers for taking greener actions with points that can be redeemed from local and national business partners. RecycleBank is helping to create a culture that encourages people to take simple steps towards greener lifestyles. For more information, visit www.RecycleBank.com. About the Turn Wheaton Green Campaign In 2008, the City of Wheaton initiated the Turn Wheaton Green campaign to encourage residents and businesses to make environmentally friendly choices in their everyday lives. For more information, visit www.wheaton.il.us/green. |