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Green Mountain Energy Company and Freedom Seal Join Forces to Create Texas' First Wind Powered Community
Green Mountain Energy Company and Freedom Seal Join Forces to Create Texas' First Wind Powered Community
Shadow Creek Ranch and Pearland will Become Models for Clean Air Communities
Houston, TX — January 21, 2005 — Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's leading retail provider of cleaner electricity, and Freedom Seal, the nation's first total home certification program focused on more energy efficient, healthier, environmentally friendly and technologically advanced standards, have joined forces to create the first wind-powered community in the state of Texas. The Shadow Creek master planned community is in Pearland, Texas and is located about fifteen minutes from downtown Houston
"What we've done here is create an opportunity for the community to do some good now and for future generations," said David Goswick, managing director of Freedom Seal. "All the homes in the master planned community consume thirty percent less energy than traditionally built homes, and now we are able to offer community residents wind energy that is totally reliable at an affordable rate. We selected Green Mountain Energy Company as our power partner based on their commitment and leadership in providing cleaner energy."
By signing up for Green Mountain Energy® electricity, a Pearland resident with average monthly electricity usage of 1,000 kilowatt-hours can help avoid nearly 18,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (C02) per year, equivalent to about 20,000 miles not driven in a year. This would be like taking nearly 2 cars off the road for an entire year to avoid the same amount of C02. Upon completion, Shadow Creek Ranch will have over 10,000 homes. Based on these figures, the potential yearly C02 emissions impact of Shadow Creek Ranch would be roughly equivalent to the removal of about 15,600 automobiles traveling nearly 200 million miles.
"We feel this partnership presents a very unique opportunity for us and for the residents of Shadow Creek Ranch," said Paul Thomas, president and CEO of Mountain Energy Company. "This community becomes a model for what can be done in Houston and across America."
The Pearland Shadow Creek Ranch Program
To help Pearland and Shadow Creek Ranch achieve its clean air mission, Green Mountain Energy Company and Freedom Seal have designed the 'save Watt' program for schools. Save Watt is a comprehensive education and community action program designed for students to learn more about choices that can be made to help reduce air pollution and encourage energy conservation — essentially, save watts. Additionally, the program allows schools to raise money for important projects.
The program has three basic components: a curriculum designed for students and adults to learn more about clean air solutions to educate the community; an activity component where students identify energy waste and savings opportunities in their home; and a fundraising component that provides community residents the opportunity to raise money for the school and the community by signing up for pollution-free electricity generated by the wind from Green Mountain Energy Company. The money raised may be used for school and community projects, books, and a nature center, to name a few. Green Mountain Energy Company and The Freedom Seal of Approval created the program in collaboration with the school and volunteer parents.
Goswick added, "These children are taking the challenge of helping reduce air pollution and conserving energy into their own hands. Wind electricity is a creative alternative that is now affordable and reliable."
"What better way to educate our future generations while at the same time doing something now for our community," said Tom Reid, mayor of Pearland. "Folks are making the right choice by purchasing a clean home, saving money, and helping the school achieve its fundraising goals. Everyone wins."
Texas led the nation in C02 emissions from coal-fired power plants in 2003 — accounting for more than 254 million tons of C02 emissions, similar to adding an additional 44 million cars to Texas roads. Many Texas power plants consistently rank among the ten worst in terms of C02 and other emissions that contribute to smog, acid rain, global warming and other adverse environmental consequences, based on 2003 data from the EPA.
About The Freedom Seal of Approval
The Freedom Seal of Approval Program is the first total home certification program in the United States that assists consumers make more informed home purchasing decisions. The Freedom Seal of Approval is awarded to homes that are more energy efficient, healthier, environmentally friendly, and offer advanced technology capabilities.
About Green Mountain Energy Company
Founded in 1997 to "change the way power is made", Green Mountain Energy Company offers residential, business, institutional and governmental customers the choice to support cleaner electricity generated from sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas. Due to Green Mountain Energy Company's efforts, about 600,000 customers nationwide are purchasing electricity that is significantly less polluting than typical system power. The company is based in Austin, Texas.
Green Mountain Energy® and the Green Mountain Energy logo are registered service marks of Green Mountain Energy Company. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Houston, TX — January 21, 2005 — Green Mountain Energy Company, the nation's leading retail provider of cleaner electricity, and Freedom Seal, the nation's first total home certification program focused on more energy efficient, healthier, environmentally friendly and technologically advanced standards, have joined forces to create the first wind-powered community in the state of Texas. The Shadow Creek master planned community is in Pearland, Texas and is located about fifteen minutes from downtown Houston
"What we've done here is create an opportunity for the community to do some good now and for future generations," said David Goswick, managing director of Freedom Seal. "All the homes in the master planned community consume thirty percent less energy than traditionally built homes, and now we are able to offer community residents wind energy that is totally reliable at an affordable rate. We selected Green Mountain Energy Company as our power partner based on their commitment and leadership in providing cleaner energy."
By signing up for Green Mountain Energy® electricity, a Pearland resident with average monthly electricity usage of 1,000 kilowatt-hours can help avoid nearly 18,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (C02) per year, equivalent to about 20,000 miles not driven in a year. This would be like taking nearly 2 cars off the road for an entire year to avoid the same amount of C02. Upon completion, Shadow Creek Ranch will have over 10,000 homes. Based on these figures, the potential yearly C02 emissions impact of Shadow Creek Ranch would be roughly equivalent to the removal of about 15,600 automobiles traveling nearly 200 million miles.
"We feel this partnership presents a very unique opportunity for us and for the residents of Shadow Creek Ranch," said Paul Thomas, president and CEO of Mountain Energy Company. "This community becomes a model for what can be done in Houston and across America."
The Pearland Shadow Creek Ranch Program
To help Pearland and Shadow Creek Ranch achieve its clean air mission, Green Mountain Energy Company and Freedom Seal have designed the 'save Watt' program for schools. Save Watt is a comprehensive education and community action program designed for students to learn more about choices that can be made to help reduce air pollution and encourage energy conservation — essentially, save watts. Additionally, the program allows schools to raise money for important projects.
The program has three basic components: a curriculum designed for students and adults to learn more about clean air solutions to educate the community; an activity component where students identify energy waste and savings opportunities in their home; and a fundraising component that provides community residents the opportunity to raise money for the school and the community by signing up for pollution-free electricity generated by the wind from Green Mountain Energy Company. The money raised may be used for school and community projects, books, and a nature center, to name a few. Green Mountain Energy Company and The Freedom Seal of Approval created the program in collaboration with the school and volunteer parents.
Goswick added, "These children are taking the challenge of helping reduce air pollution and conserving energy into their own hands. Wind electricity is a creative alternative that is now affordable and reliable."
"What better way to educate our future generations while at the same time doing something now for our community," said Tom Reid, mayor of Pearland. "Folks are making the right choice by purchasing a clean home, saving money, and helping the school achieve its fundraising goals. Everyone wins."
Texas led the nation in C02 emissions from coal-fired power plants in 2003 — accounting for more than 254 million tons of C02 emissions, similar to adding an additional 44 million cars to Texas roads. Many Texas power plants consistently rank among the ten worst in terms of C02 and other emissions that contribute to smog, acid rain, global warming and other adverse environmental consequences, based on 2003 data from the EPA.
About The Freedom Seal of Approval
The Freedom Seal of Approval Program is the first total home certification program in the United States that assists consumers make more informed home purchasing decisions. The Freedom Seal of Approval is awarded to homes that are more energy efficient, healthier, environmentally friendly, and offer advanced technology capabilities.
About Green Mountain Energy Company
Founded in 1997 to "change the way power is made", Green Mountain Energy Company offers residential, business, institutional and governmental customers the choice to support cleaner electricity generated from sources such as wind, solar, water, geothermal, biomass and natural gas. Due to Green Mountain Energy Company's efforts, about 600,000 customers nationwide are purchasing electricity that is significantly less polluting than typical system power. The company is based in Austin, Texas.
Green Mountain Energy® and the Green Mountain Energy logo are registered service marks of Green Mountain Energy Company. All other names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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