Spring cleaning took on a new meaning for the City of Pico Rivera this April, as Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy (PRIME) used the season as a launchpad for a fresh approach to community energy education.
In an effort to combat misinformation and share efficiency tips, PRIME teamed up with Tripepi Smith to develop an interactive booth campaign centered around “spring cleaning energy myths.” Residents picked a myth-or-fact card from a clothesline display, shared their answer and tossed the card into a spring cleaning bin if it was a myth. This hands-on activity gave neighbors a welcoming, engaging way to learn about PRIME and clean energy basics.
“Misinformation is a major barrier to residents benefiting from PRIME, which is why we wanted to address it in a fun, memorable way,” said PRIME Sustainability Coordinator Paola Granados. “The Tripepi Smith team took our vision for an interactive booth and ran with it, creating a finished product that made a real difference in how we connect with our community.”
The project was overseen and led by Senior Business Analyst Peter Johnson and Business Analyst Olivia Rizzuto, with Junior Business Analyst Benjamin Smith and Junior Graphic Designer Jessa Laboissonniere taking charge of the content development and design process. The card deck covered a wide range of facts, myths and topics. Through bright colors and fun clothing shapes, the deck captivated Pico Rivera residents attending local spring community events.
The campaign is part of a broader seasonal outreach strategy, with Tripepi Smith continuing to develop outreach programming that ties energy education to timely moments throughout the year. A summer booth activity focused on energy conservation during peak heat is already in development for future events.
“PRIME gives our team the creative freedom to truly innovate,” said Peter. “The Community Choice Energy space is rapidly evolving, and the most successful agencies are those willing to meet their communities in new ways. This campaign is a perfect example of that forward-thinking approach.”
About Pico Rivera
Pico Rivera is a thriving community that offers opportunities to all who live, work, and relax in the City. Situated on the eastern edge of the Los Angeles basin and the southern edge of the area known as the San Gabriel Valley, Pico Rivera is approximately 13 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Formed by merging two historic communities, Pico and Rivera, the City was officially incorporated in January 1958 as the 61st city in Los Angeles County. Originally an agricultural area, the community evolved into a residential and industrial area following the end of World War II. Pico Rivera is governed by a Council-Manager form of government. The voters of Pico Rivera elect a five-member City Council, which in turn appoints a City Manager to carry out its policies and serve as the administrative head of the city organization.
About Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy
Pico Rivera Innovative Municipal Energy (PRIME) is a locally-run, not-for-profit, public energy service created and operated by the City of Pico Rivera. As the city’s energy provider, PRIME purchases clean, renewable electricity power on behalf of residents and businesses for the benefit of the community.
About Tripepi Smith
Tripepi Smith is a California-based marketing, technology and public affairs firm that serves for-profit, nonprofit and public agencies. Its unique mix of marketing and technology prowess provides a competitive advantage to agencies seeking to leverage the internet to achieve their communication goals. The firm provides full content creation services, including: ghost writing, collateral development, photography, video production, aerial imagery, search engine optimization, email marketing campaigns and website design and execution. Tripepi Smith’s diverse clients include: City of American Canyon, City of Calabasas, City of Culver City, City of Cupertino, City of Daly City, City of Grover Beach, City of Indian Wells, City of La Cañada Flintridge, City of Lake Forest, City of Livermore, City of Malibu, City of Napa, City of Palmdale, City of Paramount, City of Tracy, CalChoice Energy Authority, California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Costa Mesa Sanitary District, Rowland Water District, California City Management Foundation, Renne Public Law Group, West Coast Arborists, Scripps College, Blind Children’s Center and Climatec.