-
Sep 19, 2007 2:50 am US/Pacific
-
Digg |
Facebook |
E-mail
|
Print
Contest To Challenge SF Residents To Save Energy
by Joe Vazquez
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
A new contest in San Francisco is offering cash prizes for teams of San Franciscans who use the least amount of energy.
The contest, called SF Climate Challenge, was endorsed Tuesday by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. It will begin October 25.
As he rigged up a bicycle to run on power generated by an exercise bike, Paul Scott of Telegraph Hill told CBS 5 he and his neighbors came up with the idea that combines camaraderie with conscience.
"Twenty percent of the C02 emissions in cities come from residences," said Scott. "So if we collectively can do things to change our lifestyles - even in a small amount - we can make a very big difference together."
Scott, a former Department of Justice trial attorney and father of three, is encouraging San Franciscans to reach out to their neighbors, friends, work colleagues and schoolmates to sign up for the contest on the organization's website:
sfclimatechallenge.org.
The team that averages the least amount of energy over the following month - as compared to last year's energy bill - will win $5,000. There's even a prize for "mediocrity."
"For the team that's absolutely average, we have a sponsor - Sustainable Spaces - that will go out and do a home makeover and basically check their home out for energy inefficiencies and improve it," Scott said.
While big dollar prizes are major incentives, the program also gives people a path if they are tired of waiting for others to combat climate change.
"The federal government isn't likely to do something in the immediate future. A hydrogen car isn't around the corner," Scott said. "What this program does is give people something they can do now and have fun while they're at it."
Scott said participants are likely to learn firsthand some of the little things you can do around the house to reduce your carbon footprint, such as changing incandescent light bulbs to fluorescent ones.
The program is free to join and does not involve taxpayer money. Sponsors include the Weather Underground, Yelp, The Bay Club, Sustainable Spaces, Publicis Dialogue and Lexi.net.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)