While much of the U.S. is suffering from record-high temperatures and widespread drought, one of the biggest utility companies in the country has created a novel way to encourage its customers to conserve energy.
According to The New York Times, Duke Energy and several other large utility companies have released a series of promotions via social media and the Internet to offer ways for energy users to cut back on their kilowatts. Duke has created a series of Web videos around a fictitious character that provides tips on saving energy.
The companies are also using games to build competition between customers. And while it seems counterintuitive for an energy company to discourage energy usage, but recent government mandates have forced companies to address the rising costs of energy.
