In this issue
		Energy Services Bulletin home page
		Online Key Account Tool Box supports public utility programs
		Fuel cell plant joins Alameda County renewable energy collection
		Revitalized communications promote efficiency, ease rate hikes
		New cooling technology aids South Dakota's pursuit of efficiency
		Fort Mojave tribal casino gets cooling system makeover
		Brigham City bike promotion raises energy efficiency awareness
		Lompoc LED light rebate promotes efficient holiday decorating
		Dairy, utilities learn from South Dakota's first digester
		Outreach programs help busy utilities educate consumers
		Energy Services seeks customer input
		Topics from the Power Line: Radiant heater a good choice for auto repair shop
		Energy shorts
		Technology spotlight: Low-mass, surface-mounted radiant heating panels in homes and offices
		Calendar of events

Outreach programs help busy utilities educate consumers

Energy for Keeps is one of many communication tools available to utilities that want to educate consumers about energy conservation. (Art by Energy for Keeps)

Short on time and resources but long on good intentions, utilities that believe a well-educated consumer is a powerful energy-conservation tool can choose from a number of excellent, ready-made programs to communicate that message.

Professionally-produced outreach packages may focus on a specific subject or provide a broad overview of electricity or energy. Some are designed for use in the classroom, while others target adult consumers. They may come from partnerships between power providers, professional associations and government agencies, or from private production companies. With a little research, a utility should be able to find an outreach program, or several, that meet its communication needs and budget.

Conservation CD for school-utility partnerships

Moore Syndication is a communications company that specializes in safety education programs for the utility industry. Its popular "Louie the Lightening Bug" program has been teaching safety to school-age children for more than two decades.  Last year, the company introduced the new Power Bandit Tracker 2.0 for teaching electricity, natural gas and water conservation in the classroom. 

The interactive CD teaches contains program lessons on basic science concepts relating to the nature, generation and distribution of electricity, the formation and distribution of natural gas, and safety rules. "We tied the content to core curriculum requirements, because that's how classroom time is spent," said Pam Moore. "Schools are always looking for tools that will help them teach the requirements."

Moore Syndication developed the program at the request of Memphis Light, Gas and Water with a grant from the APPA Demonstration in Energy Efficient Development program.  DEED members can request a complimentary copy of the Power Bandit CD from APPA and the CD is available at a discount to APPA members. "Programs like the Power Bandit provide an opportunity for utility-school partnerships," explained DEED Program Manager Michele Suddleson. "It meets the utility's need to teach wise energy use by meeting the school's need to teach science concepts."

Materials designed for member needs

APPA is an excellent resource for educational materials, for commercial, residential and student audiences. Members can customize a wide variety of bill stuffers, guides, promotional items and planning aids. A DEED grant funded the development of the new online Key Account Tool Box to help utilities provide their large customers with the latest energy-efficiency strategies.

"Our goal is to make it easier for APPA members to communicate the value of public power to the community," said APPA Marketing Director Jeff Haas. "One way we do that is by providing them with timely, relevant, well-designed and affordable promotional material."

This year, in conjunction with Public Power Week, the association partnered with Project Energy Savers to offer award-winning, energy-efficiency promotional items. "The Energy Savers calendar has been very popular since its introduction," said Haas. "We believe that the new Energy Savers tip book and children's activity book will build on that momentum."

Haas said that APPA would like to add more materials for children and students to its product line. "We are open to suggestions from members," he said. "We would like to hear from them about the resources they would find most useful in their outreach programs."

Primer for wider audience

For a crash course on energy issues for middle school students to adults, utilities may want to consider Energy for Keeps. Published by the Energy Education Group with seed funding from the California Energy Commission and the Bonneville Power Adminstration, the user-friendly book covers electricity technology, renewable energy, energy efficiency and utility basics. It comes with a glossary, student activity CD (on request) and eight pages of information resources. The Web site also provides teacher support.

"Utilities can buy the program in quantities so they have something to give schools when teachers call," said Marilyn Nemzer, editor and co-author. "And since the book has found a much wider audience than schools, utilities may want to give copies to public libraries in their service area."

The book explains commonly-used terms like time-of-use and renewable portfolio standards that may be confusing to people outside the industry. Because it covers the basics of generation and distribution, energy companies give Energy for Keeps to their non-technical employees, said Nemzer. "Utilities have given it to legislators, too. It gives people who don't have an energy background information to help them make sound energy decisions."

Energy for Keeps earned the 2004 Innovation Award from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and Nemzer updated the book last year. Contributors and reviewers included more than 75 energy experts from agencies such as Western, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

More resources

The programs mentioned here barely scratch the surface of outreach resources available to utilities and consumers. The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers training and publications for teachers and parents, students, school administrators, energy professionals and homeowners.

The Energy Hog campaign teaches children how to save energy in the home through an online interactive game. The Energy Hog Challenge is an educational program that covers science, math, technology, language arts and social studies, and meets national learning standards for third through eighth grades. The guides can be downloaded for free on the Web site. 

Of course, Western's Energy Services provides fact sheets on energy efficiency topics that utilities can download and imprint with their own contact information. Western can also customize fact sheets for our customers. Contact your regional Energy Services representative for more information.

Consumer education can make a big job a little easier. With ready-made outreach programs, utilities can keep their customers well-informed, stretch their marketing dollars and focus on what they do best—keeping the lights on.