Virginia Businesses, Organizations Partner With Virginia Energy Sense to Help Encourage Public to 'Value Your Power'

Washington Redskins Star DeAngelo Hall Records Ad for Campaign

RICHMOND, Va., June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A growing group of leading companies and organizations from across Virginia and Washington Redskins Pro Bowl cornerback DeAngelo Hall have joined Virginia Energy Sense as partners to help consumers save energy and use electricity more efficiently.

More than 30 organizations have stepped up to partner with Virginia Energy Sense, the Commonwealth's education and outreach program under the guidance of the State Corporation Commission (SCC). The partners — which include major corporations, business associations and nonprofit groups — will expand Virginia Energy Sense's reach by encouraging their employees and members to save energy.

Partners will distribute tips and information to enable their organizations and families to "value your power." They will also work on an ongoing basis with Virginia Energy Sense to share the ways they have been successful saving energy, so that others can learn best practices.  

The full list of partners is available on the Virginia Energy Sense website.

"We're grateful to these businesses, organizations and individuals for stepping up to help more Virginians understand why saving energy is important and how they can take action," said Ken Schrad, Director of the Division of Information Resources at the SCC. "We also applaud their leadership on energy efficiency, and we're hopeful it will encourage others to serve as an example of using power more efficiently."

In addition, DeAngelo Hall, a Virginia native and Virginia Tech alumnus, has signed on as a spokesman for the program. Public service announcements featuring the NFL star are airing on radio stations in every region of the state.  

Hall is sharing with fans, friends and teammates some of the simple steps everyone can take to conserve energy. He recently dedicated his Twitter account (@DHall23) to Virginia Energy Sense (@VaEnergySense) to share tips and get his 50,000 followers involved in the effort.

The SCC launched Virginia Energy Sense last year. Virginians continue to take advantage of Virginia Energy Sense's free online Energy Tracking Tool powered by Earth Aid, which enables users to learn about their electricity use over any period of time and see how their consumption stacks up against their friends and neighbors. When users save energy, they earn points that add up to rewards redeemable at retailers across the state.

Virginians can also take part in the program by:

• Following Virginia Energy Sense on Twitter (@VAEnergySense)
• "Liking" the Virginia Energy Sense Facebook page (www.facebook.com/virginiaenergysense)
• Joining the energy discussion on the Tumblr blog (http://virginiaenergysense.tumblr.com/)
• Sharing energy efficiency successes through Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr
• Encouraging their employer to sign on as a Virginia Energy Sense partner  

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 (SCC). The program will encourage electric energy efficiency and conservation in Virginia households, businesses and institutions. The General Assembly directed the SCC to develop and implement an energy consumer education program for retail customers to provide information regarding energy use, production, conservation and energy efficiency. The Virginia Energy Sense campaign was created to meet that goal.

Our Partners  (35 as of June 20)

SOURCE Virginia Energy Sense