Pretty quiet here lately, so hopefully this is a good time to ask for some help!

I don't have a 'pixie dust' question, but I could use some help on suggestions for 'give aways' at a speech I'm going to be delivering next week.

Next week I'll be speaking on how to cut energy costs quickly to a large audience at a large corporation's headquarters here in North Dallas.  Today I learned that they want to raffle off some items (at the company's expense) as part of my speech to further stimulate attendance.

My question to all of you is, particularly those of you with (residential) customers out in the field, what would be particularly attractive as raffled off 'give aways?'

A couple my initial ideas / questions include:

1. Smart / programmable thermostat - anything really 'hot' these days that doesn't require professional installation?  NEST that has Internet interface?

2. Kill-A-Watt (power measuring plug in device) units?

3. Something else?

Would really appreciate hearing some ideas.

Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill

Approximate price range?

3. Something else?

A home energy audit.

How bout a wel enrgy logger, could be hooked up to stream data on how in-efffecient a persons current hvac set up may be. I have often thought if you could show someone what they pay per day to heat and cool their homes as a sales tool, it would be effective.
Eric

Kill-a-Watt for sure - amazingly helpful little gizmo - I routinely assign their use as "homework" for deep energy audit customers with time on their hands, such as retirees.

NEST may be pushing it for the average DIY-er. I've done one, and it is a truly amazing device, but dealing with short stiff skinny thermostat wires whose individual function varies by house and HVAC system type is quite a bit to ask of the typical homeowner in my AO.

A truly high quality deep energy audit by an impartial expert (not someone hawking one or more particular miracle energy doo-dads) could be a grand prize. A good one includes:

1) Energy bill analysis - look at at least 1 year's bills to approximate total annual cost of HVAC separated from everything else. Don't forget gas, oil, propane deliveries.

2) Blower door whole house air leak test

3) Room by room heating and cooling load calculation, incorporating blower door test result, compare design to installed tonnage / btuh

4) Room by room airflow measurement and a table comparing measured vs calculated - nearly always dovetails with room comfort complaints.

5) If ducts outside conditioned envelope, DuctBlaster duct leakage testing

6) Evaluate present water heating system, advise alternatives based on energy conservation and ROI

7) Same for pool pump(s), if applicable - huge reductions (75-90%) available from variable speed replacements

8) Lighting - any incandescent lamp burned more than a few minutes per day is a candidate for replacement with CFL or LED

9) Laundry - top load washers consume way more water and fail to wring clothes nearly as dry as fromt loaders. Ensure dryer has moisture sensor

10) Refrigeration - count up total number. Beware old fridges in garage, energy hogging wine coolers, bar / dorm fridges, bottled water coolers. Side-by-sides with through door ice or water often consume double that of a top freezer

A manometer so someone can do a room by room analysis of pressure and balance it such that they aren't causing in/exfiltration. OK, maybe too esoteric.

Perhaps a TED® Home Energy Monitor.

HVAC maintenence (fall furnace or spring AC check-up) is something we usually give for fundraisers. It costs me little and nets me a new customer.

How bout some nice LED type A bulbs. Nice price for a givaway item and easily used by all. I like the design of that new one sold at best buy.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia%26%23153%3B+-+800-Lumen%2C+13-Watt+Dimmable+LED+Light+Bulb%2C+60-Watt+Equivalent+-+Warm+White/6238358.p;jsessionid=663E48484CEFC3463AC02FC3A1B3F4B5.bbolsp-app02-158?id=1218725181682&skuId=6238358

Much appreciated the suggestions.  Wanted to follow up here.  Speech went well.  Thinking about the suggestions, and being aware of my clients budget, I gave away a Honeywell tstat that has Internet access to it.  Nest tstat was too expensive for my clienta's budget. 

Many thanks!

Best regards,

Bill