Community Energy Challenge

Challenge: FortZED is an initiative using Smart Grid and renewable energy technologies to create a zero energy district centered in Downtown Fort Collins. The Community Energy Challenge is FortZED's first campaign to reach residential energy consumers — challenging them to be more energy efficient. On a tight budget, Toolbox needed to create a sense of identity and foster friendly competition among the residents of 31 sections of the district.

Inspiration: On their honeymoon trip to Italy last year (the furthest they've been from work in 8 years) Toolbox principals Dawn and Tom visited Sienna, which is divided into 17 parishes with mascots that range from dragons to turtles. These parishes proudly display their mascots and compete in a madcap 75-second horse race in the center or town.

Solution: If it's worked in Sienna since the Renaissance, it could fly in Fort Collins. The 31 sections were assigned animal mascots, pack leaders were recruited and we posed the question: what pack do you run with? Launched in mid-September, the FortZED Community Energy Challenge has been enthusiastically received and is well on it's way to signing up 1,000 households.