State and Local Climate and Energy Program
The Whatcom Energy Challenge
Bellingham, Washington
Federal Funding: $349,384
Project Timeline: February 2010 – December 2012
Project Summary
A Public-Private Partnership to Implement Energy Efficiency Retrofits and Outreach
The CEC’s Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Challenge is underway, and a CEC Neighborhood Participation Toolkit was developed. As of December 2011, approximately 682 homes have completed energy assessments and approximately 422 homes have been retrofitted. Bellingham created door hangers, window clingers, and referral postcards for homeowners and businesses to further spread the word about energy retrofits.
Lastly, Bellingham continues the Cool Schools Challenge (CSC) in partnership with RE Sources, a non-profit environmental education organization. Nine schools in three Whatcom County school districts have implemented the CSC. RE Sources staff held a Youth Earth Summit for regional high school environmental clubs and trained students to implement the CSC.
Building on existing partnerships for climate action, Bellingham, Washington is designing a project to implement comprehensive outreach on energy efficiency in the community, helping to lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by reducing energy use. The initiative will create a community-based education and outreach campaign, including promotional materials and events. Local schools and local workplaces also will be specifically targeted for promoting energy conservation.
To promote energy conservation and lower GHG emissions, the city of Bellingham is developing an energy efficiency outreach project, working in a partnership with the non-profit Sustainable Connections, the non-profit RE Sources for Sustainable Communities, and the utility Puget Sound Energy. The project, called the Whatcom Energy Challenge, will develop an education and outreach campaign and launch publicity materials throughout the community, including banners, mailings, and a website. The challenge also will hold events in the community and energy efficiency presentations at the neighborhood level. In addition, the challenge will select 125 workplaces in which to promote conservation strategies and will sign agreements with local institutions to promote energy efficiency to their employees. Furthermore, Puget Sound Energy will mail home energy reports to half of the county's single-family households, providing information on their relative energy use. The Whatcom Energy Challenge will also implement a Cool School Challenge to train teachers, engage students, and provide take-home materials on energy efficiency in up to 58 schools.
The project will result in energy savings, GHG emissions reductions, improved air quality, and extensive cost savings for local businesses and residents. In addition, the project is designed to be easily replicable for use in other communities.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 76,000 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 32 square miles |
| Government Type: | City |
| Community Type: | Mid-sized Urban |
| Median Household Income: | $38,500 |
Program Results/Estimated Results
| Expected GHG Emissions Reductions: | 7,200 metric tons (CO2e) annually |
|---|---|
| Expected Electricity Savings: | 12,300,000 kWh annually |
| Expected Gas Savings: | 338,000 Therms annually |
| Homes Audited (as of 12/11): | ~682 |
| Homes Retrofitted (as of 12/11): | ~422 |
Participating Businesses (as of 9/11): |
83 |
| Job Training (as of 9/30/11): | 8 general contractors |
| Electricity Savings (as of 6/11): | 15,653,123 kWh |
| GHG Savings (as of 12/11): | 1,371.3 metric tons CO2e |
Project Websites
- http://www.communityenergychallenge.org/
- http://communityenergychallenge.blogspot.com/
- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Community-Energy-Challenge/107661849271230
- http://twitter.com/EnergyChlnge
Media Coverage
-
Energy Program Can Help Reduce Your Bills, The Northern Light, September 7, 2011
- Green Jobs Backlash: A Reality Check from Bellingham, Sightline Daily, August 31, 2011
- Community Energy Challenge Interview, KGMI Morning News, August 9, 2011
- Community Energy Challenge celebrates 500 energy audits, Bellingham Business Journal, August 9, 2011
- Community Energy Challenge: Helping Small Businesses Trim Energy Costs, Northwest Business Monthly, June 2011
- Conserving Energy Becomes a Community Effort, Ferndale Record Journal, May 18, 2011
- Community Energy Challenge Statistics, Cascadia Weekly Index, April 20, 2011
- Energy audit program huge hit in Washington, Builder News, March 24, 2011
- Whatcom County businesses seeing economic benefits of solar, Bellingham Business Journal, March 4, 2011
- Energy program could help local residents save, The Northern Light, January 19, 2011
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