The city's Environmental Task Force is hoping the Watt Watcher Energy Contest will spark Manhattan Beach residents to conserve energy.
Enrollment in the contest officially ends Tuesday, Jan. 31, but if a "few extra enrollments come in later this week, that should be fine," said Environmental Programs Manager Sona Kalapura.
The participant with the greatest reduction in energy for three months compared to the same usage period for 2011 will win $1,000. The MB school with the largest percentage of participant votes will receive $1,000. Participants can list the MB-located school of their choice on their enrollment.
Contest participants are given access to an energy savings booklet [anyone with Internet access can get the booklet] from the federal government's Department of Energy. Anyone who'd like to conserve energy should visit SageSteps.com and Southern California Edison for more tips.
Participants are asked to log on to Southern California Edison, navigate to the Residential Energy Solutions web page and click on the Home Energy Efficiency Survey link to get a free customized report of their residential energy use for January–March 2011. They then submit their Edison 15 report to Kalapura. Participants then submit a new report at the conclusion of the same time period for 2012.
Mira Costa High is the leader so far in the school portion of the contest, according to Kalapura.
If you have questions about the Watt Watcher Energy Contest, or any of the city's environmental programs, contact Kalapura at (310) 802-5341.
Local business that have sponsored prizes for the contest include: Belkin; South Bay Green; California Ethanol and Power; Bentley Prince Street; Shorewood Realtors; Audrey Judson, Shorewood; Koch Development; South Cal Electric; South Bay Environmental Services Center; Skechers; Sage Steps; Go Green Lunchbox; GROW; Bank of Manhattan
South Bay Branch: U.S. Green Building Council, and West Basin Municipal Water District.
