Robert Coffman, Lawrence, owner/operator of Airtight Home Energy Audits, performs an energy audit on a home in southwest Lawrence, using a blower door to de-pressurize the house and detect leaks. An energy competition will be held between cities like Lawrence and Manhattan early next year.

Change the lightbulb. Soon it may be worth $100,000 — and perhaps as valuable — a good way to stick it to the K-State Wildcats.

Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday are set to add a high-stakes twist to the Kansas University-Kansas State University rivalry by signing up for a competition that pits Lawrence and Manhattan against each other in a contest to see which community can save the most energy.

“There are going to be bragging rights on the line and real money at stake,” said Eileen Horn, sustainability coordinator for Lawrence and Douglas County.

The contest by the Lawrence-based Climate and Energy Project and the Kansas Energy Office, will measure Lawrence and Manhattan in three broad categories from January through September to determine which community is doing more to reduce energy usage. The winner will receive a $100,000 grant to undertake a project to improve the efficiency of public lighting in their city.

The two cities will be measured in categories that include:

• Which city has the highest percentage of residents signed up for a home energy audit and then how many homeowners follow through on making recommended home improvements.

• Which community has the highest percentage of residents participate in one of Westar’s energy efficiency programs.

• Which city has the highest percentage of residents attend special energy efficiency events — including a light bulb replacement program — sponsored by each city.

If it sounds complicated, Horn says it really is not.

“What were really trying to do is find rabid Jayhawk fans who hate the Wildcats and hope that this competition gives them the extra boost they need to winterize their homes,” said Horn.

The idea of using people’s competitive juices to get them involved in energy efficiency is a unique one, and has recently garnered the Lawrence-based Climate and Energy Project some national attention. The New York Times featured the organization in an Oct. 18 article. The Climate and Energy Project sponsored a similar competition in six Kansas communities last year — with Merriam being the big winner with a 5 percent reduction in energy usage.

But leaders with the non-profit are hoping to increase the profile of the contest in 2011 with 16 cities participating.

Dorothy Barnett — director of energy and transmission for the non-profit — said the group is hoping to play off people’s desire to save money and to best a neighbor.

“When people hear about energy efficiency, they often think there is nothing they can do or whatever they can do will cost too much,” Barnett said. “Neither is true. The fun thing about this program is it allows people to make some pretty simple changes in their homes and save money while doing it. And if I think changing a lightbulb may help us beat K-State, I might be more inclined to participate.”

With money from the federal stimulus program, the Kansas Energy Office is providing a funding boost for the competition. Both Lawrence and Manhattan will receive a $25,000 grant to use to market energy efficiency programs in their cities. They’ll also have the use of one of five new part-time employees the Climate and Energy Project will hire to be coordinators for the contest.

But the biggest dollars are being saved for the prizes. The winner between Lawrence and Manhattan is guaranteed a $100,000 grant that can be used on any type of project to improve the efficiency of public lighting, such as street lights, park lighting or lighting in a publicly owned building. The contest also plans to offer three other $100,000 grants to the winners from 14 other communities that have been invited to participate.

Lawrence city commissioners will receive a presentation on the program at their weekly meeting, which begins at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. They’ll also be asked to formally sign up for the competition.