Peggy and Chris Biga

Alabama Power helped improve the energy efficiency of a 1927 house as part of the My Green Birmingham promotion presented by the company.

Giveaway winners Peggy and Chris Biga of Crestwood received green updates to their home from Alabama Power and eight other companies, including a new heat pump, programmable thermostat and controlled lighting.

Alabama Power replaced the old water heater in the Biga’s house with a more efficient GeoSpring hybrid unit donated by GE, said Jill Sills, of Residential Marketing. The innovative technology uses ambient heat from the surrounding air to heat the water inside the tank.

Jill Sills

“Energy Star products such as this provide a more comfortable and affordable home,” Sills said. “Selecting energy-efficient products will help any homeowner save money and energy.”

The Biga family’s winning entry said they moved to Birmingham in August 2012 with hopes of making their home as sustainable and energy efficient as possible. “We plan on making incremental changes over several years, but winning the Green Home Giveaway would speed up this process,” they wrote. “Our home could serve as a model for future green renovations in the neighborhood!”

The Biga house was built by brick mason William Malcolm, whose brickwork can be seen in the porch archways and fireplace.