Climate Showcase Communities
   Local Climate and Energy Program
                                Effective Practices for Implementing Local
                                Climate and  Energy Programs:
                                Working with Early Adopters
 Lessons Learned by Communities for Communities
 The views expressed in this document are those of the Climate Showcase Communities grant recipients. U.S. EPA does not endorse any
 products or commercial services mentioned.
WHAT IS IT?
"Early adopters" are businesses or individuals who participate in a program early on in its
development and whose candid feedback help improve program delivery. They can be
effective messengers to their peers and help your program build a track record of success.
WHY DO IT?
•   Data from tracking the progress of early adopters can be useful when the majority of
    your audience is ready to engage.
•   Working with early adopters provides an opportunity to identify and solve issues before
    a larger program roll-out.
•   Early adopters offer credible, visible examples for others to follow. For example, business
    owners trust that an idea has merit if they see other businesses doing it.
•   They can become mentors to others, and they can be a source of success stories.

WHAT WORKS?
•   Provide lots of exposure and public relations opportunities for businesses and individuals
    acting as early adopters.
•   Hold regular check-in meetings to give early adopters time to talk about any challenges
    that they are experiencing and to allow your program to help solve them.
•   For commercial  participants, ask them to "sell your program" by calling three non-
    participating businesses and encouraging them to participate.
•   Become familiar with the staff in charge of implementing and  doing the work (not just
    management).
WHAT SHOULD YOU WATCH OUT FOR?
•   It may not be as easy to engage the majority of your audience, compared with early
    adopters.
•   Do not use early adopters as "program ambassadors" if the rest of your audience cannot
    relate to them.
•   Focus on ambassadors who can stay on message and represent the program well. You do
    not need to accept ALL offers of help.
WHAT RESOURCES HAVE PROJECTS FOUND TO BE USEFUL?
•   Driving Demand for Home Energy Improvements—Report from Lawrence Berkeley
    National Laboratory: drivingdemand.lbl.gov
                                                                  "It helps get programs off
                                                                  the ground! It provides
                                                                  initial data and an
                                                                  opportunity to learn what
                                                                  works."
                                                                  Lisa, Green Homes Challenge,
                                                                  Frederick County, Maryland
                                                                  "Early adopters won't quit
                                                                  at the first snag that
                                                                  comes up."

                                                                  Juliette, Maximizing GHG
                                                                  Reductions Through Food Waste
                                                                  Diversion, Humboldt County,
                                                                  California
ŁEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
                                         April 2015
EPA-430-F-15-011

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