New Jersey Natural Gas is using a social media sweepstakes to reward customers for learning about energy savings while also financially benefiting local food banks.
The You Save, We Donate sweepstakes was launched in 2016 as part of NJNG’s commitment to sustainability.
Designed to make energy savings fun, the challenges—which this year ran on Facebook and Instagram from Sept. 5 through Nov. 22—included word searches and crossword puzzles to promote energy-savings awareness, with a payoff that was twofold.
In addition to selecting two weekly $100 gift card winners, NJNG made a $5 donation to local food banks every time someone participated—whether the answer was correct or incorrect—and $2.50 for each like, up to a combined total of $10,000.
“Ensuring healthy and sustainable communities includes helping customers use energy wisely,” Anne-Marie Peracchio, managing director of marketing and energy efficiency at NJNG, told American Gas. “Through the You Save, We Donate sweepstakes, we are committed to raising awareness about food insecurities. We are inviting our customers to join us in making a difference by encouraging them to think differently about how they use energy while helping support Fulfill and Interfaith Food Pantry and ensure food is available to our neighbors in need.”
According to Peracchio, the sweepstakes have evolved over the years, starting in 2016 with a holiday energy-hog theme and moving into a “fall into savings” theme. In the last two years, the sweepstakes have delivered new concepts to customers, expanded to Instagram and utilized additional social media functions to solicit greater engagement across broader customer segments.
“The sweepstakes align with our overall customer engagement strategy by leveraging different vehicles to communicate with customers in the ways they prefer while helping ensure equitable access to energy efficiency,” Peracchio said. “This includes delivering DIY low- to no-cost recommendations designed to meet our customers’ varying needs and budgets.”
Specific to the sweepstakes, Peracchio says NJNG’s education campaign includes prioritizing conservation and energy efficiency, which complement the company’s sustainability initiatives.
“Though all our sweepstakes are designed with energy savings in mind, You Save, We Donate was created specifically to help raise awareness about and address food insecurity in our communities,” Peracchio said.