From a media release issued by Focus on Energy:
On Dec. 31, 2007 Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, launched a contest to find a Milwaukee area family with a home in need of energy efficient improvements. The contest, named Home Energy Makeover, was sponsored by Focus on Energy in partnership with WITI-TV FOX 6 and awarded one lucky winner with energy efficient improvements for their home, including insulation and air sealing, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and a new furnace, air conditioner and tankless water heater. . . .
John and Corinne Kangas of Waukesha, Wis., were named the winners of the contest, valued at approximately $20,000, on Feb. 3, 2008 during halftime of the Super Bowl telecast. It wasn’t long after the announcement that the Kangas home began its energy transformation.
“We found out we had won the contest when we saw the TV commercial announcing the winner during the Super Bowl. My family was jumping up and down – we were so excited,” said Corinne Kangas. “Our home is older, so knowing we won’t have to worry about things like the furnace or the air conditioner gives us great peace of mind. Plus, we couldn’t wait to learn about the process of making our home more energy efficient.”
For several weeks, FOX 6 joined the homeowners on their journey to energy efficiency, covering such details as the energy evaluation of the home, the advantages of ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and the installation of a tankless water heater. Through each step, FOX 6 viewers learned how they could benefit from the same improvements to their homes.
“By identifying what the home needed and then making the necessary improvements, the Kangas family can expect to save approximately 30 percent on their energy bills,” said Rich Marshall, Focus on Energy Project Manager. “More importantly, if other homeowners made just a few of the improvements the Kangas family received they could save significantly too.”