Bryan Heck, executive assistant to the city manager in Springfield, OH, is finding that connecting with local entities to provide interesting, informative, and timely workshops on energy efficiency and conservation is achieving big results on a small budget.
When the City Commission tasked Heck with developing programs to educate residential and business community members about “green” practices, he helped launch a series of workshops titled “Envisioning a Greener Springfield.” The program consists of ten workshops on topics such as utility energy efficiency, with guest speakers from Ohio Edison and Columbia Gas of Ohio. Six workshops will be completed by February 2011. Plus, the city is gearing up for a contractor’s fair in 2011 that will showcase various energy-efficient and conservation-related products and services available to the public.
How does Springfield drum up interest and recruit participants?
(1) Use the city’s existing resources. Springfield 5, which is the city’s government access television channel, is airing the workshops and complimentary television public service announcements (PSAs) offering quick and easy tips on energy efficiency and conservation best practices. For example, one PSA touts the mantra “live green, save green” and promotes usage of the city’s new energy efficient bus fleet.
The city also used an email marketing service provider and the Chamber of Commerce’s email list of more than 4,000 local email accounts to distribute the workshop flyers and schedule.
(2) Leverage ongoing community initiatives. Heck attests that these green initiatives have been a great way for the city to make lasting connections with the public, local utilities, and community organizations, many of which have had their own green programs up and running long before the city got onboard. These are the partnerships that will keep the greening of Springfield happening long after ARRA.
Already the city has partnered with entities including the Springfield area’s energy companies, contractors, Wittenberg University, Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee, and the waste management district. The recent workshop on utility programs had a particularly high turnout, and Heck has also helped drive participation in the local utility’s energy audit and retrofit program. So far each workshop has drawn between 25 and 30 participants.
(3) Partner with local universities. The City of Springfield is coordinating activities with two “green” interns from Wittenberg University’s Center for Civic and Urban Engagement who will develop the remainder of the educational programs. Plus, the city is using the university’s email list to share information about the workshop.
Workshop Announcement Examples
The scheduled public workshops will include the following content, with two example announcments included.
1. Make your home and business more energy efficient: Ohio Edison and Columbia Gas
2. Contractor’s Forum/Work Fair
3. Wittenberg University Energy Summit
4. Renewable Energy Practices
5. Clark County Waste Management District Conservation Programs
6. Improving our Community's air quality: Clark County- Springfield Transportation Committee.pdf (251.75 kb)
7. LEED Construction Practices.pdf (350.43 kb)
8. Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels: Springfield Master Gardeners
Have questions for Springfield on its PSAs, connecting with local entities, or something else? Do you have similar activities you would like to share? Please comment below!
Content for this blog post courtesy of Leigh-Golding DeSantis, Mid-Atlantic Regional Coordinator, ICF International