The move to clean-energy alternatives is gaining momentum, focusing government and private-sector organizations on advancing the deployment of renewable energy sources—and solar is most often the shining star of these efforts. The key to growth in the U.S. solar energy sector is consumer education—helping energy users understand the benefits of solar to the environment and their pocketbooks.
Breaking through the clutter to get a message across about the benefits of a clean-energy project takes creativity and ingenuity. That’s why we found Google’s Project Sunroof so intriguing. Project Sunroof is an online, interactive map that uses Google Earth’s high-res aerial photos and mapping data. Consumers can enter their addresses into the tool and it will calculate whether installing solar panels on their roofs makes sense in terms of the amount of energy that would be generated.
As a communications vehicle to promote solar, Project Sunroof succeeds on many levels. It has a clear focus (Does solar energy make sense for you?); a clear audience (potential solar energy consumers) and is user-friendly. These attributes are among the principles that should guide all outreach efforts.
In today’s information age—or, arguably, the “information overload” age—an effective outreach program that successfully captures and retains stakeholders’ attention is essential. Many projects, no matter how well intentioned, may not be able to gain the consensus they need to get off the ground because of insufficient or ineffective outreach. That’s why savvy project planners view outreach not as an afterthought but as a basic and critical component of every initiative.
