March 16,2009 -

National Grid is continuing its Upstate New York Energy Efficiency Tour in support of the www.ThinkSmartThinkGreen.com energy efficiency campaign and website.

The clean, natural gas-fueled Honda Civic, wrapped with an image of Floe, National Grid’s award-winning, interactive virtual polar bear, is staffed by energy efficiency experts and features an interactive booth loaded with energy rebate forms, green giveaways and a variety of educational materials.

“The National Grid Energy Efficiency Tour and www.ThinkSmartThinkGreen.com are aimed at educating and assisting customers of all ages on ways they can use the power of action to lower their energy costs, shrink their carbon footprint and embrace a green lifestyle, especially in the cold winter months,” noted Susan M. Crossett, National Grid vice president of Energy Solutions Services, Upstate New York. “This tour is designed to be fun, interactive, educational and full of ways we can help our customers one-on-one in their own communities.”

The tour will begin at Lowe’s Home Improvement Store in Schenectady on March 18 and travel to a variety of locations including major shopping malls, community centers, universities, local Boys and Girls Clubs and several retail locations.

All community center events will be designed specifically for seniors, all Boys and Girls Club stops will cater to kids and all events at Lowe’s will specifically feature products that will enable customers to save money and become more energy efficient especially during the peak winter heating months.

Energy Efficiency Truck stops in the Greater Capital Region over the next few weeks will include:
• March 18, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Rotterdam Senior Center, 2639 Hamburg Street, Schenectady, NY
• March 18, 3 – 6 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady, 118 Henry Street, Schenectady, NY
• March 19, 10 a.m. – noon at Lowe’s, 422 Balltown Road, Schenectady, NY
• March 19, 2 – 4 p.m. at the Glens Falls Senior Community Center, 380 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY
• March 20, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the New York State High School Hoops Tournament at the Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY
• March 21, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. at the New York State High School Hoops Tournament at the Glens Falls Civic Center, Glens Falls, NY
• March 22, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Crossgates Mall, Albany, NY
• March 24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Ballston Spa School, 206 Greenfield Ave., Ballston Spa, NY
• March 25, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Lowe’s, 1482 Central Ave., Albany, NY
• March 26, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY
• March 26, 3 – 6 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club, 21 Delaware Ave., Albany, NY

For more information about the tour, visit: www.ThinkSmartThinkGreen.com.

Earlier this year National Grid introduced Floe, a virtual polar bear (nationalgrid.com/floe). Floe can help visitors analyze and measure the environmental effects of their routine daily activities, including eating, drinking, driving and making energy choices for the home. Visitors can interact with Floe or befriend another virtual polar bear and learn how positive environmental acts will help protect the environment.

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