SouthCoast Energy Challenge

The Energy Challenge is a region-wide energy efficiency campaign to mobilize 35,000 SouthCoast households to take energy-savings actions. The actions they choose help them save money, reduce their carbon footprint, and support the local economy.

The Challenge was launched in August 2011 through the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL), by a coalition of 25 of the region's environmental organizations who believe energy efficiency needs to be a top priority in the region. Between 30-40% of all energy produced goes into heating and cooling buildings—it's common sense to make them as efficient as possible.

The program organizers estimate that if the Energy Challenge goals are met, the region-wide savings could be more than $26 million dollars that will be kept in the local economy to support the environment, education, and jobs. Challenge members have pledged over $250,000 of savings through taking simple steps like getting a no-cost home energy assessment, or properly inflating their car's tires and committing to driving the speed limit. Members' combined actions represent saving over 2.8 million pounds of carbon from going into the atmosphere.