Welcome to the Energy Smackdown™! The Smackdown is designed to be both fun and effective—even life altering. 
                    
					<h3>Metaphors</h3>
					The Energy Smackdown&trade; is organized around two familiar metaphors: a journey and a game. Participants are <strong>travelers</strong> on a <strong>journey</strong>. 
					The have a virtual travel <strong>bag</strong> in which they keep a virtual <strong>journal</strong>. 
					<br /><br /> 
					Along their journey, 
					they collect <strong>nuggets</strong>, which are carbon-reduction actions that lead to higher levels of energy efficiency. 
					Travelers can collect as many nuggets they wish. Some nuggets are mandatory to advance through the four increasingly difficult 
					<strong>levels</strong> of energy conservation. 
					
					<h3>Challenges</h3>
					The Energy Smackdown&trade; is organized into two broad challenges.
					<b>Household challenge: </b>Participants are evaluated based on their percent reduction in per person CO2 emissions as well 
					as per person carbon footprint. Reductions are measured in five areas:</li>
					<ul>
					<li>electricity</li>
					<li>heating (home, hot water, plus cooking and dryer if gas)</li>
					<li>travel (car and non-business plane travel)</li>
					<li>waste</li>
					<li>consumption of meat</li>
					</ul>
					
					<b>Team challenge: </b>Members of a community or organization work together to expand their impact. Points are 
					awarded based on the total nuggets the team members have collected. As part of the Team Challenge, special <b>challenge events</b> are 
					organized to highlight key issues related to energy consumption and to increase awareness in the community. Points earned in 
					challenge events are added to the team score.</li>
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					To sign up for the Energy Smackdown&trade;, click <a href="http://www.energysmackdown.com/index.php?page=req_invitation">Request Invitation</a>. 
					If you have questions, read our 
                    <a href="http://www.energysmackdown.com/index.php?page=faq">frequently asked questions</a> or send us an email 
                    at <a href="mailto:info@energysmackdown.com">info@energysmackdown.com</a>.