Power to Save

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

green impact campaign gic power to save dc

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:

635,000

$125,000

268,000

kWh of energy savings energy cost savings gallons of water savings

 

 

PARTICIPATING BUSINESSES

46

businesses that received an assessment

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

Amsterdam Falafel

Ben’s Chili Bowl

Ben’s Next Door

Big Bear

Blue 44

Bluejacket

Brookland Pint

Brookland’s Finest

Captain Cookie

Coffee Nature

Congressional Bank – K St

Custom TV Solutions

DCBrau

Dos Gringos Cafe

Down Dog Yoga

Each Peach Market

Epiphany Catholic Church

Epiphany Salon

Fashion District

Foggy Bottom Grocery

Georgetown Hairstyling

Glen’s Market

Good Food Markets

Graffiti Audio Video

Green Hat Gin

iStrategyLabs

Mellow Mushroom

Meridian Pint

Mi Casita Bakery

Netwalking LLC

Nextility

One Eight Distilling

PetMAC

Pizzeria Paradiso – Dupont

Pleasant Pops

Radius Pizza

Rails to Trails Conservancy

Rodman’s Discount

Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church

Sol Systems

Sona Creamery

Stars 2nd Story Boutique

Tabard Inn

The Diner

Tonic

Tryst

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-logoAmerican University

20

assessments

2nd Place

gw_logoGeorge Washington University

10

assessments

3rd Place

CUA_LogoCatholic University of America

9

assessments

4th Place

2000px-Georgetown_Hoyas_alternate_logo.svgGeorgetown 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

gw_logo

9

assessments

Sofia Baneth

american-university-logo

6

assessments

Patrick Soltis

2000px-Georgetown_Hoyas_alternate_logo.svg

5

assessments

Greta Zukauskaite

american-university-logo

4.5

assessments

Cara Blumenthal

american-university-logo

3

assessments

Begona Blasco

CUA_Logo

3

assessments

Alejandra Rossi

CUA_Logo

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.

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

Ellie Davis

Sofia Baneth

Patrick Soltis

Greta Zukauskaite

Cara Blumenthal

Begona Blasco

Matt Johnson

Billie Case

Migue Codinera

Lisa Nguessan

Alejandra Rossi

Erin Macchione

Carolyn Turkaly

Philip Olive

Charlene Dickens

Claire August

Nora Goebelbecker

Monica Emma

Katarina Chen

Lauren Miller

 

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

Share your favorite #PowerToSaveDC Postcard on social media!

 green impact campaign power to save
green impact campaign power to save dc
green impact campaign power to save dc green impact campaign power to save dc
green impact campaign power to save dc green impact campaign power to save dc

 

[Tweet “Student teams helped 46 #DC businesses find $126k in energy savings w/ #powertosaveDC !”][juicer name=’powertosavedc’]

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


 Partners

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PowerUp Sponsors

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