Winner of Alliance Home Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest Continues to Enjoy an Energy-Efficient Home

Last year, Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine were the winners of a nationwide Home Energy Efficiency Makeover contest, part of an Alliance-led campaign sponsored by NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel, among others. Many home improvements later - including a recent installation of energy-efficient windows - the family learned the impressive specifics of their energy savings: a 36 percent increase in energy efficiency.

After winning the contest in 2007, the Clites family received new ENERGY STAR lighting, electronics, and appliances, as well as water heaters, water-saving devices and insulation, thanks to campaign donations from sponsors, many of them Alliance Associates. Volunteer contractors sealed off air leaks to the outside, reducing the energy spent heating and cooling the home.

With these energy-efficienct renovations in place, the Clites' utility bills had already started to fall. But the finishing touches had yet to come: just last month, regional electric utility Entergy, and HomeCare, a Baton Rouge home remodeling and repair company, donated and installed 29 new energy-efficient windows to replace the older, inefficient single-pane windows.

So what are the benefits of these windows? "In addition to saving money on monthly energy bills, the more efficient windows will keep the Clites' home warmer in winter and cooler in summer and also reduce condensation, outside noises, and interior fading of furniture and window coverings," notes Stephanie Frederic, chief operations officer of HomeCare. "The Clites family can now enjoy a more comfortable, quieter home."

And their aesthetic appeal is no less important. Says Cathy, “The double-hung energy-efficient windows look great, and what I love most is that they slide up and down very easily, and will be easy to clean."

Recently, Cathy was able to find out just how much more energy efficient her home had become since the improvements started in 2007. According to a follow-up Home Energy Rating performed by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, the combination of improvements has increased the home’s overall energy efficiency by 36 percent, which translates to hundreds of dollars saved on monthly utility bills.

Reflecting on the past year, Cathy says, "It's been a miracle — I never won anything in my life and feel so lucky. I've learned through this process how important energy efficiency is, especially in this economy. We’re all in this together and have to make our own homes greener — to conserve, and not to destroy."