Washington, D.C., June 2007 – The Alliance to Save Energy, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), and NBC Universal’s SCI FI Channel have partnered on an innovative energy- efficiency campaign offering everything from energy-efficiency low-tech and high-tech tips and surprising “Eureka Moments” (intriguing energy facts) to a national contest for a home energy-efficiency makeover that will be promoted on air, online, and through other communications vehicles reaching millions.

The campaign and contest website will launch June 26, coinciding with a marathon of Eureka programming on the channel leading into Season Two of the popular series in July.

The series premise: The government has been relocating the world’s geniuses and their families to the picturesque Pacific Northwest town of Eureka, where anything can happen and usually does. The lead characters live in a “Smart House”—the impetus for the overall Eureka $mart House Energy-Efficiency Challenge, a national drive for home energy efficiency.

The Alliance to Save Energy and its partners note, “All of us can make our homes ‘smarter’ with today’s energy-efficiency technologies and products that do the work for us—reduce monthly energy bills, energy waste, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.”

Other partners in this national media partnership include the U.S. Department of Energy, American Gas Association, the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, Consumer Electronics Association, Whirlpool Corporation, OSRAM Sylvania, The Dow Chemical Company, and CMC Energy Services.Based on an energy audit, the grand prize winner could receive the following energy-efficiency makeover improvements of up to $25,000 to create a “smarter” home:

• Overall energy audit to identify energy problems and document what might be undertaken to make the home more energy-efficient by CMC Energy Services;
• Whirlpool ENERGY STAR-labeled kitchen and laundry appliances;
• Computer and energy-efficient electronics and wiring of the home by Consumer Electronics Association and its member companies;
• Energy-efficient compact fluorescent lighting by OSRAM Sylvania;
• Sealing of all air leaks by The Dow Chemical Company; and
• Appropriate insulation for the winner’s particular climate, programmable thermostat, low-flow shower head, faucet aerators, ventilating fan, and much more.

Contestants are asked to answer a few energy-oriented questions about their homes and write a brief essay about their deservedness for an energy-efficiency home makeover. After submitting their entry, they are encouraged to go to the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge website www.sixdegreechallenge.org to “Test Their Energy IQ” and take the 6° Challenge by committing to at least one tangible energy-efficiency action and encouraging others to do the same. The 6° Challenge interactive social website was developed last year by the Alliance and more than 30 other nonprofit and profit partners. The Alliance has made SCI FI Channel a partner in the challenge.

The Alliance to Save Energy had an existing partnership with SCI FI since last year on the channel’s Visions for Tomorrow public affairs campaign focused on energy and the Alliance’s award-winning Super Powers TV PSAs, which feature a family of Super Heroes and encourage viewers to “Discover Your Own Energy-$aving Super Powers.” That partnership has been expanded and extended through the new focused energy-efficiency campaign and home makeover contest.