Convinced you can save on your electric bill? Mayor Mark Mallory and Duke Energy are inviting Cincinnati residents to prove it. The Mayor’s Young Professional’s Kitchen Cabinet created the Mayor’s Apartment Energy Competition as a fun way to go green. Mayor Mallory and Duke Energy co-sponsor the competition.
Residents of eight local apartments are working to reduce energy usage. The benchmark is a reduction in their September Duke Energy bills, as compared to August bills. Participating complexes are Sycamore Place, East 8th Lofts, Gramercy on Garfield, Lofts at Shillito Place, Groton Lofts, Greenwich on the Park, Village at Stetson Square, and Bellevue Gardens Apartments.
Duke Energy will award $200 to the resident in each building who achieved the greatest percent reduction in their bill. "Our goal is to entice residents of these eight apartment complexes to make behavioral changes in the way they consume energy,” said Gaurab Hazarika, the project leader for the Mayor's YPKC, and a Duke Energy employee. “We hope that their new behavior will become permanent once they realize that these energy efficiency efforts do not affect their comfort levels. We also hope they will act as our ambassadors and share the energy efficiency tips with their friends and family."
Mayor Mallory agrees. "By being more proactive in controlling your energy usage, you can save a lot of money."
The Apartment Energy Competition will also promote awareness of energy consumption. Building managers at Sycamore Place, East 8th Lofts, Village at Stetson Square, and Bellevue Gardens Apartments will distribute 650 energy-efficient CFL light bulbs to residents, which will save a combined $24,000 in electric costs over the bulb’s life.
Residents of participating complexes have until Nov. 1 to submit Duke Energy bills to their building’s manager. If the competition is well received, the Mayor’s YPKC may extend the competition to new apartment complexes within Cincinnati.
Source: Jason Barron, Communications Director, Office of Mayor Mark Mallory
Writer: Elena Stevenson
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