As we look for ways to maximize SCOCO's long-term ability to affect change toward more energy efficient lifestyles, there is clearly a need to educate the public. It troubles me that Bay Area radio commentators on KSFO and KGO are actively deriding PG&E's SmartMeter Program and discounting the need for and value of conserving energy. What we need is to provide the public with good solid objective information.
I like Tina's idea re: Energy Ambassadors. Thinking about how to implement such a program, I recommend that we follow the very successful model of the UC Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners Program for our Energy Ambassadors. The model is 120 hours of training in exchange for a commitment to do 80 hours of volunteer work in the community ... answering calls, doing info tables at events, etc. This is a well-established model with a long track record of success. I worked for the Extension when the Master Gardeners Program was established ... I recruited several MG's as key volunteers for launching the PH and WC farmers markets, helping create Homestead Park and creating a demonstration foodscape. The cache of a certificate and a plastic name tag goes a very long way!!
I can envision SCOCO setting up this type of program, then have our Ambassadors be out in the community ... at events, at workshops co-sponsored by Home Depot, at the Farmers Markets, etc. And, our Ambassadors could staff an Energy Hotline at the SCOCO office. I was sceptical that people would be willing to sit at a phone for a 3 hour shift at the Extension office, but people did willingly. People really liked going out to events and workshops.
THIS is a fundable idea with SCOCO serving as the training and coordinating body. SCOCO could partner with the Contra Costa SBDC to cover the business sector.
Replies
I definitely agree with the Environmental, Education, and Energy links. These 3 E's are so interlaced and are integral to the schema.
Wen
Mark Westwind said:
SEEDs will have a set of primary themes then sub-themed by topic: for June: "Summer Energy Savings"; for November: "Low Impact, High Comfort Winter"; etc. This will help keep SEEDs fresh and will enhance their PR value. Each new "season of SEEDs" will be announced in the media (e.g. on the web and via radio and TV PSAs produced by DSA interns). We will maintain our image of objectivity by not accepting sponsorships from private businesses or public utilities.
We'll have a regular monthly public access TV program sync'ed with each SEEDs theme. The 30-minute program called "The Business of Sustainability" (hosted by Tina and Robin) will feature green business owners and and discussions of topics relevant to business owners AND home owners (creating demand for local green businesses). This program will be produced in cooperation with Contra Costa Television under the auspices of the SBDC (this assures us airing on local cable systems).
Our website will also be thematically in sync with clips from the TV program, blog comments from topic specialists and the public, and links to more information and local businesses for products and services.
Therefore, one of our first steps will be to plan out a series of themes for our first round effort. The more specific we can be, the better our changes of getting funded. We will also develop "quick response" SEEDs in response to current events ... e.g. right now we could be educating people about how oil impacts our environment. Just the facts and interactive stuff so they can see, feel, touch and experience the messages.
SEEDs visit ("are planted in") various locations ("SEED beds" (!?) around the County throughout the year (weather and audience depending). As our inventory of exhibits and displays expands, we will be able to plant SEEDs in multiple locations and rotate materials from location to location.
Scheduling will be done well in advance such that each primary location (e.g. a farmers market) will host a set of SEEDs at couple of times per year. We'll need to experiment with how long a SEEDs theme should be stationed at a location before being updated and/or rotated and how long to maintain a SEEDs presence in a single location. Better to have people looking forward to a SEEDs visit than get bored with an on-going presence.
Let's hear your ideas!
& Energy Demonstrations.
Overview
Despite the substantial number of older homes in Contra Costa County that would clearly benefit from one or more energy efficiency (EE) retrofits, the demand in the County for energy audits is low. Based on interviews with several Bay Area energy audit firms, there is a significant need to educate the public about the economic benefits of EE retrofits, the variety of incentives and rebate programs available to help offset initial costs and investments in EE solutions, and the processes (e.g. installation impacts) involved in EE projects.
Parallel to the public's general lack of objective information about EE retrofit options, there are active disinformation campaigns about EE technologies that need to be addressed clearly and objectively. For example, segments of the public are actively challenging PG&E's SmartMeter program as an invasion of privacy and an unacceptable limitation on their "right" to unlimited electricity. These campaigns are based on dubious information and inaccurate portrayals of the facts yet are being giving wide media attention without rebuttal.
SCOCO proposes to develop and implement an innovative and sustainable public education campaign based on proven strategies for mobilizing volunteers and engaging the public. Our goal is to stimulate demand for energy audits, energy efficient products and "sustainable" business services thereby increasing orders and sales and ultimately supporting jobs in the emerging green economy.
In addition, SEEDs would also promote sustainability messages beyond energy efficiency. And, as we draw the public to interact with our Advisors and SEEDs, we will have excellent opportunities to conduct market surveys, test our messaging and measure the effectiveness of our SEEDs.
Certified Sustainability Advisors Program
SCOCO intends to follow the very successful model of the UC Cooperative Extension's Master Gardeners Program to train and deploy a corps of "Certified Sustainabilty Advisors" - trained volunteers whose role will be to provide objective information about EE options and solutions at farmers markets, public events, via a "Sustainability Hotline" and other channels. The Master Gardener model calls for volunteers to receive 80 hours of comprehensive topical training in exchange for a commitment to do 80 hours of volunteer work in the community ... answering calls, staffing information tables at events, etc. This is a well-established model with a long track record of success. In Contra Costa, Master Gardeners have served the public for over twenty years and have made considerable contributions to our community. Master Gardeners were, for example, directly involved in launching the Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek farmers markets, helping create Homestead Park in Walnut Creek and creating several gardening demonstration projects around the County. We are confident that this same model can be implemented to mobilize a committed corps of Certified Sustainabilty Advisors to engage the community in new and meaningful ways.
Sustainability Education Exhibits and Demonstrations (SEEDs)
To support our Advisors, SCOCO will develop a set of visually engaging and interactive portable sustainability education exhibits and demonstrations (SEEDs) around key aspects of sustainabilty, energy efficiency and related topics. We have all experienced the standard "information booth" at fairs and other events. SCOCO intends to take the traditional information booth to the next level by tapping into the design strategies used by the Exploratorium, the Lawrence Hall of Science, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other top Bay Area education centers. We believe that these places have shown the power of art and design in communicating important messages to the public in ways that stimulate awareness and motivate change.
SCOCO is actively negotiating to have an educational presence at various public concert series and events throughout the County include the Concord Summer Music Series and several farmers markets. These and other venues offer free and very convenient locations to directly interact with the public in casual yet engaging ways. Again, following the Master Gardener model, SCOCO would coordinate the placement of one or more Certified Sustainability Advisors at these events. And, through a partnership with Diablo Valley College, SCOCO will also arrange to have trained "retrofit specialists" join the Advisors. DVC offers certification programs for contractors and installers of EE and green building solutions. A third level of staffing will come from student interns who will be recruited from local high schools and environmental academies (e.g. the Digital Safari Academy at Mt. Diablo High School and the Briones Environmental Academy in Martinez).
Wen
I can see the Ambassadors with a site like this. These are all volunteers! A tremendous mobilization of human resources for education and community projects. Virtually every aspect of this program is transferable. Now that SCOCO has an office/headquarters, we can really move forward with such a program.