We haven’t yet gotten to the Victory Garden stage of public participation but the Kill-a-Watt Challenge is a start in the right direction. The Challenge provides some competitive spirit in everyone’s effort to cut energy use…and it offers recognition and prizes to boot.

The only downside is that it doesn’t reward people who are already conservation-minded. I’d be interested in some sort of kilowatt per person per residence statistics. Instead, rewards are based on the amount of energy reduction over the four month period beginning today over the same period last year. Individuals, neighborhoods, and businesses can compete.

The Austin Chronicle is looking for prize donations. Contact scaplan@austinchronicle.com if you’d like to contribute a prize. “No prize is too small.” Movie tickets, massages, business gift certificates have already been donated.

Sign Up via the Chronicle website. Austin Energy will do the killowatt comparison based on your utility bills. I’ve already signed up.