Small Town News

Randolph Family Wins $10,000 Home Energy Makeover

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Grand Saline residents, John and Cindy Randolph were notified last Monday that they were selected to receive a $10,000 home energy makeover in the Texas Co-op Power Home Energy Makeover Contest, and Wood County Electric Cooperative Inc. was selected to do the makeover.

The Randolphs were among more than 12,000 Texas cooperative member homeowners who entered to win in this statewide contest sponsored by Texas Co-op Power magazine. Five winners around the state were selected to each receive energy efficiency improvements valued at up to $10,000. Improvements may include new air source heat pumps, ductwork improvements, insulation enhancements, water heaters, windows and other upgrades.

Paige Eaton, Director of Communications for Wood County Electric Cooperative invited the Grand Saline Sun to attend the meeting of the contractors at the home on Thursday of last week.

According to John Randolph, his family was very excited when they were notified that they were selected on Monday. When asked how he competed, Randolph stated, "Insomnia." Explaining that statement, he went on to say that he could not sleep one night and got up and read the Texas Co-op Magazine. He noticed the information about the contest, and since there was only two days left to enter, he grabbed the phone and entered the contest over the internet.

So John, what kind of questions did they ask? He replied that he answered questions on the age of the home, the square footage, and why he thought it was energy inefficient. Thus, he entered the contest just two days before the deadline.

According to Martin Bevins, Sales Director for Texas Co-Op Power Magazine, "The contest was publicized in their February and March issues of their magazine."

Eaton explained that their professional energy auditors came in last week and recommended things to do that would make the home more energy efficient. Then last Thursday, the contractors were rthere looking over the home and (brainstorming on what upgrades would help the most. The upgrades could include caulking, air, heating, windows, etc.

According to John Randolph, they moved to this 1900 square foot home about five years ago from Piano-in order to 'move to the country'. Cindy Randolph guided us through the home and noted a lot of things that they had done since it is an older home. Their two daughters are home schooled, and they were very excited about the makeover. Per Lacie, age 12, "My room is always hotter in the summer than anyone else's and colder in the winter than any other." Daughter Alyse, age 11, stated, "We have to move things around from room to room to stay warm, and watch not to burn something with the small heaters that we move around." Randolph said he would love to get some new windows.

Bevins explained that this home is part of five Wood County is doing across the state. They are using a lot of local contractors with the national sponsors to support the sponsors. Lennox Industries a manufacturer of HVAC systems will do the equipment site. Ben Maines Air Conditioning, Inc. out of Longview will do the engineering and installation of the equipment. Another home visit will be held soon to discuss the upgrades once the contractors decide what will most benefit the home.

The Randolphs are excited and looking forward to the "reveal" with the energy savings projections once the work is done.

Texas Co-op Power magazine, partnering with local cooperatives, created the competition to promote home energy efficiency by demonstrating the possible energy savings that can be achieved through the use of a range of products from insulation to an energy Star-rated HVAC system. Corporate sponsors of the home energy makeovers, through donation of equipment and service for the competition, include Lennox Industries, Johns-Manville and Rheem Marathon Water Heaters. Each of the five winning homes will receive energy makeovers tailored to their unique circumstances to achieve the best efficiencies based on home type and family lifestyle.

Through the state run organization, Texas Electric Cooperatives, and their magazine, Texas Co-Op Power, wood County Electric Cooperative

(WCEC) members were allowed to enter the contest. Four of WCEC members were down-selected to receive free home energy audits as finalists which resulted in the selection of the top prize winner.

The benefit of this for WCEC and all members will be the great examples that will come out of this process. Now, more than ever, it's important for people to save their hard earned dollars where they can. The idea is for this home to showcase the simple stents that ANY WCEC family can make to help reduce thejr energy bill. WCEC hopes to highlight common energy wasting areas that many homes share, and the demonstrate simple steps (o correct those deficiencies to lower costs. As the local cooperative, WCEC will be able to share these lessons, on an ongoing basis, with a of their other members.

Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit electric cooperative with the mission of providing member-customers reliable electric service at a reasonable rate. WCEC serves over 32,000 meters jn parts of nine counties throughout northeast Texas, including Camp, Franklin, Hopkins, Rains, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zangt, and Wood.

Texas Co-op Power Magazine, is a monthly publication of Texas Electric Cooperatives, with a circulation of more than 1.2 million electric cooperative members in Texas.



Copyright 2010 Grand Saline Sun, Grand Saline, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 Grand Saline Sun Grand Saline, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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