Energy Facebook for Westport?

Westport's Green Energy Task Force wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote clean energy usage with a little friendly competition.

With the help of Earth Markets and a pending federal grant, the task force hopes to join a statewide energy savings project that encourages efficiency and allows participants to track their savings as well as that of their neighbors and surrounding communities.

Earth Markets, founded by Bryan Garcia and Kerry O'Neill, is a social venture that develops residential energy efficiency projects that provide cost savings to consumers and reduce energy usage, according to its Web site.

O'Neill presented the idea of Westport joining the Connecticut Community Energy Savings Project to the task force in October. At that meeting, the task force approved Westport's participation, providing the grant is awarded and the project receives the Board of Selectmen's blessing. 

The board is considering the project at its Wednesday meeting.

Through the U.S. Department of Energy, community clusters can apply for grants between $1 million and $5 million. Westport would be part of the Fairfield County cluster, O'Neill said.

The grant would fund a community-wide campaign to engage residents in energy efficiency and clean energy usage. Through an online platform, residents can sign up to be energy efficient and track their progress. They can create a page for themselves, similar to Facebook, indicating what their goals are to become more energy efficient and their overall savings. A personal energy advisor gives them advice on how to save money, energy and other resources in their own lives, and track how they compare to their friends, neighbors and community. 

"This is a Web site focused on your shopping habits, energy use, etc.," O'Neill said. "It ranks neighborhoods on how much money is saved and how many kilowatt hours are reduced. You can friend people, set up groups, link into Facebook and Twitter."

It gives residents simple ways to start, such as replacing light bulbs or unplugging appliances not in use. Then it suggests other ways to reduce energy usage, such as enhancing insulation and replacing heating or cooling systems.

"We'd like to continue that with community awareness," O'Neill said. "The basic idea is we will help the citizens reduce energy use, costs and greenhouse gas emissions."