Ad glitch: Governor tries to be hip, ends up too cool
In promo to save energy, he moves temp wrong way
By Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 31, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
A portion of a TV commercial that shows Gov. Bill Ritter demonstrating how to be more energy efficient was reshot Wednesday.
That's because it featured Ritter using energy - not saving it.
The commercial opens with Ritter saying, "Saving energy at home is simple."
He is seen turning down the Governor's Mansion thermostat from 72 degrees to 68 degrees. But the commercial was shot in the summer, when turning down the thermostat would result in the air conditioning kicking on and using more energy.
That portion of the commercial was intended to push the use of programmable thermostats, which can save consumers $150 a year, said Tom Plant, director of the Governor's Energy Office.
"They save a ton of energy because you don't end up leaving the heat on or the air conditioning on all day," he said.
The commercial's theme was "Turn it down, unplug it, turn it off" - catchy, Plant said, but it didn't take into account that saving energy in the summer means turning up thermostats.
Besides turning down the thermostat, Ritter also unplugs a computer and turns off a light.
The altered commercial still features Ritter at the thermostat, but now he says, "Turn it up in the summer, turn it down in the winter."
The commercial has been airing on TV stations for a month.
One-third of the $150,000 campaign was paid for by the federal government and state taxpayers picked up the other two-thirds, Plant said.
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July 31, 2008
6:41 a.m.
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danirobi writes:
bahahahaha!!!!!
July 31, 2008
6:53 a.m.
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VVVV writes:
I gots these things called boogers. Could Guvner Ritter please learn me good how to gets rid of dem.
July 31, 2008
7:13 a.m.
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LingLingfor_prez writes:
Our politicians at their best, what a clown!
July 31, 2008
8:08 a.m.
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cooperjtd writes:
Dare we? dare we? o.k. I can't resist... what exactly is the fraud cause there Gene? (As if we don't already know what he will say)
July 31, 2008
8:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
HopiMedicineMan writes:
We bought one of those new trailers that reduces the aggregate volume of air by lowering the ceiling to just three feet off the floor. We were able to save a ton on energy costs. We've asked Al Gore to invent a knee pad with wheels. So far, no response; typical.
July 31, 2008
8:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
temurlan writes:
Not being able to be at the tempurature I want: Check
Not being able to eat as much as I want: Coming soon
Not being able to drive an SUV even though I live on a mountain: Coming soon
July 31, 2008
9:33 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
steel........ that's froward for you. Governor Owens couldn't stop Public Service of Colorado from selling out to XCEL. Only the federal regulators could, and they didn't. Public Service also didn't "own" all the natural gas in Colorado, and if the owners of those natural gas supplies decided to open it up to sell to other states, that's their choice in a free market society. froward will blindly blame any Republican for all of society's ills. It's scary to think deluded people like that actually have a vote.
July 31, 2008
9:38 a.m.
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timeandagain writes:
I happened to see that commercial last night. I didn't notice the mistake, but I simply could NOT get over what a complete GEEK Bill Ritter is... He is a shocking dimwit and I kept wondering how this state elected him.
As far as the mistake goes, that is typical of his administration since taking office. No surprise there.
Bill Ritter = Jimmy Carter.
July 31, 2008
10:33 a.m.
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tjpatriot writes:
So, Ritter is living in a 5000 (or whatever) sq. ft. Governors Mansion, and he's telling me to turn off a light or unplug my laptop? Reminds me of when I was in Russia, and almost got run over by a speeding line of three black cars with blue lights on top. "who the he.ll was that?". "Oh, that was some Government Officials, you have to get out of their way because they are doing the "Peoples" business."
In this country we have a word for people like you Ritter -- HYPOCRITE.
Why don't you try getting out of the effing way of the development of cheap, clean energy resources. It's called "Natural Gas", and we have plenty of it right here in western Colorado. It would help EVERYBODY's utility bills, but I guess you're too busy "Saving the Planet".
When's brunch with Al Gore? Perhaps you could jet over to his Tennessee mansion.
July 31, 2008
11:57 a.m.
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raysmom writes:
So they are spending tax $$$'s on "informing" citizens of the obvious, as Gene says, while wasting years of environmental impact studies & $$$$ spent on them, to stop drilling for natural gas on the Roan. At the same time, it was published in today's RMN that heating your house will cost at least 20% more this year. Ritter is also backing more taxation to help people struggling financially to pay their utility bills. Does anyone else see a pattern here?
July 31, 2008
1:39 p.m.
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FCZ writes:
Ritter saying, "Saving energy at home is simple."
He is seen turning down the Governor's Mansion thermostat from 72 degrees to 68 degrees.
But the commercial was shot in the summer, when turning down the thermostat would result in the air conditioning kicking on and using more energy.
August 5, 2008
4:11 p.m.
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coarizona writes:
I grab the gag bag when I see those 2 clowns jumping on their bikes and giving each other the team hand slap at the end of their public service ad. Yeah, sure. I made a big voting mistake last election. Hope I learned my lesson about voting for people with a agenda that does not serve the best interest of the taxpayers of Colorado.