Contest Sponsor Planning
Meeting Agenda.
At the meeting, we will discuss:
Contest winner, finalist, and
consolation prize bundles to be awarded
Texas Co-op Power magazine
statewide promotional tie-ins
Timing for contest entries,
winner selection, and contest entrant follow-up
Sponsor roles and
responsibilities
Contest Goals
are to:
Demonstrate, in a dramatic
way, the measures that a homeowner could do that pay for
themselves through energy bill savings and create other
non-energy benefits like comfort, safety, and increased home
value.
Demonstrate the value of a
comprehensive, “whole house” approach to energy and
environmental savings
Model the collaborative
process of how electric cooperatives promote energy-saving
products/services installed by qualified, local, home
improvement contractors backed by regional and national
suppliers
Motivate homeowners to do
their own home energy makeover using local contractors to
achieve the type of energy results in the winning homes
Contest
Description The Texas Co-op
Power Home Energy Makeover Contest will be conducted throughout
Texas toenhance energy efficiency program awareness among
consumers in an innovative manner and immediately engage
participating contractors and sponsors. Plans
are for all statewide homeowners served by a Texas electric
cooperative to be eligible to enter, with perhaps four (4) winning
home selected to receive a “whole house” energy makeover package
valued at up to $10,000.
To implement
the contest, Texas Co-op Power magazine will partner with sponsoring
organizations to present a contest in which a home that can
demonstrate the greatest potential for home energy savings will be
awarded a prize package of energy-related home improvements.
The home improvement bundle will be determined based on an extensive
energy evaluation of the home and other criteria to be determined.
Consideration will be based on an analysis of the homeowners’ total
electric bill over the last 12 months, and other criteria such as
which homes would provide the best showcase of a complete,
cost-effective energy efficiency retrofit. Contest entry forms
and rules will be distributed online and through contest sponsors.
Why the Contest Works Anyone who has
watched the home makeover reality television shows knows what a
significant promotional opportunity this could be for those who
provide home improvement services and products. Similar Home
Energy Makeover Contests conducted in South Carolina, Oregon, Maine,
Colorado and California have proven to be an innovative way to
motivate home owners with higher-than-average home energy costs to
save by making the “right” home energy improvements. Unlike
other well-known contests, such as Publisher’s Clearinghouse, this
is not a random drawing. Rather, the Texas Co-op Power Home
Energy Makeover Contest will be based on building science and
homeowner efforts while leveraging the existing local cooperatives’
energy efficiency program infrastructure. For examples of past
efforts, see www.homeenergymakeover.org.
Home energy
prices are climbing, and some homeowners believe that there is
nothing to do but pay the bigger utility bills. However,
energy-related home improvements are a one-time cost that can save
homeowners money every month for as long as they own their homes.
These contests will serve to
create strong connections with the local media and sponsors and
emphasize the positive
cash flow nature of the energy retrofits when financing is used.
Who Should be a Contest Sponsor We are looking for
reputable companies and organizations to provide financial and
in-kind program support. Sponsor organizations may include:
Home improvement and
renewable energy product distributors and manufacturer
Home improvement service
providers
Home improvement/furnishing
retailers
Hybrid car dealerships and
other business promoting sustainable products and services
Non-profit civic and
community-based organizations
All types of
sponsor participation will be considered, but in particular, we are
looking for donations of: central space heating and air conditioning
systems; air sealing and insulation; water heating systems;
lighting; and appliances.
Contest Promotion Activities
Texas Co-op Power, the statewide magazine mailed to more than 1.2
million homes served by electric cooperatives, will aggressively
promote the contest entry period, and showcase the winning homes and
sponsor participation. Other activities mayinclude:
Advertising and editorial
coverage in the announcement issue (tentatively set for
January), the home makeover issue (tentatively set for August),
and other issues in 2010
Web site detailing contest
rules and status and showcasing winning home improvements
Email communications with
special offers to all contest entrants who opt-in
Television and newspaper
coverage that showcases improvements to winning homes
Open houses for community
leaders and media to showcase winning homes
Case studies on winning homes
that focuses on sponsors’ roles for unlimited distribution by
sponsor
Participation Levels Three tiers of
participation are available:
Gold-level Sponsor - $100,000. This top tier is reserved for
organizations that provide a financial and in-kind commitment in
return for consideration that may include:
Three
(3) full-color, full-page ads in Texas Co-op Power during 2010
Brand name product placement
featured in a 250-word editorial in magazine’s makeover issue
Preferential consideration in planning process
High-visibility role offered in all promotional activities
Organization logo, name and
web link prominent on contest web site, printed, and event
materials
Silver-level Sponsor - $75,000. This tier is reserved for
organizations that provide a financial and in-kind commitment in
return for consideration that may include:
Two
(2) full-color, full-page ads in Texas Co-op Power during 2010
Brand name product placement
in editorial coverage of magazine’s makeover issue
High-visibility role in all promotional activities
Organization logo, name and
weblink on contest web site, printed, and event materials
Bronze-level Sponsor - $50,000. This tier is for organizations
that provide a financial and in-kind commitment in return for
consideration that may include:
One
(1) full-color, full-page ads in Texas Co-op Power during 2010
Brand name product placement
in editorial coverage of magazine’s makeover issue
Advanced notification of program activities before the general
public
Organization name and link
(but not logo) on contest web site, printed, and event materials
How to Apply Texas Co-op Powerwelcomes you to propose the combination of financial and in-kind
sponsorship commitment that makes sense for you in return for the
benefits package offered . Proposals are considered on a
case-by-case basis. Please respond by Friday, December 4
to be considered for inclusion in the initial public announcement of
the Contest in the January magazine issue. If accepted,
you will receive a Memorandum of Understanding to be counter-signed
by your organization and Texas Co-op Power.
