Cobb Marine Vet, Wife Given Home Energy Efficiency Makeover

MARIETTA, GA -- Cobb EMC in partnership with Gas South and the Cobb Heating and Air Association gave a Cobb EMC member a Home Energy Efficiency Makeover at a ribbon cutting event held Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

The makeover winners, Wes and Shannon Pilgrim, of Marietta, were nominated by their neighbors Bill and Tracey Phillips and ultimately selected from more than 40 nominations. The Phillips attended the ribbon cutting for the Pilgrims along with Cobb EMC President and CEO Chip Nelson, Gas South Senior Brand Manager Kim Callaway and Cobb Heating and Air Association members Barry Abernathy, Richard Eppers, Dennis McKeon Sr. and Michael Cumbie.

“Wes is the type of guy who would cut everyone’s grass in the neighborhood – he’d do anything to help,” said Bill Phillips. “His character is phenomenal, and he truly deserves this. We jumped at the opportunity to nominate our neighbors and are so excited they were selected.”

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The Pilgrims received new energy-efficient appliances, a bill credit from Cobb EMC, two years of free natural gas service from Gas South, and a new HVAC unit, water heater, insulation and duct work from Cobb Heating and Air Association members. The total financial worth of the makeover is valued at approximately $20K.

“We’re blessed to have wonderful neighbors like Bill and Tracey. The generosity that they have shown us is unbelievable,” Wes Pilgrim said. “I’m at a loss for words. We appreciate everything everyone has done, and I can’t imagine a better day.”

The Home Energy Efficiency Makeover serves to increase awareness on how energy efficiency can lower energy consumption,.

“In our first year, we received dozens of applications and visited the finalist homes. We wish we could have helped all of them. We selected the Pilgrims based on their home improvement needs, their personal story, Mr. Pilgrim’s service to our country and the positive impact we believed the makeover would have on their life,” said Kevan Espy, vice president of marketing and communications at Cobb EMC.

Image: Neighbors Bill and Tracey Phillips, Cobb EMC President and CEO Chip Nelson, Winners Wes and Shannon Pilgrim, Gas South Senior Brand Manager Kim Callaway and Cobb Heating and Air Association members Barry Abernathy, Richard Eppers, Dennis McKeon Sr. and Michael Cumbie