|
Xcel Energy Makeover Contest
In 2006 the partnership with Xcel Energy, CESC and its sponsors resulted in two winning homes that serve as examples of home performance problems that exist in many average homes.
On October 16, 2006, we showed up with a bouquet of balloons, a yard sign, and a full crew of sponsors. We're proud to announce our 2006 winners:
George and Wendy Chavez of Centennial ● Wayne and Cheryl McDonald of Aurora
You can read more about these winners and the amazing results they have experienced below.
|
George and Wendy with some of the contest sponsors.
The Chavez's were thrilled when we showed up! |
George and Wendy Chavez
The Chavez's are not strangers to hard work. Wendy is a CPA and George works as a cook in a Douglas County High School. But when it came to working on the comfort problems in their home, they didn’t know where to begin and couldn’t seem to get the answers they needed. George and Wendy experienced many home comfort problems, had high utility bills throughout the year and knew they needed to do something. The Chavez’s had their HVAC system inspected by heating and cooling contractors but were told it was working fine. Unsure of what to do, the Chavez’s put things off and never got around to making their home more comfortable and efficient. Now, thanks to the 2006 XCEL Energy Makeover Contest and its sponsors, the guesswork was taken out and the work finally got done. As Wendy explains "We have been very comfortable even though it has been so very cold. My bill seems to be at least 1/2 of what it had been, so I am very happy."
Information about the Chavez's energy savings can be found below. |
|
Wayne and Cheryl McDonald
With five school age children the McDonald home is a whirlwind of activity that seems to never stop. Unfortunately their energy use also never stopped and the comfort problems in the home were endless. The house was very drafty and the upstairs was always too hot. With their busy schedules this family just didn’t have the time to explore where their home comfort and efficiency problems might lie. The 2006 XCEL Energy Makeover Contest has changed all of that for them. As the Wayne explained when the award patrol showed up “We are so excited. This is a blessing for our family”
Now, with a new energy efficient washer and dryer, Cheryl exclaims "...with a family of seven, I have finally been able to keep up with laundry demands. We are truly enjoying every aspect of the energy makeover. The timing couldn't have been better due to cold temps and all of the snow we've been getting."
Information about the McDonald's energy savings is continued below. |
The McDonald Family with some of the sponsors
The McDonald family was screaming when the team
showed up to announce that they'd won. |
story continued below....
|
|
|
2006 Energy Efficiency upgrades are generously provided by the following sponsors
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norseman Construction |
|
 |
|
Positively Electric |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Below is the actual energy use of the two winning homes provided by Xcel Energy. It is worth noting that while both homes experienced a decline in their natural gas for the month of December, the Chavez home experienced an increase in electricity use. This is explained by the duel fuel HVAC system that has been installed, which uses both natural gas and electricity. After fine tuning the thermstat settings to the particular home and homeowners, electric use has began to decrease. It should be noted that electricity is significantly less expensive than natural gas.
|
Chavez Home |
|
|
| Month |
BEFORE |
|
AFTER |
|
| |
kWh |
ACTUAL COST |
kWh |
ACTUAL COST |
| November |
573 |
$58.10 |
951 |
$78.54 |
| December |
788 |
$80.22 |
1184 |
$94.71 |
| January |
709 |
$68.37 |
628 |
$59.36 |
| February |
515 |
$51.60 |
589 |
$56.72 |
| March |
544 |
$53.81 |
608 |
$58.33 |
| |
Therms |
|
Therms |
|
| November |
98 |
$125.28 |
33 |
$33.16 |
| December |
219 |
$247.35 |
76 |
$72.43 |
| January |
161 |
$204.28 |
97 |
$84.24 |
| February |
170 |
$180.29 |
81 |
.$83 |
| March |
129 |
$121.03 |
42 |
$45.54 |
| |
|
BEFORE |
|
AFTER |
| Total Cost for November |
|
$183.38 |
|
111.70 |
| Total Cost for December |
|
$327.57 |
|
$167.14 |
| Total cost for January |
|
$272.65 |
|
$143.60 |
| Total cost for February |
|
$231.89 |
|
$132.55 |
| Total cost for March |
|
$174.84 |
|
$103.87 |
| McDonald Home |
|
|
|
|
| Month |
Before |
|
After |
|
| |
kWh |
Actual Cost |
kWh |
Actual Cost |
| November |
1673 |
$147.48 |
1335 |
$121.72 |
| December |
1727 |
$174.44 |
1415 |
$121.49 |
| January |
1922 |
$188.66 |
1031 |
$97.35 |
| February |
1497 |
$141.66 |
1036 |
$97.77 |
| March |
1420 |
$134.94 |
1118 |
$134.00 |
| |
Therms |
|
Therms |
|
| November |
175 |
$217.41 |
104 |
$93.63 |
| December |
210 |
$250.55 |
145 |
$133.05 |
| January |
180 |
$225.69 |
172 |
$148.55 |
| February |
206 |
$213.41 |
126 |
$118.65 |
| March |
120 |
$114.59 |
81 |
$77.39 |
| |
|
Before |
|
After |
| Total Cost for November |
|
$364.89 |
|
$217.56 |
| Total Cost for December |
|
$424.99 |
|
$254.77 |
| Total Cost for January |
|
$414.35 |
|
$270.04 |
| Total Cost For February |
|
$355.07 |
|
$216.00 |
| Total Cost For March |
|
$249.53 |
|
$211.39 |
In addition to energy savings, these homeowners are enjoying
- Increased property values
- A more comfortable living space
- An environmentally friendly home
|
