Virginia Energy Sense Empowers Virginians to be Energy Superheroes this October in Recognition of National Energy Action Month

RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of National Energy Action Month, Virginia Energy Sense – the Commonwealth's statewide initiative encouraging energy efficiency and conservation in Virginia households, schools and businesses – is introducing five new Energy Superheroes who will be leading the fight to help residents across the state save energy and money.

The Power Squad of energy saving crusaders — Captain Caulker, The Incredible Insulator, The Powerful Programmer, The Champion Charger and The Audacious Auditor — were created to further Virginia Energy Sense's mission to inspire every resident that they too can become an everyday superhero by reducing their own energy use, and helping Virginia reach its goal to reduce electricity consumption by 10 percent. Saving energy will not only help homeowners and businesses save money, but will benefit Virginia's economy and natural resources.

To help Virginians become their own energy hero, Virginia Energy Sense has assembled "31 Tips for 31 Days" featuring a range of steps to make their homes more energy efficient and help others to "value your power."

Some of the many ways Virginians can get started with their own energy-saving mission:

• Take Virginia Energy Sense's online Home Energy Test to get started in discovering a home's energy-saving potential
• Enlist a professional to conduct an energy audit and identify energy waste in a home, especially in difficult-to-access areas like crawl spaces and attics
• Install foam gaskets behind electrical outlets and light switches to reduce air leaks
• Install and set a programmable thermostat to reduce or turn off heating and cooling when you're asleep or away from home
• Caulk and weatherstrip gaps, cracks and joints to reduce drafts and save on heating and cooling costs
• Regularly replace air filters on HVAC units or use a handy air filter whistle to be reminded when your filters are clogged
• Always unplug gadget and small appliance chargers from the wall that suck energy, even when not in use. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates 5-10 percent of residential electricity use goes toward powering appliances in standby power mode.

Throughout the month, Virginia Energy Sense will be participating in local events to share free educational resources and encourage residents to take the "10% Challenge" by pledging their commitment to save energy and help the Commonwealth reach its 10 percent reduction goal.

Virginia Energy Sense will be participating in the Governor's Conference on Energy in Richmond on October 15-17, and serving as a sponsor and presenter at the Cabell Brand Center's Sustainable Energy Workshop on October 18 in Roanoke. Virginians can also join Virginia Energy Sense at the 76th annual Virginia Gold Cup on October 19 in The Plains and at the Annandale Fall Festival on October 26.

In honor of Energy Action Month, Virginia Energy Sense is also pleased to announce its partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Building Residential Network, a new initiative to share best practices among energy efficiency programs across the country and help dramatically increase the number of energy efficient homes.

Virginia Energy Sense is also an ENERGY STAR partner, and has built its own partner program of more than 60 businesses, organizations and educational institutions helping to spread the importance of efficiency across the Commonwealth.

To learn more about Energy Action Month, find energy-saving resources and see how organizations can get involved in the program, visit the Virginia Energy Sense website.

About Virginia Energy Sense

Virginia Energy Sense is the Commonwealth's state-wide consumer education and outreach program under the guidance of the State Corporation Commission. It was created by the General Assembly to help Virginia residents understand how to save energy at home, work and school in support of the state's goal to reduce energy consumption by 10%. Virginia Energy Sense believes saving energy just makes good sense and encourages all Virginians to "value your power." The program provides tools and information to help consumers understand their energy bill and take action to reduce it. Consumers can turn to the Virginia Energy Sense website or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy, find ideas that "make sense" and explore financial incentives that "save cents."

SOURCE Virginia Energy Sense