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The New York Times recently featured an article on a new kind of healthy competition-for the greenest house on the block. In certain locations across the US, monthly energy bills now come with a chart showing your energy consumption vs. that of your neighbors (you get a smiley face if you're extra efficient). The program began in Sacramento, California, and is being adopted in 10 major cities, with the hope that the American spirit of neighborly competition will take a turn for the green.
Competition is as American as apple pie contests, and the energy comparison program has, thus far, been a success. But its scope is limited-so here are some friendly ways (some competitive, some not) to bring a bit of collaborative energy efficiency to your neighborhood while waiting for your energy provider to join in the fun.
- Compare bills on your own
No need to wait for your electric company to get with the program-you can gather together your friends and neighbors and start an energy comparison of your own. Gather everyone together once a month, bills in hand, to see where you stand. Similar sized households can go head-to-head, and the most efficient energy users reign supreme. - Have a raw potluck competition
Challenge friends or neighbors to create a spectacular culinary concoction without using a single appliance-blender, oven, stove, or microwave. Have the group vote anonymously on the best dish, and give the winner a prize (a bottle of organic wine).or simply the satisfaction of knowing their dish was the best. (A few dish ideas: salads, crudo/sashimi, chopped fruit soaked in sugar and a splash of brandy with hand-whipped cream for dessert.) - Have a dinner party in the dark
Candles are a dinner party's best friend. so go beyond dimming, and turn the lights all the way off. Spend 2-3 hours enjoying lovely food, conversation, and conservation with a dinner party lit exclusively by candles. Remind guests to shut off all their lights before coming over, too. - Get together to watch your favorite shows
There's no need for five TVs in a single building to be tuned to the same channel at the exact same time. Shoot an email to your friends and neighbors and see if any of them want to join you on your couch for the next episode of The Office, Gossip Girl or Emeril Green. They're more fun to watch with others, anyway. - Power down, and write letters instead of emails
Instead of sending a "hello, how are you, here's what's new" email to a friend, send a letter instead! Getting a letter in the mail is far more exciting than a new email in the inbox. And instead of emailing your upstairs neighbor to remind them that they promised to feed your chinchilla on Sunday, slip a note under the door. Of course, both of these can be on recycled paper—whether on the blank back of an already used piece, or on a blank strip cut from the bottom of a page. Get creative!
More on Green Parties:
Green Block Party
Eco-Conscious Party
Organic Beer Tasting Party
All About Green Dinner Parties
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