Alex Smith Wins Energy Conservation Award
Dr. Grant Gibbons, Minister of Education and Economic Development, today [Dec 16] presented awards to the winners of the 2013 Energy Conservation Contest for realizing the largest reduction in their electricity bill over the course of the year.
Mr. Alex Smith received the first place award and a travel voucher for $600 from Meyer Travel. Ms. Stephanie Bedell received an award for second place, while Ms. Jean-Maire Cannonier was awarded third place.
The Energy Conservation Event is an energy reduction competition where competitors focus on the conservation of electricity in their private households. The Department of Energy installed real-time energy monitoring devices called “The Energy Detective [TED] 5000” in the households of 19 contestants and followed them throughout the month-long competition.
The Department also provided the contestants with useful tips and hints throughout the month to assist them with conserving electricity. These hints varied from simple habit forming techniques at no or minimal cost, to more aggressive energy saving solutions.
Contestants were able to realize savings simply by changing their daily routines, such as turning off lights, unplugging appliances not in use, and managing their settings and timers on air conditioning units.
Examples of moderate to aggressive solutions include replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights or LEDs, installing timers on water heaters, or replacing old appliances with more efficient, Energy Star-rated appliances.
Mr. Alex Smith realized a savings of 43 percent on his electricity bill from last year with the assistance of the TED device, utilizing only simple changes in behavior and habit and not involving any great investment, which is the real purpose of this contest.
Ms. Stephanie Bedell and Mrs. Jean-Maire Cannonier also enjoyed savings of 33 and 32 percent, respectively, on their electricity bills with the assistance of the real-time metering and simple changes in their normal household routines.
Minister Gibbons said: “Energy Conservation is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to reduce the demand for electricity and imported fossil fuels.
“As stated in the Bermuda Energy White Paper, electricity generated from fossil fuels accounts for 57 percent of Bermuda’s greenhouse gas emissions. Energy conservation is one of the key elements to reducing the pace of climate change, and during these current economic times, it is more important than ever to reduce everyday household expenditures.”
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Category: All, Environment
