In October 2010 the City of Decatur’s Environmental Sustainability Board launched the Kilowatt Crackdown, a friendly neighborhood competition to encourage individual households to reduce their energy consumption. Participants signed up with a tracking system called Earth Aid at www.earthaid.net/decatur. The website automatically tracks energy usage through the household’s utility bills. Neighborhoods were asked to sign up a minimum of 10 participants to be eligible. The Decatur neighborhood that reduced its electricity use during October and November of 2010 by the highest percentage over their 2009 usage would win a block party.
We are proud to announce that the Decatur Heights neighborhood has won the Kilowatt Crackdown. With 13 participants, and 3,500 kilowatt hours saved, this group was able to reduce their usage by 20%! This is certainly an amazing accomplishment, and one worth celebrating.
Of the users that signed up for the challenge and successfully linked their Georgia Power accounts to Earth Aid, Decatur saw a 1.46% reduction in electricity usage, representing an overall decrease of 1,800 kilowatt hours. That is enough energy to run your air conditioner 24 hours a day for over 2 months. During the competition, some users saved more than others. Among users that decreased their usage, the reduction was almost 12,000 kilowatt hours, resulting in a $15 savings per month on each household’s bill.
“The most rewarding part of the challenge was the number of participants and the level of interest in the community,” said the Chair of the Environmental Sustainability Board Gary Garrett. Over 130 residents signed up for the program, representing 10 neighborhoods.
The program created some unexpectedly positive results. “I’m proud that Decatur residents stepped up to the challenge and tightened their energy belts,” said Lena Stevens Resource Conservation Coordinator for the City of Decatur. “Little changes in behavior really can make a difference, and the Kilowatt Crackdown proved that.”
Funding for this program is provided by the Better Buildings Grant program. If you are interested in learning more about upcoming programs and incentives related to home energy efficiency, email lena.stevens@decaturga.com.
