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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE </span></b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>February 19<sup>th</sup>, 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>CONTACT: Chuck Wilson<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>PHONE: 202-280-8123</span></b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>CITY OF HYATTSVILLE TO HOST COMMUNITY ENERGY FAIR</span></b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The City of Hyattsville is hosting a <b>Community Energy Fair on Wednesday, February 27</b></span><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>th </span></b><b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>from 7:00 – 9:00 PM </span></b><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>in the first floor multi-purpose room <b>at Hyattsville City Hall</b>, 4310 Gallatin Street. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>The Fair is open to everyone who wants to learn how to lower their utility bills and make their homes more comfortable through energy efficiency. The Fair is also an opportunity for residents of Hyattsville, College Heights Estates, Riverdale Park and University Park to learn more about the <i>Small Town Energy Program </i>(STEP). STEP has been running in these communities since July, 2012. Since then, almost 400 homes have signed up to participate in the program, nearly 100 of them from Hyattsville. STEP concludes in July, 2013. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>At the Fair, residents can speak with neighbors who are currently STEP participants, learn from expert home efficiency contractors, and meet the STEP team. Residents can also learn how STEP can help them access thousands of dollars in rebates to make their home more efficient. Attendees living in one of the participating STEP communities may also enter a drawing for a chance to win $500 in home energy efficiency improvements (some conditions apply)! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>Funded by the US Dept. of Energy, the goal of STEP is to make it easy and affordable for residents in Hyattsville and the other participating communities to lower their energy bills through home energy efficiency improvements. STEP helps residents access rebates ranging from <b>$400 - $4,650 </b>to fund recommended efficiency improvements. One of the most innovative benefits of STEP is free support from Energy Coach Suzanne Parmet. Suzanne makes the energy evaluation and improvement process easy, working with homeowners to answer questions, guide them through every step of the program, and ensure that they receive every financial incentive available. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:11.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:black'>More information is available at <b><a href="http://www.smalltownenergy.org">www.smalltownenergy.org</a></b>, or contact STEP Energy Coach Suzanne Parmet at <b>(240) 695-3991 </b>or <b><a href="mailto:energycoach@smalltownenergy.org">energycoach@smalltownenergy.org</a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:11.5pt'>###</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>