Nearly All Alberta Homeowners Say Home Energy Efficiency Is Important, But The Majority Need To Take Steps To Prepare For The Winter Chill

Calgary, AB (10/11/2012) - Ninety-six per cent of Alberta homeowners claim that home energy efficiency is a top priority for them, according to a recent survey conducted for Direct Energy. As temperatures begin to fall across the province, Direct Energy wants to ensure that homeowners are prepared with the right information to get their home in top shape for the winter season.

"Energy efficiency upgrades and improvements do not have to be daunting tasks. In fact, homeowners can take control of their energy bills and potentially save money by following simple steps and making small changes around the home", said Dave Walton, Director of Home Ideas for Direct Energy. "Sealing up air leaks around windows and baseboards, and regularly maintaining your furnace and replacing filters are easy - and low cost - ways to save on monthly heating bills."

While the majority of homeowners say that an energy efficient home is important to them, the survey also showed that a significant percentage of Alberta homeowners are not taking the right steps to achieve that goal. For example, only twenty-seven per cent of Alberta homeowners lower the temperature when the house is empty, and less than half lower the temperature overnight. Simply knocking down the temperature by two degrees when no one is home or when you are sleeping can make a significant impact on annual energy costs.

"Programmable thermostats are a great way to control the temperature inside the home and they are not expensive to buy and install," added Walton. "Installing a programmable thermostat and setting it based on your living patterns to reduce your energy usage is one of the easiest ways to regulate your heat and ensure energy efficiency."

Additional findings from the Direct Energy survey reveal that forty per cent of Albertans do not have a high efficiency furnace installed in their home, which is one of the most significant ways to maintain energy efficiency around the home. The survey also showed that when it comes to regular home maintenance, only fifty per cent of homeowners have their air ducts cleaned, and much less than that (6%) have energy audits completed on their homes.

What's more interesting is that the survey also found a pattern among younger homeowners. Overall, results revealed that they are less likely to include energy efficient steps in their home maintenance:

• Only thirty-five per cent of homeowners between the ages of 18-34 lower their temperature overnight.
• When it comes to furnace maintenance, just half of younger homeowners change their furnace filters every three to six months as recommended.
• Only thirty-six per cent have their air ducts cleaned.

"It's important for new or first-time homeowners to be educated about keeping their home energy efficient, as this may be the first time they are responsible for a home's upkeep," stresses Walton. "Many new homeowners may not even be aware of the potential savings on their energy bills by following simple home maintenance steps."

For residents in Calgary and Edmonton, peace of mind during the cold winter months will soon be available with Direct Energy Home Services' Heating Protection Policy. The new Heating Protection Policy will cover 24-hour emergency service by a licensed technician, annual maintenance, and parts for natural gas furnaces. More information will be available as the service rolls out in Calgary and Edmonton over the next few weeks.

For more information on:

Energy efficiency tips and hints to reduce your energy usage and your energy bill

Direct Energy Furnace Maintenance Service

Receive up to $1,500 in Prepaid MasterCard® cards with the purchase of a Furnace, Air Conditioner & Rinnai Tankless Water Heater from Direct Energy

About the Survey

From September 12th to September 14th 2012 an online survey was conducted among 801 randomly selected adult Alberta residents who are Angus Reid Forum panelists. The margin of error-which measures sampling variability-is +/- 3.5%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Alberta. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is North America's largest provider of heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical services and a leading energy and energy-related services provider with over eight million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 46 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada.

For further information on home energy efficiency tips or to book an interview with Dave Walton please contact:

Jeff Lanthier
Direct Energy
Jeff.Lanthier@directenergy.com
1-905-943-6260