Visit Saint Paul
is collaborating with the city of St. Paul on a high-tech promotion
that encourages people to explore downtown landmarks where various
sustainability efforts are underway.
As a part of the contest, which runs until Oct. 1 and is called "
Saint Paul: Code Green," players can scan large QR codes on banners that adorn 16 sites, according to Jake Spano, a city spokesperson.
QR
codes are a kind of barcode that's readable by smartphones. People can
also enter the contest by using text messages and paper forms.
After
scanning the QR code, participants will be directed on their phones to a
website that "will give the user a branded experience based on the
location they are at," which includes links to related eco-friendly
facts and initiatives, according to a prepared statement about the
event.
City Hall,
Park Square Theatre, and
Como Park Zoo and Conservatory are just three of the many and varied venues participating.
Spano
hopes the promotion helps convey how the city has become a leader in
sustainability, helping to educate people about the benefits of its green
initiatives both in terms of cost and energy efficiency.
"We
want to get people to think, to create a curiosity around prominent
tourist attractions and drive traffic downtown," he says.
Possible home initiatives range from retrofitting old windows to switching out fluorescent light
bulbs to be more energy efficient. "These are
things that people can do at home and apply to their daily life," Spano
says.
Additionally, participants have the chance to win various green prizes, including a
2011 Chevrolet Volt, an energy-efficient furnace, an Energy Star-rated washer
and dryer and an electric lawn mower.
Source: Jake Spano, City of St. Paul
Writer: Anna Pratt