Montreux is influencing the population by being an example. This has made it one of the more than 100 Shining Examples of the Display Campaign.

Montreux is a city with a population of 23,170 inhabitants situated on Lake Geneva, in Switzerland.

The town’s energy information office is there to inform people on energy matters, to raise awareness on energy issues and to promote renewable energy technologies.

Within the Display® Campaign, the town first looked at raising the awareness of its 500 local authority workers by sending them an Energy box guide dealing with energy efficiency in the household and some documentation about Display®. Caretakers and building managers, as well as some estate and building service managers even followed a specific information session.

Every building has displayed a poster, even those with bad results.

In April 2007, the city decided to get in touch with the general public and present the Display® Campaign by organising an exhibition of several stands (85x200) at the entrances of two secondary schools and a swimming pool that welcomes about 130,000 people per year. The aim being to raise younger people’s awareness through simple and attractive communication measures.

During the “Journées du Soleil” (Days of the Sun) event on the 4th and 5th of May, the Energy Information office was in charge of a stand presenting the solar installations of the town. Part of this stand was dedicated to Display®, with about ten posters and the information boards used during the previous exhibition.

Following each of these events, a press release was sent to about fifteen different regional media (newspapers, television and radio).

Financing of the events above has been possible using the budgets allocated to the different town departments. Montreux showed pragmatism and innovation and demonstrated an exemplary attitude regarding energy policy communication. This resulted in Montreux receiving the 2nd price at this year’s “Towards Class A” awards (see above).

More information on Montreux and other Shining Examples are available online on the Display website (in French only).