Powerful Living
2014 GoGoGeo
Challenge concludes with presentation of grand prizes
GoGoGeo Challenge sponsor representatives from ClimateMaster, Bosch and IGSHPA are shown with the three grand prize winners during a recent luncheon in Oklahoma City. Grand Prize winners included James Midgley of Lawton, fi rst (middle, left); Freida Smith of Lindsay, second (middle); and William Monday and daughter McKayla of Ft. Supply, Okla., third (left). Courtesy photo
By Sondra Boykin, WFEC T
he 2014 GoGoGeo Challenge concluded recently with the top prize winners being recognized during an awards luncheon, hosted at the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives in Oklahoma City. Sponsors, along with cooperative representa- tives, were on hand for the event and offered their comments regarding the 10-month GoGoGeo Challenge. The GoGoGeo Challenge was created by Touchstone Energy®
Cooperatives, and sponsored by Bosch, ClimateMaster and the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). The 2014 Challenge had a goal of providing geothermal information to a wide range of audiences through a brief survey at numerous events throughout the state, such as cooperative annual meetings and county and state fairs. When taking the Challenge, homeowners were asked a series of questions
regarding their home. A cooperative or industry representative then entered this information into a software program designed to estimate the possible savings of retrofi tting a home with geothermal technology. A brief savings summary, in addition to any tax credits and other incentives offered by each respective electric cooperative, was then provided to the participant at that time.
Upon completing the survey, participants were then eligible to enter a sweepstakes drawing for three grand prizes, sponsored by the House of Kawasaki. A Yukon cooler/locker was also given away in a drawing at each regional venue in which the survey was given.
Grand prize winners included James Midgley of Lawton, who took home the grand prize, a Kawasaki Teryx™ 750 FI 4x4 utility terrain vehicle; Freida Smith of Lindsay, who won the second place prize of a Kawasaki Mule™ 610 4x4 utility terrain vehicle; and William Monday of Ft. Supply, who received a Kawasaki Brute Force® 300 all-terrain vehicle, as the third place winner. In presenting the awards, Mark Faulkenberry, senior manager - member relations, at Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC), noted that an increase in awareness of the benefi ts of geothermal technology would likely
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lead to additional installations. The costs associated with heating and cooling a home make up the largest portion of an electric bill, commented Faulkenberry, noting in particular the savings that would be possible with geothermal technology. “Geothermal lowers power usage, which in turn, lowers the overall cost of
power for the homeowner. It also offers a long-term solution for power pro- viders (such as WFEC), as less electricity is used, helping delay any immedi- ate need for the addition of costly generation plants. Everyone wins,” he said. Jack DiEnna of Bosch, explained that the GoGoGeo Challenge is just one example of how the future end-user can learn more about using this technology. Titian Burris of ClimateMaster, pointed out that education is key—on a really broad scale. “This type of promotion has the potential to change the entire industry,” he added. “We have tried this type of program with other utilities, but it didn’t have the success of the one with Western Farmers.” Bob Ingersoll, IGSHPA director, also addressed the audience regarding the GoGoGeo Challenge and the awareness it has created with geothermal tech- nology. IGSHPA is a member-driven organization established to advance ground source heat pump (GSHP) technology on local, state, national and international levels.
As for the three winners, who currently all have heat pumps in their homes, the contest did increase their awareness of the potential savings of geothermal technology, with the possibility of a future installation. Midgley knew very little about geothermal before taking the survey at
Cotton Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting. The Challenge provided him valuable insight into the use of this technology. He noted that he might possibly consider a geothermal installation in the future, based on the po- tential savings. Smith, who fi lled out a survey at Rural Electric Cooperative’s annual meet- ing, indicated that she too was not familiar with geothermal technology, but did take note of the possible savings that could be attained. William Monday and his daughter, McKayla, made the trip to Oklahoma
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