February 10, 2011
Solarize Pendleton brings big savings to participants
Competition encourages energy conservation and showcases local solar installations
Pendleton, Ore. – Feb, 10 – Pendleton area residents looking to shrink their energy costs and their environmental footprint were given the chance to do just that by signing up to be part of Solarize Pendleton – a City sponsored program to overcome the logistical hurdles to going solar – last spring.
This winter, the “Biggest Saver” competition was created for Solarize Pendleton participants as a fun way to kick off the year ahead with their new systems. Energy savings were calculated based on utility bills from January of 2010 and 2011.
In the upcoming year, it is expected that participants from the first round will collectively be saving more than $15,000 from their systems alone. However, for many participants, being able to compare how much energy they consume to how much they produce, has inspired them to try to reduce their energy usage.
“This competition was a great way to encourage energy conservation,” said Lindsey Hardy, the current Solarize Pendleton coordinator. “At the beginning of the competition we sent out a list of simple tips to conserve energy. Since the contest was comparing how much energy they used last year and this year, the energy production from their systems as well as reduced energy consumption, came into play in calculating the winner.”
The winner of the contest was Marjorie Iburg, a very enthusiastic Solarize Pendleton participant. Iburg’s utility bills were 39% lower this year, which calculates into a savings of approximately $45. “I’m not even sure what I did differently this year,” she exclaimed upon finding out that she had won. “I just know that I’m very happy with my system.”
Doug and Grace Nelson, were runners up, saving 29% on their utility bills this year, Next in line were Bonnie and Terry Templeman, saving 24%.
Iburg will be receiving a day of free meals for two from local restaurants. The Main Street Diner, Great Pacific, and Elvis’s Bar and Grill all generously donated to the contest.
City Manager Larry Lehman commented: “I’d really like to thank the restaurants that participated in this event. We couldn’t have had such an enticing reward and fun competition without them.”
Lehman also wanted to send his praise to all those who participated in the contest and especially congratulate Iburg on her significant energy savings.
This event was also designed with the intent to showcase the 56 local homes who have already installed solar as Solarize Pendleton gears up for its second phase.
Pendleton currently has the most solar installations, per capita, in the Northwest. With the second round of Solarize Pendleton, the City hopes to be the most solarized rural community in the United States.
The second phase will start on Tuesday, March 1st with “Introduction to Solar” workshops at Blue Mountain Community College. Anyone interested in learning about how the program works and how it helps participants to save 80% on solar installations is invited to attend.
Those who are interested are encouraged to get more information at www.solarizependleton.com.
“We’re really hoping to make this round of Solarize Pendleton bigger than the last,” Hardy said. “I hope I am here to see the day when Pendleton can say that they’re the most solarized community in America! Won’t that be such an awesome day?
“I agree with Lindsey that I hope that we can make phase two very successful. I’m just happy the City can help bring this opportunity to our residents,” Lehman said upon reflecting on the program.
