De Pere man wins $23,000 worth of home energy-efficiency updates

By MIKE HOEFT • mhoeft@greenbaypressgazette.com • May 9, 2010

DE PERE — Brian Stoller of De Pere hopes to see lower utility bills next year after winning a home energy makeover contest that includes $23,000 worth of energy-efficient home improvements.

The improvements begin Tuesday with an energy evaluation that tests for air leaks and energy use in his 42-year-old Silver Street home. Insulation will be added where needed.

Stoller, 25, will win Energy Star qualified products including a refrigerator, dishwasher, clothes washer and dryer and 40 compact fluorescent light bulbs.

He’s owned his home for a year. He said his fiancee, Nicki, was happy and amazed at the prospect of getting new appliances.

“Buying new appliances was one thing we didn’t do after we bought,” Stoller said.

He’ll also be interviewed by Tom Mahoney, chief meteorologist from WFRV, Channel 5, about the journey toward energy efficiency. Viewers can watch each step on the Home Energy Makeover Web site at www.myfocusmakeover.com and learn how they can benefit from energy-efficiency improvements to their own homes.

The contest is meant to draw attention to the importance of energy efficiency.

“We look forward to helping another WPS customer realize the energy savings potential in their home,” said Cheri Salmon, manager of energy resource optimization for WPS.

Home improvements were sponsored by Temperature Systems Inc., Tempstar, First Supply, A.O. Smith Water Products, Duerst Insulation Technicians, Whirlpool, Van Vreede’s, General Electric and Panasonic.