Connecticut Light & Power Company

In February 2004, The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P)’s Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) department initiated a review of its educational resource center program—the SmartLiving Center (SLC) in Newington, Conn. The SLC was originally designed to serve as a “hub” for residential energy conservation programs. In an effort to create market transformation in the home building, lighting and appliance markets over time, the Center provided information regarding C&LM programs and energy-efficient building techniques/products. After performing several cost-benefit analyses of the SLC budget, labor costs, and number of visitors, C&LM management/program staff determined that program changes were necessary in order to reach a broader audience of Connecticut’s energy customers. As a result, CL&P initiated a new education center program in late 2004—the Museum Partnership program. The program is administered by CL&P and overseen by the Energy Conservation Management Board (ECMB). The program is funded by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund; customer provided funding for ECMB-guided programs.

Innovation: The Museum Partnership’s objective was designed to expand the SLC concept to provide energy-efficiency program information to a wider audience by partnering with key educational museums, science centers and other high-traffic public venues throughout Connecticut. This information is delivered through workshops, children activities and exhibits with emphasis on broad C&LM program offerings. The Museum Partnership’s target audience includes: architects, builders, businesses, designers, educators/students, homeowners, homebuyers, trade allies, and residential customers and their families. CL&P designed the Museum Partnership program to prevent the loss of the SLC’s direct marketing conduit to Connecticut’s residential energy consumers. Through several museum collaborations, the Museum Partnership is delivering its energy-efficiency message to a much broader audience than the old SLC program.

In October 2004, CL&P’s Museum Partnership program initiated a successful partnership with the Stepping Stones Museum for Children in Norwalk (SSMC) with C&LM’s sponsorship of “Energy Awareness” month—a series of energy conservation activities and workshops. One of the United States’ top 50 children’s museums, SSMC delivers high-quality educational displays, programs and workshops to children under the age of 10. In the first quarter of 2005, SSMC and CL&P worked to develop three permanent energy-efficiency stations in the SSMC’s popular “In the Works” gallery. Opening in 2005, the new stations include: a Connect It! Conserve It! exhibit where children construct electrical circuits; a What’s Your Wattage? exhibit that allows visitors to compare the energy consumption of incandescent versus compact fluorescent light bulbs; and Gallery Explorations—a hands-on tour that leads children through various demonstrations regarding energy and its conservation.

In January 2005, CL&P also initiated a successful partnership with the Connecticut Science Center (CSC), scheduled for its grand opening in Fall 2008 in Hartford, Conn. CL&P, the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund are working together to create an innovative, inquiry-based Clean and Efficient Exhibit. This exhibit will portray a partially built ‘Energy City’ detailing to visitors the energy-efficient and clean renewable technologies that can be installed in commercial and residential buildings. With interactive exhibits and a Global Climate Change theater, this Clean and Efficient Exhibit is expected to educate approximately 400,000 schoolchildren and visitors about climate change and the technologies (energy-efficient and renewable) that exist to combat this global environmental issue.

Results: In 2005 alone, CL&P saved $563,500 on its budget costs, thereby operating more cost-effectively than the prior SLC program. Prior to closing the program in February 2004, the SLC’s annual budget was $630,000 and was visited by approximately 1,000 people per month. 2004, 2005 and 2006 Museum Partnership program budgets were $11,500, $66,500 and $ 11,500 respectively and the program’s exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations were visited by 8,000 people (2004 – one-month temporary exhibit), 25,000 people (2005 – October grand opening of permanent exhibit), and over 90,000 (2006). In October 2006, CL&P continued its partnership during energy awareness month and sponsored energy-efficiency workshops for over 10,000 children and adults. Over 400,000 visitors are expected to view the permanent energy-efficiency stations over the next two to five years, including the annual October energy awareness month established to coincide with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Change a Light, Change the World campaign. CL&P’s decision to energize its education center program has allowed the C&LM department to reach Connecticut’s consumers in a cost-effective manner by allowing for high-visibility of conservation programs with minimal costs incurred by CL&P.