The chance to win a year of free electricity through an Evanston energy saving competition has been extended until the end of February to allow more residents the chance to participate.
Evanston’s Big 7 Savers Challenge was scheduled to end Jan. 1, but Citizens Utility Board announced Tuesday the competition will last until Feb. 29. The nonprofit organization, which advocates the interests of Illinois residential utility customers, coordinates the challenge with the City of Evanston.
The first-time competition began in June and encourages residents to reduce energy usage and utility bills and receive incentives, such as restaurant and shopping discounts.
“This is a win-win,” said Jim Chilsen, CUB communications director. “People are learning how to cut their utility bills, and that’s good for their bottom line and it’s good for the environment.”
Any Commonwealth Edison client is eligible to sign up with one of Evanston’s seven largest employers, and CUB tracks home electricity use through ComEd statistics. Every kilowatt hour of energy saved per household adds two points to that participant’s associated team score.
Teams include the City of Evanston, Districts 65 and 202, Evanston Hospital, Northwestern University, Rotary International and St. Francis Hospital.
Two teams will be recognized as winners at the end of the competition – one for recruiting the most members for its team and another for greatest energy use reduction. Two households, one from each winning team, will be randomly selected to receive a year of free electricity, up to $1,800 in savings.
Participants who follow energy-saving tips from CUB also save an average of $130 each year, according to a CUB news release issued Jan. 17.
“Saving energy saves money,” Chilsen said.
As a community, Evanston residents have accrued nearly $44,000 in savings since June 2010 by reducing energy use, according to the news release. About 1,700 households have registered with Evanston’s Big 7 Savers Challenge, and CUB board members hope to grow that number even more, Chilsen said.
He added the extended deadline opens the door for more residents, including students, to become involved in the competition and lower utility bills and energy waste across the city.
“Our utility bills nickel and dime us, and energy efficiency gives us the chance to nickel and dime those utility bills right back,” Chilsen said.
Winners will be announced at a press conference with Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl in April. Sign up for Evanston’s Big 7 Energy Savers Challenge at www.cubenergysaver.com/evanston.
