TerraPerks turns home-based sustainability into biz

Wednesday, March 2, 2011 | Source: Concentrate

The Toyota Prius has become a badge of sustainability for environmentally conscious progressives, but how do you translate that point of public pride to home and energy water bills? TerraPerks believes it has an answer.

The Ann Arbor-based start-up is creating a green PR/marketing tool for everyday people called EnergyFlair.com. The company would leverage competitions, virtual rewards and social media to turn sustainable-home practices into a Prius-like badge of honor that would in turn encourage others to do the same.

"It really serves as a word-of-mouth marketing tool," says Rajesh Nerlikar, co-founder & CEO of TerraPerks. "We want to create more conversations around home energy efficiency."

TerraPerks' version of home-based sustainability includes a range of environmentally conscious practices, such as lowering electricity bills. The 1-year-old company's staff of two people and a handful of independent contractors would work with local utilities (it hopes to partner with its first one this year) to help EnergyFlair.com gain traction in encouraging environmentally responsible behavior.

"It could be water conservation or encouraging people to take public transportation," Nerlikar says. "Right now we are focusing on energy efficiency."

Source: Rajesh Nerlikar, co-founder & CEO of TerraPerks
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.