DEARBORN, Mich., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
- Ford-led MyEnergi Lifestyle® retrofit contest
demonstrates how a typical American family can achieve energy and
cost savings by easily moving to an energy-efficient lifestyle
- National contest now open and runs through June 9. Winner to receive a package that includes
a Ford C-MAX Energi – America's most affordable plug-in hybrid
vehicle, Whirlpool brand appliances, SunPower solar power system,
Eaton charging station and other
energy-saving products
- Families could see up to a 60 percent reduction in energy costs
and savings of more than 9,000 kilograms of CO2 – a
reduction of 55 percent – in their home
Ford and the MyEnergi Lifestyle® initiative have
kicked off the MyEnergi Lifestyle retrofit contest with
Katie Couric on her syndicated talk
show "Katie." Homeowners can enter this national contest for a
chance to win a package that includes a Ford C-MAX Energi –
America's most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle, new Whirlpool
brand appliances, a SunPower solar power system and other home
products designed to bring energy-efficient living to a typical
American family.
The contest is now open and runs through June 9, with the grand prize winner to be
announced this summer.
Through the MyEnergi Lifestyle initiative, Ford is bringing
together leaders in the home appliance, renewable energy and power
management industries – including Eaton, SunPower and Whirlpool.
Additional featured companies are semiconductor provider Infineon
and Nest Labs.
The group worked with researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology to create a
computer model that calculates the electricity usage of a typical
family in their home for one year, and the potential savings
associated with moving to an energy-efficient lifestyle.
As Americans' thirst for energy grows, recent advancements in
technology make this the ideal time to demonstrate the benefits of
optimizing a family's energy footprint. Along with 729 gallons of
gasoline and 122,000 cubic feet of natural gas, the average home in
America uses more than 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a year;
in 1930, the figure was 500 kilowatt-hours. That's an increase of
2,100 percent.
Home appliances have made huge gains in reducing energy usage.
Today, the typical smart appliance, like a refrigerator, uses 70
percent less energy than one built in 1980.
"We're very excited to offer the MyEnergi Lifestyle retrofit to
our winning families and to put it to the test," says Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle
electrification and infrastructure. "By combining a Ford C-MAX
Energi plug-in hybrid vehicle, smart energy-efficient appliances
and renewable energy generation, we hope to reduce the families'
energy consumption and save them money.
"Our computer models suggest we're looking at a 60 percent
reduction in energy costs and a 55 percent reduction in
CO2 annually for these families through the retrofit,"
he adds.
How MyEnergi Lifestyle works
MyEnergi Lifestyle shows how a typical American family can
significantly reduce their electricity bills and CO2
footprint by integrating today's plug-in vehicle technology, smart
home appliances and solar energy. MyEnergi Lifestyle works by
leveraging technology so key energy-consuming devices in a home use
less energy, while also shifting energy usage to less expensive
periods. At night, for example, when energy costs are lower, a
smart refrigerator can perform high-energy tasks like ice making or
defrosting – just as Ford's plug-in vehicles do with
recharging.
If every home in the United
States were to implement the energy-saving technologies
MyEnergi Lifestyle incorporates, it would be the equivalent of
taking all the homes in California, New
York and Texas – 32 million
homes – off the power grid.
Along with the contest launch, during a special Mother's Day show Friday,
May 10, "Katie" also surprised a member of its studio
audience with her own MyEnergi Lifestyle home retrofit.
Susan Berry, a substitute teacher
from Ventura, Calif., was the
lucky winner. "Oh man, this is fantastic," said Berry. "Now we can
give our 15-year-old Ford pickup to my son, my husband can take my
Ford Escape and I'll have the C-MAX Energi!" Check out Berry's
reaction to the surprise here:
http://www.katiecouric.com/videos/katies-biggest-giveaway-ever/.
Write this way to a retrofit
To enter the MyEnergi
Lifestyle retrofit contest, applicants will need to submit an essay
of 400 words or less explaining how adding solar power and
switching to smart, energy-efficient appliances and a plug-in
hybrid vehicle could benefit their family.
Representatives of the MyEnergi Lifestyle initiative will serve
as judges for the essays, and their determination of a family most
deserving of the grand prize will help decide the winner.
For more information on the contest, including eligibility rules
and to enter for a chance to win, click here for the "Katie"
website:
http://www.katiecouric.com/features/win-ford-hybrid-car-whirlpool-smart-appliances/.
The grand prize package includes:
- 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi; with a starting price of $29,995, C-MAX Energi is America's most
affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle
- Eaton solar inverter,
solar-ready load center with home surge protection
- Eaton electric vehicle supply
equipment and generator
- Five-kilowatt high-efficiency SunPower system that can produce
about 8,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually
- Nest learning thermostat
- Powerhouse dynamic eMonitor for energy monitoring
- Whirlpool brand smart dishwasher, smart washer and dryer
combination, smart refrigerator, hybrid heat pump water heater and
more
Building on the trend of sustainable living and the next
generation of net-zero home design, Ford also recently announced
MyEnergi Lifestyle products will be featured in KB Home's ZeroHouse
2.0 in San Marcos, Calif., and in
other markets where this energy-efficient home is sold. The
agreement between these two innovative leaders further showcases a
growing trend where the typical American family can save money
while reducing their impact on the environment by combining
mainstream home appliance technology with an affordable plug-in
hybrid vehicle and a renewable energy power source.
More information about Ford's electrified vehicle lineup can be
found here.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor
Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based
in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures
or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about
175,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive
brands include Ford and Lincoln.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products
worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.
About 'Katie'
This past September, "Katie,"
a new daytime talk show hosted by award-winning journalist,
best-selling author and television personality Katie Couric, premiered in national syndication.
Broadcasting from New York City in
front of a studio audience, the timely and topical daytime program
blends entertainment, information and stories of the day in a
format that is engaging, compelling and interesting. Katie explores
what's going on in the world, using her personal experience and
insight to get to the heart of what matters most to viewers. The
show includes powerful segments and thoughtful interviews with
newsmakers, celebrities, and everyday people who have extraordinary
stories to tell. Airing in over 96% of the U.S., "Katie" is
distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television and is executive
produced by Katie Couric and
Michael Morrison. Co-executive
producers are Kathy Samuels,
Matt Strauss and Ethan Nelson.
About Eaton
Eaton is a diversified power management
company providing energy-efficient solutions that help our
customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical
power. The company is a global technology leader in electrical
products, systems and services for power quality, distribution and
control, power transmission, lighting and wiring products;
hydraulics components, systems and services for industrial and
mobile equipment; aerospace fuel, hydraulics and pneumatic systems
for commercial and military use; and truck and automotive
drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance, fuel economy and
safety. Eaton acquired Cooper
Industries plc in 2012. Eaton has
approximately 100,000 employees and sells products to customers in
more than 150 countries. For more information, visit
www.eaton.com.
About SunPower
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWR)
designs, manufactures and delivers the highest efficiency, highest
reliability solar panels and systems available today. Residential,
business, government and utility customers rely on the company's
quarter century of experience and guaranteed performance to provide
maximum return on investment throughout the life of the solar
system. Headquartered in San Jose,
Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia. For more information, visit
www.sunpowercorp.com.
About Whirlpool
brand
Whirlpool Corporation is the
world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances,
with annual sales of approximately $18
billion in 2012, 68,000 employees and 65 manufacturing and
technology research centers around the world. We advance technology
to the point of simplicity. Creating innovations that are
forward-thinking for what we choose to put in – and
what we don't. Great design that fits seamlessly into life. In
addition to designing appliance solutions based on consumer
insight, Whirlpool is one of Habitat for Humanity's largest
corporate partners, donating a refrigerator and range to every new
Habitat for Humanity home built in North
America. For more information on Whirlpool Brand, please
visit www.whirlpool.com or find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/whirlpoolusa. Additional information about the
company can be found at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
About Georgia Institute of
Technology
The Georgia
Institute of Technology is one of the world's premier
research universities. Ranked seventh among U.S. News & World
Report's top public universities, the Institute enrolls 21,500
students within its six colleges. Georgia
Tech is the nation's leading producer of engineers as well
as a leading producer of female and minority engineering Ph.D.
graduates. Holding more than 848 patents and receiving
approximately $689 million in
research and development expenditures, Georgia
Tech ranks among the nation's top ten universities (without
a medical school) in research expenditures. Visit
www.gatech.edu for more information.
About Infineon
Infineon Technologies AG,
Neubiberg, Germany, offers
semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central
challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, mobility, and
security. In the 2012 fiscal year (ending September 30), the Company reported sales of
Euro 3.9 billion with close to 26,700
employees worldwide. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock
Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX
International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY).
SOURCE Ford Motor Company