Thousands in Illinois receive $1 million in total rebates, take advantage of educational tools to make energy consumption more efficient and affordable

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- With the winter heating season just around the corner, Nicor Gas customers are taking advantage of a new program providing financial rebates for the purchase of energy-saving heating appliances. Nicor announced today it has already issued $1 million in rebates under its Energy Efficiency Program — which gives residential and business customers the opportunity to "go green and save green" at the same time.

By installing qualifying natural gas-saving products, including water heaters, furnaces and boilers through the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, residential and business customers are receiving financial rebates and reducing their natural gas consumption while lowering their energy bills and their greenhouse gas emissions.

"The Energy Efficiency Program is not just about helping customers save money on new energy efficient equipment," said Kevin Kirby, Vice President of Customer Care at Nicor Gas. "This holistic program is about educating our customers on the benefits of energy efficiency and its positive impact on the environment and their wallets. The initial success of this program demonstrates that our customers appreciate the opportunity to save money and decrease their carbon footprint."

The Energy Efficiency Program runs through May 31, 2011 and is designed to help customers in the Nicor Gas service territory save energy and money through energy education, resources and financial rebates on qualifying energy efficient natural gas equipment. Single-family homes and multi-family homes served on Rate 1 and businesses served on Rates 4 and 74 are eligible for rebates.

In an effort to ensure that the transition to new energy efficient equipment is affordable, contractors can offer their customers an Instant Discount option on their equipment purchases. With the Instant Discount, the contractor gives customers the credit for the amount of the eligible rebate at the time of purchase, reducing up-front, out-of-pocket costs.

According to ENERGY STAR, a government-backed program helping businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency, the average American home spends $2,200 per year on energy costs, including space heating and water heating. A study conducted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that in Midwestern states like Illinois, space heating accounts for 54 percent and water heating accounts for 18 percent of an average home's total energy use.

"The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program was an obvious win-win opportunity for my family," said Naperville resident Paul O'Neill. "This program not only provided a rebate on my new furnace, but also educated me on things I can do to conserve energy."

Additionally, if the energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings improved by just 10 percent, customers would save $20 billion on energy bills, while the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be equivalent to removing approximately 30 million vehicles from the road, according to ENERGY STAR.

Allstate Insurance, the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, sought to optimize energy use at its Northbrook headquarters by replacing a traditional boiler with three new energy efficient boilers through the Energy Efficiency Program.

"Allstate is committed to being a good environmental steward and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible," said Keith Knapp, AIA, LEED AP, director of design and construction at Allstate.  "Our participation in the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program allows us to minimize the impact of our carbon footprint on the environment and to improve the sustainability of our Home Office campus."

For more information on the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, please visit www.nicorgasrebates.com.

Buck