Bend Energy Challenge Partners with COBA for the Tour of Homes™

Though the phrase “the lights are on, but nobody’s home” may have another connotation, it does apply when considering that we pay for energy consumption when we leave home or work with the lights on and the heat cranked up. Flipping the switch to off or implementing other easy energy-reduction measures are worth the effort — in Bend’s case, to the tune of $5 million dollars.

That’s the prize at stake for one of 50 cities in America that entered the Energy Challenge competition sponsored by Georgetown University. They challenged communities across the nation to reboot and reduce their energy use. The winning community will win a $5 million dollar award, and the lights are about to go out on the two-year competition, which ends after December 2016.

“We haven’t gotten an update recently, but as of September of last year with the first three-quarters of data, we were in 11th place,” said Lindsey Hardy, Bend Energy Challenge director at the Environmental Center. “Even with that 11th place standing, it’s a nice and strategic place to be because we are close to the top 10. We won’t sit back at all; it’s full steam ahead.”

The competition uses baseline years of energy use from 2013 and 2014. At the start of 2015, competitors engaged their communities and municipalities to reduce energy consumption. The organizers will then use data from 2015 through 2016 on a per-utility-account basis to determine the top 10 finalists, from which one winner will be selected. The data also reflects community growth — a new account goes online for every new home.

But the competition isn’t strictly “lowest number wins,” for the Georgetown University organizers can adjust the data to take in extremely hot summers or prolonged cold winters or, in Bend’s case, two new schools opening. They also look at educational programs, demographics of targeted audiences, sustainability of programs and applicability of energy-saving programs to other communities.

Hardy feels positive about Bend’s placement.

“It does show our community that we really do have a chance and that we have made a measureable difference here in terms of reducing our energy use,” she said. And with six months left to go in the competition, she’s ramping up for the final push.

A “Do Just One Thing” campaign focuses on a single, energy-saving project each month. One month it’s information was about changing furnace filters regularly to save 10 to 20 percent on energy bills. Another month’s campaign was “Drop and Give Me Three,” encouraging homeowners to lower their thermostat just three degrees, but to maintain comfort in the home by strategically using ceiling fans or not blocking vents. June’s focus is on ways to cool homes with ductless heat pumps.

In addition to the tips, the Environmental Center is supporting host parties where a homeowner signs up for an energy assessment and invites friends and neighbors over to learn more about the review. Deschutes Brewery and Whole Foods are supporting the parties with gift certificates. The idea is that neighbors will learn about and engage in their own home assessment after attending one of the parties.

Extending beyond the home, the Energy Challenge includes businesses and schools. Some have already signed on to support and implement energy savings in lighting, heating and cooling. A scorecard competition for schools completing four or five energy-saving tasks will stop at the end of the school year. The winning schools in each division (elementary, middle and high school) will receive an ice-cream party.

“We’ve gotten some really cute videos of kids sharing tips on saving energy at school or home,” said Hardy.

Larger entities including Bend Park and Rec and the City of Bend represent huge accounts in reducing energy. Focused on reducing the City’s facilities’ power and natural gas usage by 15 percent, the City is on track to meet their goal by the end of 2016. The Environmental Center collaborated with the City on energy-efficiency education for staff at both work and home.

“I think we have benefitted from this collaborative partnership and expect it will continue past the end of the Bend Energy Challenge,” said Gillian Ockner, senior policy analyst for the city.

Hardy envisions that continued education through advertisements, social media, presentations, partnerships and exposure to financial incentive programs, Bend will move up into the top 10. They will also be at the Neil Kelly house in Tetherow during the Tour of Homes. With climate change as a defining issue of the 21st century, she views this challenge as extremely important both locally and globally.

To learn more visit bendenergychallenge.org and explore options to Do Just One Thing. There are 5 million reasons why.