National Grid and CBS Radio Team-up with Bruins Defenseman Andrew Ference to Promote Energy Efficiency

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bruins Defenseman Andrew Ference may be all about the black and gold when he’s on the ice, but off the ice he is all about living a green life. That’s why he is partnering with National Grid and CBS Radio to promote energy efficiency to residents and schools in Massachusetts and Rhode Island through an interactive contest. National Grid residential customers will have the opportunity to win tickets to a home game and/or be awarded energy efficiency grants to use toward making their home more energy efficient. In addition, grammar and middle schools in National Grid’s service area can enter to win grants toward making their school more energy efficient, as well as a grand prize that includes a visit to their school by Andrew Ference.

“I grew up surrounded by people who cared about environmental issues and over time, those issues became important to me as well”

“One of our main priorities at National Grid is to practice and promote environmental responsibility, and that includes working with customers on how they can use energy efficiency programs to save money and help protect our planet,” said Edward White, vice president, Customer and Business Strategy. “Andrew is not only a Stanley Cup Champion, he’s a firm believer in sustainable living and practices what he preaches. Partnering with Andrew to help promote energy efficiency with our customers is a no-brainer and we’re thrilled to have him as part of the team.”

The contest is open to all National Grid electric and gas residential customers – as well as schools (K- 8) in the National Grid service territory in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Multiple levels of participation include:

Eight drawings for tickets to a home game. To be entered into the drawings for Bruins tickets, customers should “like” National Grid on Facebook and fill out a short entry form. (www.facebook.com/nationalgridMA or www.facebook.com/nationalgridRI) Winners will be randomly selected beginning March 12, 2013 through the end of the regular season. Ticket winners will also have the opportunity to meet Andrew Ference after the game.
Energy Efficiency Grants. Residential customers can enter to win grants to be used toward implementing energy efficiency measures in their homes. To be eligible, customers must schedule a no-cost in-home energy assessment with National Grid between March 6 and April 15, 2013. Seven Massachusetts and seven Rhode Island customers will receive a 2^nd place prize of $2,500 to use towards energy efficiency; three Massachusetts and three Rhode Island customers will receive a 1^st place prize of $5,000 to use towards energy efficiency; and one Massachusetts and one Rhode Island customer will win the grand prize of $7,500 to use towards energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency Grants for Schools and visit by Andrew Ference. Schools in National Grid’s service territory across Massachusetts and Rhode Island can enter to win $1,000 grants, as well as the grand prize of the $2,500 grant plus a visit by Andrew Ference. During his visit Andrew will talk to students about how he lives an eco-friendly life at home and on the road, and what students can do to be more eco-friendly. To enter, schools must demonstrate how their school could become more energy efficient by using pictures, videos, drawings or another form of media. Submissions should be sent to: Brand Team, National Grid, 40 Sylvan Road, Waltham, MA 02451.

“I grew up surrounded by people who cared about environmental issues and over time, those issues became important to me as well,” said Andrew Ference. “If I can use my voice as a hockey player and use the exposure we get on a public stage to bring more attention to living green then I’m going to do it. I want to continue to inspire others to care about the planet and this contest is a great way of doing that.”

Heavily influenced by renowned Canadian conservationist Dr. David Suzuki, Ference introduced the Carbon Neutral Challenge to his teammates while playing with the Calgary Flames, and then later to other teams throughout the NHL. Players could voluntarily sign up to purchase ‘carbon offset credits,’ in effect subtracting from carbon emissions through helping finance clean energy initiatives like solar, wind and bio-fuel projects. Based on Ference’s efforts, more than 500 NHL players have voluntarily signed up for the Challenge.

About National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it ‘joins everything up.’ In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.