Season 1 of the Energy Smackdown was limited to three Medford, MA families. The households were required to have a real opportunity to save energy, support of their families, and a desire to participate by tracking their energy usage: electricity (kwh), gas (therms), auto travel (miles), air travel (miles), and trash sent to the landfill (lbs). 
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Over 5 months, the three households reduced per person carbon emissions by 45%, 53% and 68%.  They did this by: driving their cars less, using public transportation more, reducing consumption of electricity and gas, recycling and composting more, purchasing new energy efficient appliances and lighting, and insulating their homes.
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In addition to reducing their personal CO2 output, the three households brought other households into the contest: 3 families, 12 families, and 25 families respectively. A 7-part video docuseries was created to document the contest and has been broadcast on community access channels: TV3 Medford and Arlington Community Media Television.
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