The Caucus has four energy efficiency challenge wheels available for municipalities to borrow for their events. Other items that are included when borrowing the game include three tabletop signs with instructions and energy-efficiency tips, and an assortment of prizes.
Energy Efficiency Games
The Caucus will be loaning out two different energy efficiency games for municipalities’ upcoming events. There are four energy efficiency challenge wheels available for municipalities to borrow for Earth Day and other events. There are two energy efficiency toss games.
These games and prizes for municipalities are made possible through the generous support of the Illinois Science & Energy Innovation Foundation (ISEIF).
Challenge Wheel Game Instructions
Each space on the challenge wheel represents an energy efficiency action that residents can do at home. It is divided into different difficulty levels based on the color of the space:
- Yellow and Green spaces are easy tasks that require limited changes to the normal routine.
- Blue and Purple spaces are tasks that require a minor initial cost or a more significant adjustment to people’s routines and comfort levels.
- Red spaces are tasks that require more effort or research to perform, or that require a continuous monetary investment.
How to Play:
- Have the participant spin the challenge wheel. Then give them more information on the task they have landed on, or direct them to the infographic tabletop signs that the Caucus provides. (For example, if they land on “Close the fridge door,” the tabletop infographic sign explains, “When you leave the refrigerator door open while deciding what to eat, it has to work harder to keep your food cool. Closing the door immediately can save you money and make your home more energy efficient.”)
- Lead the participant to make the pledge, “I will continuously…” followed by the task indicated on the wheel.
- If the participant lands on a red space and is uncomfortable taking the pledge, they may spin again for a lower tier challenge.
- After taking the pledge, have the participant pick a prize based on the difficulty level.
For municipalities that borrow this game, the Caucus will provide an instruction sheet, infographic tabletop signs (Energy Challenge Introduction sign, Wheel Space Explanation 1, Wheel Space Explanation 2), and a kit that contains prizes for the various difficulty levels on the wheel.
The energy efficiency toss game involves a participant throwing a foam Earth ball into the toss game opening, while listening to facts on energy efficiency.
Toss Game Instructions
Visitors can play this game by tossing the foam Earth balls or bean bags through the opening in the stand. For each ball they toss, they must listen to one fact related to energy efficiency. Feel free to modify this game as you see fit, such as by asking attendees to pick a number from 1-20 and then reading them that energy efficiency fact from the toss game instruction sheet. The Caucus has also provided the source material for the facts on the sheet, in case you would like to go online and find even more energy efficiency facts to share with residents.
If your community borrows this game for an event, the Caucus will provide energy efficiency prizes that can be given out to residents who throw a majority of the Earth balls into the toss game opening. If your municipality chooses to do a raffle instead, the participant can get a free or bonus entry into a raffle for a higher-priced item.
Reserve a Game for Your Municipal Event
Please fill out a Submittable form if you are interested in borrowing a game for your event. After filling out the form, we will get back to you to let you know if a game is available on that day.
**Please note: Due to our grant funding for this project ending on June 30, 2023, we do not have the funds to ship games and prizes after that date. If you would like to borrow the games after June 30th, then we will ask you to pick up the games from one of our pick-up locations or from the last municipality that borrowed the games for an event. After your event, please drop off the games to us or to the next municipality that is having an event.**
Other Energy Efficiency Activities
In addition to these games, the Caucus has other free and low-cost energy efficiency activity ideas for your municipal events at our Energy Efficiency Activities webpage.
Energy Goals
The energy efficiency games and activities support local governments in achieving the energy goals of the Greenest Region Compact and the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region.