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Diman student wins Fall River Neighborhood Energy logo contest

Herald News Staff Reports
Posted Dec 20, 2012 @ 10:55 PM

Energy Challenge Logo FALL RIVER - The announcement that Joseph Rebelo, a junior in the graphic communications shop from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, was the winner of the logo contest as part of the 2013 Fall River Neighborhood Energy Contest came at a time of year when lights and bills are on everyone’s mind.

“The cost of utilities are something that we as property owners and homeowners sometimes struggle with,” said Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan Thursday at Government Center, announcing not just Rebelo’s win but a $5,000 prize for the neighborhood association whose members rack up the largest total of energy savings. The $5,000 will be used to make improvements in the winning neighborhood.

Sponsors of the contest include Flanagan’s office, National Grid and New England Gas Company. In addition, a number of community-based partners, includeing the city’s neighborhood associations, Citizens for Citizens, the Bristol Community College Green Center, the Council on Aging, the Fall River Board of Realtors and Fall River Re-Creation, are among the many organizations throughout the city that are participating.

“The logo contest was a great start to the contest by involving our very creative high school students in designing a logo that captures the essence of Fall River Neighborhood Energy Contest,” Flanagan said. “The committee received several quality logo designs from the students, but Joseph’s was deemed to be the best.”

“The purpose of this citywide energy contest, which will begin in early 2013, is to implement energy efficient measures in residential homes and apartments that will save city residents energy and money,” said James Sweeney, general manager and director at New England Gas Company.

For decades, the gas and electric utilities in the commonwealth have provided comprehensive energy-efficiency services to customers through Mass Save. This contest was designed to increase participation in Fall River for energy-efficiency services through friendly competition between the neighborhood groups. The first step in participating in the contest is to get a free Mass Save home energy assessment.

Incentives are available to implement the energy-efficiency measures recommended by Mass Save. The assessment, also known as a home energy audit, applies to one to four family homes and includes a basement-to-attic inspection to evaluate possible energy-efficiency improvements.

A personalized report details recommended improvements, with incentives of up to 75 percent on qualified weatherization improvements up to $2,000. For example, a $1,000 attic insulation job will cost the customer only $250. In addition, rebates ranging from $25 to $1,500 are available for qualified heating and water heating improvements.

Income-eligible customers may be able to receive services at no cost through CFC.

There’s even more with instant savings measures — water conservation, compact fluorescent light bulbs, programmable thermostats — that are installed at no cost. Lastly, National Grid and New England Gas offer a zero-interest HEAT Loan Program on eligible measures. Several local lending institutions service these loans.

On Feb. 9, there will be an Energy Fair at Diman to kick-off the FRNEC. The fair will feature exhibits of the latest high-efficiency natural gas technologies, interactive educational demonstrations for children to learn about energy efficiency, vendor exhibits and  information on how to participate in the contest.

“This will truly be a family-oriented event to promote energy efficiency in our community,” Flanagan said.
Information will soon be posted on the city website about the contest, or those interested can also call the Office of Neighborhood Outreach at 508-676-0324. Visit www.masssave.com to learn more about home energy assessments.

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