The city of Cascais found out that 50% of its energy is consumed by the households. Therefore the city decided to hire the “Watt Busters”- enthusiastic employees of the local energy agency - to chase the watts in the private households through the communication with citizens, provision of free energy audit and professional advisory services on how to cut their energy bills. The main objective is to reduce the energy consumption in the households by 10%.
A “Watt Buster” Fernando Pais explained how he proceeds. At first he asks the inhabitants for their energy bills (appliances, hot water, heating, lighting, etc.) and then attempts to identify the points of excessive energy consumption – so called “energy waste hot spots”. Then he simulates what effect would have the adoption of different saving measures on the consumption, sometimes using the thermal photography, and finally he recommends the most beneficial measures that will help the households to get rid of the annoying watts.
Fernando is sometimes accompanied by the journalists from local newspapers who like to write the stories about his fights and victories. This motivates more and more people to call the free “Watt Busters” telephone number and start to do the savings themselves.
The “Watt Busters” are successful: in average 15% of energy savings per house are reached every year which reduces the greenhouse gas emissions by 275 kg/household. And the business is running very well, the “Ghost” or “Watt” Busters, it does not matter, everybody will remember them!
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