“Each one teach one” is a phrase that originated in the United States during the time of slavery, when Africans were denied an education. When an enslaved person learned or was taught to read, it became their responsibility to teach someone else. Can the same concept be applied to energy efficiency implementation? Can the private sector successfully encourage one another to make a real impact and conserve energy?
In Maine, businesses are encouraging one another to improve their energy efficiency. Each business can help another to tackle an energy efficiency upgrade. Small business owner and founder of ClimateWork Maine, Alan Caron said, "Our concern is the small and medium businesses who want to do something, want to do the right thing, and need some help to do it. So, we're in the information flow. We try to get businesses who have done things to advise businesses who haven't." Caron believes that spending money now on upfront costs will result in greater long-term savings.
“I think everybody has to do what they can, and all we can do is work on what is here locally,” said Rauni Kew, the green program manager for the 62-room inn.
In Illinois, DTE Energy awarded to local energy-efficient businesses as part of its 2022 Business Pride contest. “After COVID and the rising costs of everything, it was a great help to win the contest. We are now 100% LED efficient. We are seeing a difference already in our electric bill. It’s only been one month,” said award winner, Linda Dickow, of Gold ‘N Oven. Dickow got $2,000 to use toward additional improvements in energy efficiency.
Locally, businesses are providing much needed support to any that are making the energy transition. Globally, EIA projected a rise to 1,363 billion kWh for commercial customers as more people return to work in offices and 1,026 billion kWh for industrials. Will businesses respond well to positive peer pressure?