According to the USDA, the number of farmers markets in the country has nearly doubled in the past 10 years. And the number of U.S. households growing food at home or in a community garden has increased 200 percent from 2008 levels, according to the National Gardening Association.

Why? 

Consumers’ purchasing decisions are being driven by their key values. 

Independence. Resilience. Self-reliance. Local. Sustainable. These values are shifting consumer behavior and increasing demand for specific types of goods.  

Why should utilities or solar providers care? Because we see these very same values come into play when we talk to consumers about solar.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Data and Analytics, Digital Transformation and User Experience, Innovation, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices, Audience Segmentation

In celebration of American Wind Week, which kicked off on August 11th, we’re revisiting a blog post we published last year praising the many achievements of wind power. We’ve updated our thoughts from last September with a few new observations, but the sentiment stands: wind is (still) picking up speed.

Topics: Utility Communications, Innovation, Clean Energy

Become more than just your "customer's utility." It starts with a story that resonates.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Innovation, Creative

We’ve talked previously about how customer expectations and demands are rapidly changing—customers expect a modern and easy-to-use experience when they interact with energy providers’ digital products and services. We know that keeping up with evolving customer expectations and technology trends can be difficult and overwhelming. Oftentimes, it’s hard to know where to start.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Digital Transformation and User Experience, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

This year, millennials will overtake baby boomers as the largest living adult generation in the United States, growing to 73 million people. We’ve discussed what this means for new technologies and customer experience in the energy space, but what does it mean for homeownership? Furthermore, what does it mean for energy companies?

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Innovation, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, Social Media Strategy and Best Practices, Smart Technology, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices, Audience Segmentation

Here's a prediction you may be interested in hearing: By 2050, there is expected to be a 20-38 percent increase in US electricity consumption, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Innovation, Research, Creative, Electrification, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

Every second of every day, millions of homes across the Northeast are losing energy, and their homeowners don’t even know it. That’s $300 more in energy costs each year and 1,400 pounds in unnecessary carbon emissions per household. And while customers care about their wallets and the environment, the topic of energy loss isn’t top of mind: it’s tedious, dull, and confusing. But it doesn’t have to be. 

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Innovation, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, Inspiration, Sustainability Marketing, Creative, Media Strategy and Best Practices, Marketing Strategy and Best Practices

It’s been two years since President Trump announced plans for the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. And while Congress continues to battle it out on how to proceed, utilities across the nation continue to step up and strengthen their commitment to a clean energy future, announcing ambitious goals for carbon reduction. Just last year, Xcel Energy became the first to announce plans to go carbon free by 2050. And the climate commitments keep coming.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Climate Change, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value

Gillette standing alongside the transgender community. Disney standing up to the State of Georgia for its position on abortion. National Grid standing behind our planet, stating clearly, as a utility, its position on global warming.

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Climate Change, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value

If you find that question hard to answer, you’re not alone. For many energy companies, establishing a distinct personality through social media often seems like a pipe dream, especially when they have enough trouble establishing a regular presence or a consistent content marketing strategy on their social media channels. When tasked with so much else, creating a brand personality via social often feels like the extra sprinkles on a sundae—nice to have, but does it make a difference in the quality of the product?

Topics: Customer-Centric Marketing, Utility Communications, Digital Transformation and User Experience, Clean Energy, Social Media Strategy and Best Practices, Inspiration, Branding and Brand Value