the minnesota energy challenge: environmental outreach in congregations

The Minnesota Energy Challenge:Environmental Outreach in Minnesota

Congregations

Neely Crane-SmithCenter for Energy and Environment

www.mnenergychallenge.orgNovember 7th, 2010

Why Energy Efficiency?

The Average MN Household…

Spends over $4,000 a year on electricity, natural gas and transportation

Leaves 30-40 electronics plugged in at all timesUses 15-40 gallons of water per person per dayIs responsible for over half of the carbon

dioxide emissions in Minnesota

Mission of the Energy Challenge

Make saving energy fun and easy

Save money and

increase comfort

Reduce carbon dioxide

emissions

History of the Energy Challenge

Launched in October 2006

April 2008:10,000 Members

April 2009:20,000 Members

November 2010:Over 26,000 Members

March 2008:Dot.Org “Bright

Idea Award” from MN Council of

Nonprofits

January 2009:MNEC joins

Twitter

December 2009:New identity, new website, database

clean-up

Action Guides

0

Action Guides

The Energy Challenge in Congregations

St. Joan of Arc (#1)

Dedicated volunteersCall to action during

worship servicePledge cardsWeekly email reminders

Unity Church Unitarian (#4)

Call to action during service

Paper Challenge formsTabling during coffee

hourArticles in newsletter,

order of service

Successful Congregational Campaigns

Set a finite time period

Tell a story

Get the message from the pulpit

Make the campaign visible

Celebrate any results

Materials and Resources

Printed Guide

Paper Challenge Forms

Free Presentations

How the average MN home uses energy

The “greatest hits” of energy efficiency

How to take advantage of local utility and nonprofit energy programs

Keep Up the Good Energy

Help people feel good

Give credit where credit is due

Reward your volunteers

Do it again next year!

Questions?

Neely Crane-SmithCommunity Energy Coordinator

Center for Energy and Environmentncranesmith@mncee.org

612-335-5852