California takes another Giant Step

Just a few days ago, on Oct. 14, the California Public Utilities Commission introduced Engage 360 to the public.  Engage 360 is a new brand name and a web portal that the CPUC hopes the public will as a place to go for information an to participation in energy-saving activities.

Commissioner Grueneich of the CPUC says "This new name, Energy Savings Assistance Program, is clear and concise. Customers will immediately understand that this is a program that provides energy and cost savings, resulting in a true benefit for customers otherwise unable to take advantage of energy efficiency programs."

According to the new website:  Engage360.com, the program was developed through a year-long process based on an in-depth, collaborative approach between CPUC staff and the utilities. The brand is built on the core attributes of conveying progressive inspiration, meaningful change, and a trusted information source with the aim of galvanizing Californians to adopt more clean energy solutions throughout their lives.

Another part of the new program is called the Energy Savings Assistance Program. The CPUC acknowledged the importance of a single recognizable and trustworthy name for these programs.  The name, Energy Savings Assistance Program, will be used by all CPUC-regulated utilities for programs providing weatherization and energy efficient measures to low income households.

So far, the site is pretty simple with a mainly social feel but since there's quite a bit of government funding behind it, I expect it to move more in to public education on the hows and whys of energy efficiency and conservation.

Check it out and let me (and them) what you think.

Another voice is added

“Convincing millions of Americans to divert their time and resources into upgrading their homes to eliminate energy waste, avoid high utility bills, and help stimulate the economy is one of the great challenges facing energy efficiency programs around the country,” says Merrian Fuller of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBNL).


LBNL has a research and information dissemination program that has been doing some fantastic research into how to best get homeowners to buy into the deep energy reductions that are necessary for us to control our national energy policy.  Some of their more interesting findings - to me, anyway - are that the words 'audit' and 'retrofit' don't make homeowners weak in the knees like they do me.  They are better sold on comfort, protecting their home's structure and value, or that their entire community is coming together to do this work en masse.  And the best inducement is seeing their local community leaders have it done to their homes and then give voice publicly on how much better their home is.


And since I'm considering going door to door, covering an entire targeted neighborhood, I'm particularly interested in a report on how well that worked out for a few that have already done it.  Haven't got around to reading it yet but will. 


I'd like to see this on the front page of the newspaper, talked about by the morning commute radio personalities, and billboards beside the freeway.  This *must* cover deep reductions in the proper loading order, not just 'let's put solar on the roof'.  Solar companies that are cold calling everyone in town and trying to sell them a solar electric system without talking about what's more cost effective - efficiency improvements first - drive me nuts, and I hope this clarification is part of any and all or the advertising strategies that are getting near (Yah!).