The ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program Gives You One Billion Reasons to Be Green and Save Energy

Winter’s sting may have you thinking about how to save on your energy bill and the ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program is here to help. ComEd’s Smart Ideas is one of the largest energy efficiency programs in the nation and has already saved customers more than $1 Billion on their electric bills and eliminated 16.5 Billion pounds of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

“We made a promise in 2007 to create the best portfolio of energy management options for our customers as possible,” said Val Jensen, senior vice president of Customer Operations. “And while our customers now have access to some of the nation’s best offerings, we are extending that promise to give our customers even more energy management choices with the deployment of smart meters.”

Customers looking to save energy in their homes can take advantage of the Home Energy Rebates and receive instant rebates of up to $400 for replacing their home’s cooling system, and up to $1,700 for installing measures like insulation, air sealing and duct sealing.

In addition, ComEd offers free Home Energy Assessments to help customers identify areas in their home that may need improvements. Customers can receive personalized recommendations on ways to save energy and money, as well as free installation of energy-saving products such as ENERGY STAR® certified compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), a programmable thermostat, energy-efficient showerheads, hot water pipe insulation, and bathroom and kitchen sink aerators. Renters are also eligible, with landlord permission.

ComEd has invested more than $550 million to deliver the award winning energy efficiency Program to its customers, which has created 234 direct jobs and 700 indirect jobs. Approximately two-thirds of ComEd’s customers have participated in its Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program, and since its launch in 2008 the Program has helped customers reduce energy usage by more than 10.9 million megawatt-hours, enough to power more than one million homes for a year.

For more information customers can visit ComEd.com/HomeSavings for residential customers and ComEd.com/BizIncentives for business customers, or call 855-IDEAS-00 (855-433-2700).

ComEd also offers the following tips to help customers safely prepare their homes for winter weather, manage their energy usage and reduce their electricity bill.

• Set your thermostat up to 10 degrees lower during the winter, when you leave your home and before going to sleep. You could save up to 15 percent a year on heating costs.
• Check your HVAC filter every month. If the filter looks dirty after a month, change it. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you warm thus wasting energy.
• Replace incandescent lights with CFLs or LEDs (light emitting diode). They typically use about 75 percent less energy. CFLs also last about 10 times longer while LEDs last at least 35 times longer.
• Inspect the caulking and weather-stripping around all windows, doors and openings, replacing as necessary. Also, check ducts that move air to-and-from a forced air furnace, central air conditioner, or heat pump, which are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent.

Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with approximately 7.8 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.