(Madison. WI) - FOCUS ON ENERGY® selected New Richmond and Mount Horeb as the two Wisconsin communities participating in the second round of the pilot program, the “Save to Give Challenge.” Residents will raise money for local charities while they save money learning new ways to save energy.

The “Save to Give Challenge” launched in 2020 exclusively for rural communities. The program’s success in Lodi and Bayfield last year means it can expand this year.

“The ‘Save to Give Challenge’ brings communities together,” said Focus on Energy Director of Program Operations Erin Soman. “The residents in Lodi taking part in the first ‘Save to Give Challenge’ were able to help one of their community charities keep their doors open. It’s a win-win for participants who save energy and money and the nonprofits who do so much for so many.”

In both New Richmond and Mt. Horeb, any residential customer of the municipal electric utility will be eligible to participate through the utility’s website. In the same place residents pay their bills online, they can participate in the “Save to Give Challenge” where they will learn and practice no- and low-cost energy actions, tracking their progress on the website or a mobile phone app. Each time they record how they saved energy, they will earn donation points toward their favorite community nonprofits. When enough residents participate and accrue those points, Focus on Energy will donate up to $25,000 to the charities.

Participants will also have easy access to energy saving tips and information about other Focus on Energy offerings. Through time-limited campaigns – coupled with longer-term strategies – the pilot engages rural households to implement behavior-based energy savings and participate in Focus on Energy programs.

For Mt. Horeb and New Richmond, the “Save to Give Challenge” is also right in line with the communities’ goals to save energy and support local organizations. Both communities have robust networks of volunteers, social networks, and treasured nonprofits.

In New Richmond, the “Save to Give Challenge” aligns with the community’s vision, written by its residents, to protect natural resources and maintain the city’s reputation as a prosperous, civically engaged community.

“We are committed to being good stewards of our natural resources and the environment, and to supporting one another – whether it’s helping a neighbor, volunteering, or supporting a local non-profit organization,” said City Administrator and Utilities Manager Noah Wiedenfeld. “New Richmond is a community that cares. The ‘Save to Give Challenge’ will provide us with a unique opportunity to do both.”

“We’re very excited about this new opportunity for our community to come together and save energy – especially now that it will raise dollars for our favorite nonprofits,” said Village of Mt. Horeb Administrator Nic Owen.

Mt. Horeb Utilities, in partnership with WPPI Energy, will also be providing additional donations to local nonprofits when reaches participation milestones in the “Save to Give Challenge.”

For more information about the Save to Give Challenge, click here.