Gov’t Eco-Action Monday: Conservative Conservation?

DC’s Energy Conservation Campaign: Too “Conservative”?

The District of Columbia recently rolled out its Energy Conservation Campaign to encourage employees of the Office of Property Management (OPM) and the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) to reduce their energy consumption while at work.

As over one third of the DC government’s energy usage comes from electricity, employees were asked to sign a pledge to personally reduce their electrical consumption. The campaign, which began July 20, has been implemented in 22 District facilities and runs through the end of August. Participants of Mayor Fenty’s Green Summer Job Corps are also providing tips to employees on how to minimize their energy impact in the workplace.

While DDOE’s conservation effort is certainly a smart move, it appears to just scratch the surface. Understanding that DDOE wants to measure participation and short-term results, what are its goals for saving electricity over this “trial” period as well as the long haul – and why aren’t those stated in its press release?

And what happens when employees leave the office – are they “pledging” to reduce consumption at home as well? And when they’re purchasing that new 60” flat screen TV, are they making the connection (no pun intended)?

Ideally, DDOE’s campaign should be part of a broader educational program that gets employees – and everyone, for that matter – thinking about the impact of their actions not only in the workplace but also at home – and wherever else they go.

Of course, we’d all like to think that helping the environment would be its own incentive but a tried-and-true WIFM (“What’s in it for me?”) approach would probably work best. One in which employees could earn credits and/or rebates for their conservation efforts at work and at home – after all, money does talk.

Even though 100% renewable energy might not be readily available or accessible to everyone right now, carbon neutral options are. Through companies such as Clean Currents, standard electricity from the Mid Atlantic grid is offset with Renewable Energy Credits from wind farms across the U.S. – at rates lower than standard electric utilities.

The options are out there; people just need to be made aware of them. That means we all have to be less “conservative” when it comes to conservation.

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User grendelkhan