This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Marty and Jessica Patch had always been energy conscious, but they became devoted to the cause when their family grew and they moved into an older home in the Yalecrest neighborhood of Salt Lake City.
The home hadn't been remodeled in more than 40 years, and the escalating power bills showed something needed to be done.
"A lot of that money sure leaks out the windows," Marty Patch said.
So the couple began a major remodel of their home with a focus on energy efficiency.
Their efforts paid off. The Patches are the winners of the Act Watt Smart video contest from Rocky Mountain Power, taking home the grand prize of $10,000 in store credit at Lowe's. The prize will help the Salt Lake City family make their home more energy efficient.
A new, 98 percent efficient heating and cooling unit went in upstairs, along with a new sprinkler system. Both use timers to stop watering the lawn or sensors to determine when to turn off the air conditioner.
The couple didn't stop there. While remodeling the attic into a bedroom, bathroom and play area, they sacrificed overhead space to add extra insulation and put in skylights to let in the sun. When the lights do need to come on, every bulb in the house will be energy efficient.
"It makes us feel good to try to live smart," Marty Patch said, adding that the couple feels responsibility to preserve the planet for their children, Graham, 3, and Penelope, 4 months, "to use resources wisely."
The Patches' video was chosen over more than 30 other entries because it showed what the family has done so far and what they plan to do with their prize, said Jeff Hymas of Rocky Mountain Power.
Jessica Patch is eager to use the prize money to purchase new energy-efficient appliances. Her 20-year-old dishwasher has broken three times in the past two months, and she hopes to get a new stove that has all of its burners working. A water-saving washer, dryer and new refrigerator will help save energy, though Marty is hoping to use some of the money to replace more of the home's old single-paned windows.
Rocky Mountain Power plans to make all the contest videos available online so consumers can find fun, informative ways to save power. View the Patches' video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEiWOn9Vqk0.
"As society becomes more digital and consumer demand for electricity continues to grow, our costs to provide safe and reliable service are going up," Hymas said. Rocky Mountain Power estimates participants in its energy-saving programs saved 218 million kilowatt hours of electricity in 2010.
Young families moving into older homes often don't have the money to completely renovate the homes at once, Jessica Patch said, which may be why her video did so well.
"Everyone loves a good 'before and after,' " she said. "We felt like other couples are probably going through the same struggle in trying to save energy."
Twitter: @Katie_Drake —
Get energy-saving tips for your home
The Act Watt Smart contest inspired more than 30 videos. The Patch family video, and all the other entries, can be seen online at wattsmart.com.