Low Lying Fruit in Sacramento

Christian Science Monitor's Weekly Edition reported on a new angle to reducing energy use and CO2 emissions:   "social norms"

Just by sending monthly reports to customers comparing their energy use to the neighbors, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) was able to reduce total residential energy use by 2%.   (Not small, that's a lot of megawatts.  The total US use of wind+solar + geothermal in 2008 added up to 1%.  And US residences account for 35% of our energy and 15% of eCO2).

This was without extra rebates, tax credits, new technologies or 'widgets' as the Monitor calls them.

The report SMUD sends shows a household's use compared to 100 neighbors with similar size homes and also the 20 most efficient neighbors.  You can get a couple of smiley faces or, um, a "below average," which seems to bring out the best in people's competitive behavior.

Other utilizes throughout the country are exploring "social norm" ideas like these as a way to influence behavior, a powerful force which has been used in weight watching, online book selling and elsewhere to influence behavior.

Some utilities are going even further by creating websites with 'facebook' like communities where you can create a profile and be a star in your neighborhood by exchanging tips and ideas.

Positive Energy analyzed SMUD bills.
Efficiency 2.0 is a software developer who is creating energy online communities.

Do we have this in Santa Cruz?
In our water bill?
How about our gasoline use?  (surely it can be done!)



Christian Science Monitor Weekly Edition (9/27/09)
Not yet online

Earlier piece in NY Times