Beech Island family wins free energy upgrade 10/13/2009 7:18 PM
By MIKE GELLATLY Staff writer
A Beech Island family got a nice surprise, along with a strange visitor, on Monday.
The Runyon family of Beech Island was visited by well-wishers and an oversized lightbulb as they were congratulated as winners of the Help My House energy makeover contest sponsored by the Aiken Electric Cooperative and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina.
"I'm just really surprised," Fred Runyon said.
The group was composed of elected officials and representatives from Lennox Heating and Cooling, the Electric Cooperatives and their mascot - a 7-foot, low-energy lightbulb.
The group was there to inform the Runyons that they are the recipients of a prize of up to $10,000 in energy-efficiency upgrades.
More than 400 families from around Aiken County and more than 4,000 families statewide entered the contest, according to the cooperatives.
"I've entered contests before but never won anything," Runyon said. "We've been paying the bill just to stay warm, but this is going to give us some help."
Fred and Jane Runyon live in the home with their three grandchildren.
Jane entered the contest through a local magazine in hope of helping out with the family's bills, she said.
Fred Runyon said it was his hope that the family could begin recouping the savings in time for Christmas.
The family's heating bill has been around $300 in the winter months, which could be cut in half by these upgrades.
Jay Matkovich, territory manager for Lennox, said the home would be fitted with a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit within the next month.
Bill Inman, vice president of Strategic Services for the Co-op, said families in Rock Hill, Bluffton, Woodruff, St. George, St. Matthews and Little River have also been awarded as part of the competition.
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