Contact: Tracy DuFlo
Director of Production
(315) 782-3142, ext. 219
WPBS To Promote New York Energy $martSM Programs
Watertown, NY – October 30, 2006 – The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is sponsoring a two-year, multifaceted campaign with WPBS-TV to educate consumers on the benefits of energy efficiency
and the residential New York Energy $martSM programs.
WPBS will produce a series of six documentaries, under the banner title “Energy Efficiency: Enhancing Home Performance,” that
will focus on a variety of topics. The first program will highlight ENERGY STAR® labeled products. Program Two will discuss home symptoms and building science, while Program
Three will showcase a comprehensive home assessment. Program Four demonstrates how businesses can become partners with NYSERDA and the benefits of being an accredited
contractor through the Building Performance Institute. Program Five shows consumers the benefits of building a New York ENERGY STAR Labeled home. Program Six will concentrate
on alternative sources of residential power, including wind and solar. Quick Tips, two per show, will highlight important points from the programs.
WPBS will also produce a series of six community workshops based on the television shows. Other components of the project will be a brochure and comprehensive web pages
branching off of WPBS-TV’s main website, wpbstv.org. Both the brochure and website will feature information about the programs
and workshops as well as energy tips and additional resources.
The program will culminate with an Energy Expo to be held in March of 2008. Vendors will include home builders, building supply companies, energy supply companies, and retail
outlets and will feature ENERGY STAR® products and service providers. High schools and colleges in the North Country will have the opportunity to vie for prizes during a
competition encouraging them to create ways to make, use, or save energy in more efficient ways.
The October 4th program of WPBS Live! featured the topic “Change a Light, Change the World.” NYSERDA’s newest campaign is designed to encourage people to switch from regular
incandescent light bulbs to the ENERGY STAR® compact fluorescent bulbs. The program also talked about other ways residents can save on energy bills this year. Peter R. Smith,
president and CEO of NYSERDA, and Carl Uthe, partner relations manager for Lockheed Martin Information
Technologies were host Don Alexander’s guests for this hour-long call-in program.
WPBS-TV is a non-profit public television station serving approximately 650,000 households throughout Northern New York and Eastern Ontario. WPBS-TV’s mission is to educate,
entertain and inform in order to enhance the lives of those it serves.
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