(Lawrenceville, Ga., September 3, 2009)— The latest Gwinnett Habitat House is a series of firsts--the first rehab project in Lawrenceville, the first in Ga. to get a geothermal heat pump and the first to bear the Right Choice ENERGY STAR® certification.

“We partnered with several vendors offering high-quality energy efficient technologies to help a family of five save on their energy bills. We wanted their hard-earned dollars to go toward the important things like caring for their family and furnishing their home, and wasting energy dollars shouldn’t be part of that equation,” says Amy Bryan, Jackson EMC Residential Marketing Director. In addition to energy savings, the Habitat home will meet the handicapped needs of two of the children.

Jackson EMC partnered with Gwinnett Technical College and R.E. Michel Company, Inc. for the geothermal heat pump installation. Geothermal or ground source heat pumps are considered to be one of the most energy efficient heating and cooling water heating systems according to the Department of Energy. Geothermal heat pumps are similar to regular heat pumps only they rely on the constant temperatures of the earth in their exchange systems rather than outside air to provide heating, air conditioning and water heating.

Meredith Williams, Jackson EMC Residential Marketing representative, led the project team to secure materials, service, funding and volunteers. “The geothermal heat pump and Right Choice ENERGY STAR qualification will help the homeowner manage electricity consumption. They’ll also receive Jackson EMC’s lowest residential rate, the Energy Advantage Rate, for being Right Choice certified. Jackson EMC is proud to offer programs certifying comfortable, energy efficient homes.”

To earn the ENERGY STAR, a home must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These homes are at least 15 percent more efficient than homes built to local code, and include additional energy-saving features that typically make them 20-30 percent more efficient than standard homes.

“Jackson EMC’s Right Choice new home program has been ENERGY STAR qualified for more than two years now, and it has been an outstanding partnership,” says Bryan. “The ENERGY STAR brand assures our members that their home will be comfortable and provide them with energy savings for the life of the home.” Jackson EMC is also providing product and service support to two more Habitat homes to ensure they receive the ENERGY STAR qualification, the Habitat High and Women’s Build projects in Hall County. “Our commitment to Habitat for Humanity allows us to use our extensive contractor network and experience to ensure these homes are built to high energy efficiency and performance standards.”

Jackson EMC’s ENERGY STAR program focuses on using home performance testing to create energy efficient homes that guarantee higher levels of comfort and lower energy costs. In addition to ensuring efficiency and comfort, Jackson EMC employees also volunteered on the demolition team, tearing out sheetrock, insulation and shingles to prep the home for its energy efficient retrofit.

12Stone™ Church served as the sole financial sponsor of this Habitat home. “We are glad to give our time and resources to make life a little better for this deserving family,” says Norwood Davis, 12Stone’s chief financial officer. Jackson EMC was proud to have the opportunity to be part of this worthy project. “Serving the communities where we live and work is part of the cooperative way, and we’re honored to work alongside organizations in our community to make a difference,” says Roger Willis, Jackson EMC Gwinnett district manager.

12Stone Church has two Gwinnett locations serving more than 8,100 adults and children weekly and plans to open a third campus in Flowery Branch this fall. 12Stone partners with more than a dozen local non-profit agencies to offer hope and help to those in need in the community.

Jackson EMC is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative that provides power and related services, such as energy efficient products and security services, to more than 204,000 meters in 10 Northeast Georgia counties.  For more information about Jackson EMC, visit www.jacksonemc.com.

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