Volkswagon’s FunTheory is a fantastic idea. If a behavior as simple as taking the stairs instead of the escalator can be changed simply by turning the stairs into something as fun as a piano, then what other improvements to our daily lives can encourage by making dreaded tasks fun? I’m thinking in particular of global warming, and how we use energy (after all, I work for a marketing agency that deals with a lot of renewable energy clients).

It seems like most of the marketing for energy conservation and renewable energy revolves around two things: combating global warming, and promoting the economic benefits of renewable energy. Neither of these is fun. Is there a way that we can make conserving energy exciting, rather than something we’re doing so we can save the planet or save money? I bet if your lights said “Thank you” and sighed with relief when you shut them off, we’d turn them off more.

Does anyone have any other ideas for how we can make conserving energy fun? I would love to hear them!