Seattle City Lights, the energy provider for Seattle, Washington, runs a yearly program called the Neighborhood Power Project. Since 1995, the project has focused on different neighborhoods within Seattle and helped residents reduce their energy usage and improve water, wastewater, and solid waste management.

One major focus of the program is mobilizing volunteers to hand out free compact fluorescent bulbs amongst the community. Community involvement means that education becomes much more dispersed -- knowledge isn't centered upon a single individual or group.

City Lights also offers free Home Inspections where they provide advice on how to reduce energy usage based on your particular circumstances. During their visit, they also give you a free compact fluorescent bulb and water-conserving shower-head.

The city of Berkeley, California, runs the Smart Lights program, offering small businesses on-site facility assessments and subsidies for equipment and installation costs. An important difference between subsidies and rebates, as their site points out, is that a subsidy is paid to businesses immediately, while a rebate requires the business to pay up-front costs which are later reimbursed. Receiving cash in-hand for renovations can serve as compelling motivation and help to overcome initial reservations or resistance.

Dave Chiu

CATEGORY: ENERGY PROJECT