Electric Co-op Today

Got a rival school that you just can’t beat on the football field? Challenge them to an energy-saving competition and score a victory that way.

Dennis Deines explains the benefits of CFLs to a consumer as part of the Take Charge Challenge. (Photo By: Stacie Minson)

Community energy competitions are an increasingly popular way to promote energy efficiency, and electric cooperatives have a role to play right from the start.

“You have to identify your community first. Whether you’re going to pit school versus school, or one town versus a neighboring town, you have to find that rivalry about why one group would care about competing with that other group,” said Brian Sloboda, senior program manager at NRECA’s Cooperative Research Network.

CRN and its strategic business partner E Source have been looking at community energy competitions. Sloboda said once a co-op finds a good rivalry, the next step is to get buy-in from the community and have people start talking.

“They will pay attention when their neighbors are talking about it,” Sloboda said. “The conversation isn’t taking place on a bill stuffer; it’s taking place at the barbershop.”

Co-ops should stay neutral, but become a partner by doing things such as giving energy tips to both sides.

“It becomes a great public relations win,” Sloboda said, “and people start saving energy.”

Dennis Deines knows firsthand about community energy competitions. Deines is director of member services at Western Cooperative Electric in WaKeeney, one of 16 Kansas communities that took part in this year’s Take Charge Challenge.

Touchstone Energy mascot CFL Charlie rallies residents of WaKeeney, Kan., to save energy. (Photo By: Stacie Minson)

“Our city manager in WaKeeney was invited to participate in this competition,” Deines said. Boosted by a $25,000 check from organizers, the city held several events to keep people involved over the nine-month event. One was a back to school event at a local pool.

“We did presentations to educate the general public as to how they could help us through points accrual, and to provide them some good information to be a little more energy efficient,” Deines said.

WaKeeney finished a close second.

Although his co-op had no direct involvement in the competition, Deines credited Dave Schneider, Western’s general manager, with supporting his efforts.

“Many times during the day I was either involved in a presentation or at a committee meeting, and I needed his OK.”

Registered users of cooperative.com may click here to access the CRN/E Source report.

Tags: Cooperative Research Network, Efficiency and Conservation, Energy Efficiency