SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Western Massachusetts Electricity Company (WMECo) today announced an effort to help "Echo Boomers" -- those born between 1982 and 1995 -- reduce their energy use. WMECo is funding a pilot program with a state-of-the-art web platform, developed in partnership with SmartPower and Efficiency 2.0 to encourage energy efficiency by showing how making small changes can lead to big savings. By visiting www.WesternMassSaves.com, participants will be led to energy reducing sites customized to their age group, encouraging young adults to contribute to the burgeoning interest nationwide in reducing our carbon footprint and improving the environment.

Using algorithms developed over many years with help from the U.S. Department of Energy, Yale University researchers and others, Western Mass Saves can immediately calculate precisely how much savings -- in dollars and in CO2 -- a person can achieve by making simple changes to their daily habits. For example, by drying clothes on a rack twice a week instead of in a clothes dryer, a person could save $30 and 192 pounds of CO2 per year.

"This is an extraordinary, first-of-its-kind opportunity for our company to reach out and empower young people to make a positive change," said John Walsh, Senior Project Administrator with WMECo. "We hope that moving our messages online will reach a new user, and will help the younger generation get accustomed to energy efficiency so it comes naturally to them when they become homeowners and larger consumers."

SmartPower Vice President Jonathan Edwards said, "This is another way SmartPower is using our experience in community marketing to get folks on board with the renewable energy movement in America. The more we make energy saving a regular part of people's lives, the more it will be commonplace in every town and every home, leading to massive energy savings for consumers and a cleaner environment."

WMECo and SmartPower have also called on the help of local environmental groups to promote WesternMassSaves.com and the energy saving features it offers. Curtis Fisher, Northeast Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation, was enthusiastic about the WMECo and SmartPower pilot program. "We think it's great to get younger people involved, because they care about the environment so much. We just need to help them connect the dots, like turning off their computer at night as a practical way to help reduce energy and pollution."

As an added benefit to the project, college students throughout Western Mass can compete with other colleges across the country to reduce personal energy use. High school students will also be able to create their own virtual world, while homeowners, renters and their families can decide how much they want to reduce their monthly utility bill and learn how to achieve those savings.

Western Massachusetts Electric Company, part of the Northeast Utilities System (NYSE: NU), serves approximately 200,000 customers in 59 communities throughout western Massachusetts and is committed to the environment, economic development and the health of the communities it serves. For more information about WMECo, visit www.wmeco.com.

SOURCE Western Massachusetts Electric Company