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Energy Efficiency In Grinnell

Introduction

Motivation

• Broad campaign to improve general conditions w/i city of Grinnell
• Reminder: If lots of people do something small, can be just as helpful as something big: On production side (negawatts), and consumption side (savings)
• Appeal of grass-roots programs; flip-side of the eco-house coin, those concerned in many ways about just getting by, without the luxury of an education about broader concerns
• Similar to motivation of Rich Dana and "Imagine Grinnell"

Problems

• Traveling about Grinnell as regular shoppers, noticed 3 things

First

A lack of knowledge among sales associates

Second

Energy Efficiency (EE) advertised only on specific products themselves, thus appealing only to self-selecting group of shoppers

Finally

Even those stores (or, store, rather) that showcased EE products, the information provided was formatted in an abstruse medium. For example, the appliance store provided only catalogues and substantial packets of information. This, we surmised, is an impediment for those shoppers who lack familiarity with the savings of EE appliances. These shoppers would probably purchase the same size fridge for $30-40 dollars less in instant savings, rather than go for the rebates associated with EE appliances, and the long-run energy savings.

Goals

1. 1 CONDENSE Information
2. 2 Make information VISIBLE
3. 3 LINK to resources

Examples of distributed information

-- Windows flier -- Washing Machine flier -- Defer to Nathan, Caitlin, and Topher's presentation for insulation information

Implications Throughout the process of discussing EE with employees and customers, I couldn't help but to think about Van Jones's statements on green justice, and how issues of energy consumption fundamentally effect the lives of the poor. Those who stand the most to gain from these sorts of initiatives are those who can afford the least to spend extraneous money on wasted electricity. On those windows, the fliers look like something accessible to folks who are shopping during a strictly regulated schedule-- a lunch break, before picking up the kids from day-care, in between any miscellaneous errands. While at the same time, these people are unlikely to make an impulse purchase of a new fridge or washing machine, the information, we hope, might cultivate more fruitful decisions in the future.

Even those who are not necessarily on the ropes financially will appreciate the wise decisions that we have harvested from the wealth of information that exists. Ours is essentially an education-based initiative, trusting people to make wise decisions. We hoped to demystify the practical reality that confronts the following question: "Given all the positive incentives, why doesn't everybody make more efficiency-oriented decisions with regard to their energy consumption?"

Outcome Several vendors did not know where to find EE information on products that they themselves sold. There was a verbal commitment from a number of sales staff members to follow some of the links that we provided, and we hope that through them this information might be diffused.

Was informed that "State of the Art" vs. "State of the Shelf" analogy was extremely helpful as a sales approach in between when we interviewed an owner and when we returned with materials and fliers. If we can help business, they can help the environment.

As with any education initiative, it is difficult to measure an sort of tangible results. In some ways, what is most exciting about this project is that we can not make such measurements; true, our efforts might fizzle, stagnate, but the likelihood that our modest accomplishments might indirectly influence more decisions than are commensurate with our own efforts is thrilling.