ASU Students Interview Local Utilities and Municipalities to Learn About Sustainability Opportunities For Homeowners

In Spring 2022, Dynamic RE teamed up with GreenLight Solutions for a third time, aiming to provide sustainable solutions accessible to homeowners and investors. Previous cohorts worked to compile resources for Dynamic’s website and create sustainable ideas for short-term rentals and properties. The team was led by Lukas Gutierrez, who worked alongside solutioneers Adina Guntermann, Alexandra Pesternikova, and Madison Harris.

​The team’s mission was to expand access and understanding of the local utility sustainability resource landscape to homeowners and real estate investors via publicly accessible media. To meet the challenge of creating outreach for resources, the team was tasked with interviewing utility companies and local municipalities in the Phoenix Valley. After the interviews were completed the videos were posted on YouTube to create accessibility for those in the real estate space and homeowners alike. 

​The team’s first objective was to reach out to and contact local utilities and municipalities. They contacted members of several departments in 2 utility companies (SRP, APS) and 6 townships (Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and Scottsdale). Scheduling interviews can be challenging with a short time limit, so they chose this as their first objective. The second objective was to create a list of questions for the interviews; The team achieved this through research and gap analyses to see what resources were available to homeowners already. The team created two lists of questions: one specifically for the utility companies and a second for municipalities. The third objective was to execute and record the interviews. The team was aiming to complete 3-5 interviews in total. The fourth objective was to edit the recorded interviews into 3 separate videos - each with a theme. The first video gives context to the audience by explaining the utility/municipality’s general sustainability goals. The second video is specific to the tools/rebates/resources/programs companies provide that homeowners and investors can take advantage of. The final video is geared toward actionability, answering how homeowners and investors can improve their home sustainability practices. The team’s last and final objective was to post this content onto Dynamic RE’s YouTube page and website.

The team’s solutions are also aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of 17 global goals set forth by the United Nations. Our project objectives closely align with Sustainable Development Goal #11 Sustainable Cities and Communities and Goal #12 Responsible Consumption and Production.

​Within Sustainable Cities and Communities, target 11.3 addresses the need to enhance sustainable urbanization and human settlement planning. This connects to the project’s objectives: educating homeowners on the various energy and water rebates to enhance sustainable urbanization.

​Furthermore, Target 11.b emphasizes the importance of resource efficiency, adaptation, and mitigation to climate change. This intertwines into the project as we hope that educating homeowners and encouraging them to take advantage of utility rebates will create a positive environmental effect. Additionally, Target 12.2 addresses the need for efficient use of natural resources which is encouraged in our videos. The project objectives help to achieve these goals because educating consumers on sustainable water or energy conservation tactics improve overall resource management. Likewise, Target 12.5 highlights the importance of waste reduction, prevention, and recycling. Again, this connects to our objectives as homeowners are more likely to participate in recycling programs and initiatives if they are aware of the relevant resources and incentives available. 

The Solutioneers learned valuable lessons in project management and the challenges that may arise during the completion of the objectives. Companies typically don’t speak on public records on resources that are already available on their websites which was a challenge the team had to overcome. The project group was hoping to gain information on how utilities and municipalities aim to bridge the gap between what resources are out there and how homeowners can utilize them. The project certainly posed many challenges for the team. Nonetheless, they landed 2 interviews posted on Dynamic’s YouTube page which now provide homeowners a seamless way to access sustainable rebates at home.

Written By: Alexandra Pesternikova