TVA and local power distributors are extending their home energy audit program through September 2008 to help Tennessee Valley consumers assess the energy efficiency of their homes.

Each Valley resident who completes a do-it-yourself home energy audit receives a free conservation kit that can save $2 to $4 on average monthly power bills, depending on individual energy use.  The offer is part of TVA’s efforts to inform the public about energy efficiency while providing tools consumers can use now to start saving energy in addition to money on their electric bills.

“Since we began promoting the home energy audits in January, more than 30,400 Valley residents have taken the online or mail-in version of the audit and qualified to receive the conservation kits,” said TVA Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Joe Hoagland.  “Residents, who follow all of the recommendations from the personalized audit, can save as much as 20 percent on annual utility costs.”

In addition to a free home energy efficiency kit, consumers who complete the online audit receive a personalized energy profile report illustrating their home’s overall energy use and costs along with specific actions they can take to reduce energy bills now and in the future.

Hoagland estimates that if the 30,000 consumers who completed the audit follow all of the potential recommendations in their personalized energy profiles and use all of the tools in the energy conservation kit, TVA could save up to 50 megawatts of peak demand and 165 million kilowatt hours per year.

By the end of fiscal year 2012, TVA's plan for energy efficiency and demand reduction proposes to reduce the growth in peak demand by up to 1,400 megawatts - about the amount of power it currently takes to serve all the homes in a city about the size of Nashville.

TVA will survey consumers who took advantage of the do-it-yourself audit to determine what actions they have taken to make their homes more efficient. This information will be used to assess the audit offer's potential peak demand reduction impact and kilowatt-hour reduction. In addition, insights gained through this promotion will help TVA and distributors develop additional products and programs to help Valley consumers become more energy efficient.

Residents may take the home energy audit online and learn more about energy-saving steps by visiting the tva.com Web Site or by requesting a paper copy of the audit from their local power distributor, or by calling 1-800-663-1835. Each kit includes a comprehensive “How to Save” brochure and two compact fluorescent light bulbs that use 75 percent less electricity and last 10 times longer than traditional light bulbs. The kit also includes:

*A filter whistle that sounds when the heating or cooling system filter is 80 percent clogged and needs to be changed

*Outlet and light switch gaskets – insulation to help stop drafts and save energy

*Faucet aerators (two) – water-saving filters that improve efficiency

*Hot water temperature card that measures temperature of hot tap water and indicates if thermostat adjustment is needed to save money and prevent water scalds

*Energy use thermometer gauge that helps check energy costs for heating and cooling. Each degree thermostats are set back eight hours a day can reduce heating bills by as much as 3 percent, and up to 5 percent on cooling bills.

TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financing.  TVA provides power to large industries and 159 power distributors that serve approximately 8.8 million consumers in seven southeastern states.  TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.