That was right around the time he discovered How$martKY, a collaborative program designed to encourage better energy efficiency in Kentucky homes. Since starting with How$mart, Blair has hired three new people to keep up with the extra work. As it happened, MACED was already exploring ways of making energy efficiency more appealing to people in Appalachia. “This is the warmest and coolest our house has ever been.”Mr. and Mrs. Purdon of Maysville Ky. are How$mart customers. “They say, ‘I’m actually comfortable in my house.’”Customer satisfaction is a powerful incentive for utilities to take on programs like How$mart, Blair added.