Take Charge Challenge

1. Exploiting In-State Rivalries for Energy Conservation Climate and Energy Project’s Take Charge Challenge Ben Champion, Kansas State University Jeff Severin, University of Kansas

2. The Challenge: • Friendly competition engaging 16 Kansas towns in 4 regions of the state • Goal: to reduce residential and small business energy use – implement whole house efficiency • Timeframe: January 2011 - October 2011

3. Kansas Communities Involved

4. Our Competition:

5. Energy Partners - Timeline Kansas Energy Office Kickoff: January September Celebration: October March June

6. The Potential: • Take Charge Challenge (‘09-’10) Results: • Saved over 6 million kilowatt hours of electricity during the Challenge year in 6 communities. • Equivalent: powers 14,000 homes for one month • Avoided 9,500 tons of carbon emissions • Equivalent: taking 1823 cars off the road • Engaged 11,000 community members in educational outreach events • $1.2 million in avoided energy costs • Garnered national attention with an article on the front page of the New York Times

7. The Prize: $100,000 Energy efficiency or renewable energy community project

8. Ways to Earn Points Schedule an Efficiency Kansas home energy audit. Make the switch to compact fluorescent bulbs. Enroll in Westar's energy efficiency programs. Attend a Take Charge! Challenge event.

9. Whole House Energy • Whole house energy audits for only $100 • Sign-up for low-cost loan program to make make cost-effective, energy-efficiency improvements • Westar customers could repay the cost of efficiency upgrades on their utility bill through Simple Savings • Federal weatherization program

10. Lights, Thermostats, and Heat Pumps • Switches to CFL from incandescent reported at www.takechargeks.org • Free WattSaver programmable thermostat for home or business • Install a high-efficiency heat pump system

11. Take Charge! Challenge Event • Attendance at local Take Charge Challenge events • EfficiencyWorks classroom presentations on how to save energy • EfficiencyWorks Certified Real Estate Agent or Appraiser, Building Operator Certification Classes, and DIY Home Energy Efficiency classes

12. Manhattan Community Leadership Team • Co-Chairs: K-State First Lady and Mayor • University General Members: • K-State marketing/communications staff • K-State director of sustainability • K-State energy director • Hands-On K-State (volunteer coordination) • Student government representative • Dean of architecture • Representatives from athletics, alumni association, and more

13. Other Community Members of Manhattan Team • Assistant City Manager • Local realtor’s association • Electric utility energy efficiency staff • Association of local pastors • Chamber of commerce • Local radio • more

14. Manhattan Activities • Kickoff at K-State/KU basketball game, 7,000 fliers, on-court activities • In-class presentations on campus • Residence hall electricity conservation competition in coordination with KU • Greeks Going Green outreach to Greek houses • County fair • Farmers markets • Campus and city ice cream socials • Back to school campus events – bike rides and outdoor acoustic jam session • Remote locations with radio – Walmart • Purple Power Play on Poyntz – street festival in downtown • DIY energy audit training • Local business competition • Partnerships with large businesses and facilities – Town Center mall, university campus, university bookstore, Home Depot

15. Lawrence Community Leadership Team • Co-Chairs: Mayor and Assistant to KU Chancellor • University General Members: • KU director of sustainability • KU Environs (student organization) • Additional University Support: • KU Energy Manager • Student Housing • New Student Orientation

16. Other Community Members of Lawrence Team • City/County sustainability coordinator • City communications director • Planning & development services • Tenants to Homeowners • Housing Authority • Chamber of Commerce • Convention and Visitors’ Bureau • Electric utility education/outreach coordinator • Association of Neighborhoods • Property manager • Sierra Club • Lawrence Community InterFaithInitiative

17. Lawrence Activities • Kickoff watch party for KU/K-State basketball gameat Liberty Hall • Residence hall electricity conservation competition • St. Patrick’s Day Parade • Earth Day Celebration in South Park • New Student Orientation presentations • Final Fridays Take Charge Event • Lawrence Sidewalk Sale • “Hawk Week” back-to-school events • DIY energy audit training • Lawrence Energy Conservation Fair • Commercial retrofit/remodel documentation • Bulb registration forms • Free bulbs at events; approximately 500 on campus • “Change 5” social media blitz

18. Results • Lawrence (pop. ~ 90,000): • Over 40,000 light bulb switches registered • Over 1700 Wattsaver thermostats installed • Over 315 Efficiency Kansas energy audits • About 25,000 participation “ touches” • Manhattan (pop. ~50,000): • Over 40,000 light bulb switches registered • Almost 700 Wattsaver thermostats installed • About 100 Efficiency Kansas energy audits • About 20,000 participation “touches”

19. Results • Almost $400,000 in energy savings just from light bulb switches in the two communities • Over 25,000 MMBTU’s of savings between the two • As much energy as 70 people use in an entire year for home, transportation and everything… • Or the same as about 500 homes consume in a year

20. Challenges and Controversies

21. Challenges and Controversies • University-to-university residence hall competition • Unsuccessful in making it apples-to-apples • Inefficiency and unevenness of Efficiency Kansas program implementation • Uneven number of contractors • Funding terminated in the middle of the competition • Differences in local media integration into community efforts

22. Challenges and Controversies • Differences of opinion over metrics – university towns can be pretty anal-retentive • Led to confusion and disagreements about what was allowed and what wasn’t • Self-reported light bulb switches became primary area of competition • If not bulbs, then participation points • EcoKat promotional character became a large distraction

23. Lessons Learned • Collaborate on developing rules and maintain communication on interpretation • Establish verifiable metrics • Seek comparable measures • Ensure community resources are equal • Take advantage of rivalry

24. Questions? Ben Champion champion@ksu.edu Jeff Severin jseverin@ku.edu www.takechargekansas.org