SACRAMENTO - Cities throughout California are invited to sign up now through Aug. 31 to participate in the statewide CoolCalifornia Challenge, a community-based competition to cut carbon emissions.

The CoolCalifornia Challenge runs from Oct. 1, 2015, to March 30, 2016, the California Air Resources Board and Energy Upgrade California® announced today. The competition aims to enlist cities to engage households and community groups across the state to reduce household energy and water use, reduce transportation-related emissions, and create more vibrant and sustainable communities. Participants in each city log their actions to reduce greenhouse gases in an online carbon calculator, which determines how much carbon is decreased in each city.

One winner will be crowned, and earn recognition as, the “Coolest California City” on Earth Day. “I encourage every city to sign up,” California Air Resources Board Chair Mary D. Nichols said. “The CoolCalifornia Challenge brings Californians from all walks of life together in a healthy competition to fight climate change.”

Each Challenge round has resulted in demonstrable carbon reductions. In 2014, compared to the 2013 pilot year, there were 40 percent more households participating and 60 percent more greenhouse gas reductions in half the time. In 2015, the Challenge is now a project of Energy Upgrade California®, a statewide initiative to help Californians take action to save energy and conserve natural resources, reduce demand on the electricity grid and make informed energy management choices at home and at work. 

The Challenge provides a way for local governments, organizations and communities to come together using existing social networks to engage and motivate hundreds of participants to achieve a common sustainability goal.  The Challenge encourages individuals to make better energy-related choices at home, at work and on the road. It is designed to integrate with cities’ existing sustainability initiatives and support their greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Cash prizes again will be given to cities that participate in the Challenge. Points are earned a number of ways, including by reducing household energy use and tailpipe emissions. For example, participants may choose to ride a bike instead of driving, or to hang laundry out to dry instead of using a dryer. Points are easily tracked using the City Challenge online software.

Key dates for this year’s competition:

• Now through Aug. 31: Cities register to participate 
• July-September:  ‘Challenge’ planning period for cities/community based organizations
• Oct. 1: Start date for participant sign-ups and earning points 
• Dec. 15: Midway contest for participant sign-ups ends
• March 30, 2016: Challenge competition ends/last day to earn points
• Earth Day, April 22, 2016: Winners announced
• May (date TBD): Award ceremony crowning the victor and runner-up cities, prize money awarded

Cities interested in the participating in this year's Challenge should click here for more information. 

The CoolCaliforna Challenge is a collaborative effort between California government and university and nonprofit organizations with support from the CoolCalifornia Challenge Management Team, consisting of members from Energy Upgrade California®, the California Air Resources Board and researchers at UC Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory.

Energy Upgrade California® is a state initiative to educate residents and small business consumers about energy management. The initiative helps Californians take action to save energy and conserve natural resources, reduce demand on the electricity grid, and make informed energy management choices at home and at work. It is supported by an alliance of the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission, utilities, regional energy networks, local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to help communities meet state and local energy and climate action goals. Funding comes from investor-owned utility customers under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. ©2013 Energy Upgrade California. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. 

To support voluntary actions to reduce carbon emissions, ARB has developed a variety of tools and resources that are available at coolcalifornia.org.

For more information, contact Pamela Wellner at (415) 795-2149 or challenge@energyupgradeca.org.