A city-wide student energy assessment competition to help local, DC small businesses save on energy. An initiative of Think Local First DC’s 2015 Year of the Local series.

2015 Recap & Results

Over a five week period, from late-March through late-April, student volunteers from four DC-based universities (American University, Catholic University of America, The George Washington University, and Georgetown) competed against one another to see who could complete the most energy assessments for local DC businesses. These energy assessments consisted of an energy efficiency survey (using Green Impact Campaign’s cloud-based tool, GEMS) and a utility bill check-up (using Nextility’s energy shopping service) that were provided for free and completed in less than a half hour.

IDENTIFIED SAVINGS

Cumulative annual savings identified through Power to Save assessments:

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

View Power to Save DC – Businesses in a full screen map

Participating business breakdown:

• Restaurants and food service businesses accounted for 60% of the participating businesses
• 6,750 sq. ft. – Average square footage of participating businesses
• 30% or $2,655/yr – Average energy efficiency savings identified per business

Top 3 identified energy efficiency recommendations for participating businesses:

1. Install occupancy sensors in common areas – 85% of businesses
2. Purchase ENERGY STAR certified appliance (refrigerator) – 77% of businesses
3. Install LED exit signs – 77% of businesses

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS & STUDENTS

Final School Standings:

Standings	School	Completed
1st Place	American University	20 assessments
2nd Place	George Washington University	10 assessments
3rd Place	Catholic University of America	9 assessments
4th Place	Georgetown University	7 assessments

The participating student groups from each of the winning schools were awarded cash prizes from our sponsors:

• 1st place – $500 (presented by EagleBank)
• 2nd place – $300 (presented by UVest Solar)
• 3rd place – $250 (presented by DCSEU)

Top Performing Individual Students:

Student	School	Completed
Ellie Davis		9 assessments
Sofia Baneth		6 assessments
Patrick Soltis		5 assessments
Greta Zukauskaite		4.5 assessments
Cara Blumenthal		3 assessments
Begona Blasco		3 assessments
Alejandra Rossi		3 assessments

In recognition of their accomplishment, these top performing students will be given the opportunity to interview at the following organizations for a paid internship.

• AtSite
• Nextility
• Environmental Defense Fund
• Environmental Defense Fund – Defend Our Future
• Citizen Energy
• Lumen
• Union Kitchen

And congratulations to all of the students that completed one or more assessments:

NEXT STEPS

In the coming months, Green Impact Campaign will work with the participating businesses to further understand their assessment results and work with the following organizations to further implement recommendations:

• Nextility will help businesses secure lower energy supply rates and green energy through the utility. Nextility can also provide solar assessments for qualifying buildings.
• The DC Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU) will assist businesses to implement energy-efficiency upgrade plans through a combination of rebates and direct installs.

#PowerToSaveDC Postcards

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A special thank you to all of the partners, sponsors, students and businesses that made Power to Save possible!

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