Earth Aid Takes Energy Efficiency Mainstream
The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in December that energy efficiency can do more than all other low-carbon energy sources combined (such as wind, solar, nuclear, clean coal and natural gas) to reduce greenhouse gases over the next two decades. While energy efficiency could save 7.1 gigatonnes of carbon emissions by 2030, only 6.6 gigatonnes would be saved using low-carbon energy sources—and much of that can be achieved in the residential sector.
Although environmental stewardship is an important consideration, the primary motivation for energy efficiency among most homeowners is often the money saved from reduced energy consumption. Tax credits and economic assistance offered by federal, state and local governments often make investments in new, energy efficient appliances and equipment even more attractive. However, since the launch of its new platform in 2009, a start-up company called Earth Aid (www.earthaid.net) has offered yet another reason for homeowners to improve their energy efficiency.
Earth Aid enables households to track their usage online, compare to friends and neighbors, and earn rewards for saving energy—and in so doing, is taking energy efficiency mainstream.
When a District resident received an e-mail from Earth Aid informing him that his energy consumption exceeded average levels for his community, he made adjustments to his energy usage, reducing his costs for the next month – and then he earned points from Earth Aid for each kilowatt-hour of electricity, ten cubic feet of natural gas, and twenty gallons of water that he saved relative to his baseline.
This is how it works: when an individual – a homeowner or renter who pays his or her utility bills directly – signs up for a free membership with Earth Aid, the member links his utility accounts to Earth Aid’s platform (the information shared is protected by a strict privacy agreement), which allows Earth Aid to compare the member’s current energy consumption to that of the previous year. Using the previous year’s utility bill as a baseline, Earth Aid calculates the member’s energy savings, and then provides rewards for reducing consumption of electricity, natural gas and water with coupons and gift cards that can be redeemed at local stores and restaurants. Thus far, participants include over 100 businesses across the country, including Founding Farmers, Local 16, Logan Hardware, and dozens of others in the DC area alone.
The genius of Earth Aid’s concept is that it makes the benefits of energy efficiency tangible. Earth Aid complements the traditional incentive of a lower utility bill with actual rewards for saving energy — not to mention, a “tips” page, which provides a comprehensive list of energy-saving measures and the associated cost and difficulty of implementation. And, of course, each of these measures can help members earn more rewards, too.