Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902, or Becky Fleischauer, Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, 302-588-0671 or becky@navigatorcommunications.com 

DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara to host First State’s #EnergizeDE Twitter Chat on ways to save money and energy

WILMINGTON (July 8, 2011) – DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara will host Delaware’s #EnergizeDE Twitter Chat, from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. Tweeting from the @YourDNREC account, Secretary O’Mara will answer questions and provide information about energy efficiency solutions offered through the state’s nonprofit Energize Delaware and the Delaware Energy Office.

Secretary O’Mara, who is also an SEU Oversight Board executive committee member, will lead the chat, answering questions and sharing ideas about how Delawareans can save energy and money and at the same time boost the state’s economy.

“Delaware was the first state in the nation to launch an appliance rebate program using federal stimulus funds and deployed a Home Performance program before Congress passed legislation, so why not take on another first – the state’s first Twitter chat on energy!” said Secretary O’Mara. “We have one of the most engaged and pioneering social media communities in the nation. I’m looking forward to an informative, engaging Twitter conversation with Delaware home and business owners.”

How it works
To join the discussion, Delawareans just need to use their Twitter account - and follow the discussion through the #EnergizeDE hashtag. Questions can be tweeted prior to or during the one-hour online conversation. SEU and DNREC communications staff are collecting some of the most common questions and requests for information to answer during the hour-long Twitter chat. 

To keep the conversation focused, the hour-long chat will be divided into three 20-minute segments devoted to common energy challenges.

First 20 minutes
How much is your monthly energy bill? Tweet your average monthly bill and let’s see what the range is and how it compares to the national average. The highest tweet (with verification) will receive a free energy audit.

Second 20 minutes
Share your most frustrating comfort issues. Tweet about thermostat fights (how inefficient is interfamily battles and thermostat changes). Tweet about hot and cold guest bedrooms above the garage. Why is one level so much hotter than the other and what can be done? Does your business use a lot of lighting, refrigeration, or other energy-intensive equipment? We’ll provide info about possible solutions.

Third 20 minutes
Have you had a home energy makeover? Share your experiences and advice and hear Secretary O’Mara tweet links to useful resources.

While most Energize Delaware programs have been operating for less than a year, the collective action of Delawareans taking advantage of the energy efficiency solutions is adding up to big energy savings. This is particularly important for a state that where per capita energy consumption is much higher than our neighbors. Delaware’s leadership was recently recognized by the Alliance to Save Energy, which encouraged other states to adopt comprehensive energy-saving programs like Delaware’s.

To learn about SEU Energize Delaware programs and contact a participating contractor near you, go to www.energizedelaware.org or call 877-624-4448 and select option 2.

SEU and Energize Delaware
The Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility’s (SEU) Energize Delaware is a unique non-profit created by the state of Delaware to provide a one-stop resource for energy solutions that save money, create jobs, and improve the environment. The initiative’s full complement of energy-saving solutions include: efficient lighting, comprehensive home and business energy makeovers, rebates for new homes built to high energy standards, and performance contracting to cut energy waste in schools and government buildings. www.energizedelaware.org

Vol. 41, No. 259