How do you increase energy awareness and engagement?

1 Define your energy vision and goals

The first step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to define your energy vision and goals. What are the benefits of saving energy for your organization, your customers, and the environment? How much energy do you want to save and by when? How will you measure and communicate your progress and achievements? Having a clear and compelling energy vision and goals will help you align your energy management strategy with your organizational values and mission, and inspire your audience to join your energy journey.

2 Collect and analyze energy data

The second step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to collect and analyze energy data. Energy data is the foundation of any energy management program, as it helps you identify your energy consumption patterns, benchmark your performance, and prioritize your improvement opportunities. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze energy data, such as smart meters, sensors, dashboards, audits, or surveys. The key is to make sure that your energy data is accurate, relevant, and accessible, and that you use it to inform your decision making and feedback loops.

3 Communicate and educate

The third step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to communicate and educate. Communication and education are essential to raise awareness, inform, and persuade your audience about the importance and benefits of saving energy, and the actions and behaviors they can take to contribute to your energy goals. You can use various channels and formats to communicate and educate, such as newsletters, posters, webinars, workshops, or gamification. The key is to tailor your messages and content to your audience's needs, interests, and motivations, and to use simple, clear, and positive language.

4 Recognize and reward

The fourth step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to recognize and reward. Recognition and reward are powerful ways to motivate and reinforce your audience's energy-saving actions and behaviors, and to create a sense of ownership and pride. You can use various types of recognition and reward, such as certificates, badges, incentives, prizes, or testimonials. The key is to make sure that your recognition and reward are timely, meaningful, and fair, and that you celebrate your successes and share your best practices.

5 Involve and empower

The fifth step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to involve and empower. Involvement and empowerment are crucial to foster a culture of energy consciousness and action, and to generate ideas and solutions from your audience. You can use various methods and platforms to involve and empower your audience, such as surveys, polls, forums, committees, or champions. The key is to make sure that your involvement and empowerment are genuine, inclusive, and collaborative, and that you listen to and act on your audience's feedback and suggestions.

6 Monitor and evaluate

The sixth step to increase energy awareness and engagement is to monitor and evaluate. Monitoring and evaluation are vital to assess the impact and effectiveness of your energy management program, and to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can use various indicators and tools to monitor and evaluate your energy awareness and engagement, such as energy consumption, savings, costs, satisfaction, or behavior change. The key is to make sure that your monitoring and evaluation are consistent, transparent, and reliable, and that you use them to learn and improve your energy management program.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?