PSE&G: The Great Energy Escape
We partnered with PSE&G to design a first-of-its-kind, award-winning mobile escape room that brings energy efficiency to life—driving awareness, engagement, and action in communities across New Jersey.
Picture this: inside a 53-foot tractor-trailer, utility customers set out on a clue-finding mission, solving 12 digital and analog puzzles—from fridge magnets and fake toast to touchscreens—all while learning about energy-saving solutions in a fun, interactive way.
Challenge
With modern life so busy, PSE&G knew that energy efficiency wasn’t always top of mind for its customers. So how do you create an experience that is both fun and educational? That’s what our collaboration set out to solve. Together, we brainstormed ideas for raising awareness about the importance of energy efficiency. We landed on a creative solution: a mobile escape room designed to look like the inside of a real home, where visitors could discover cost-saving tips and learn how PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs make a difference.
Solution
We partnered with Impact XM to bring the idea to life—from puzzle development and budget forecasting to construction and activation planning.
The experience includes two identical escape rooms (each custom-built to fit inside a 53-foot trailer) where participants solve energy-themed puzzles that showcase energy-efficient appliances and PSE&G's energy efficiency programs. Participants are given fifteen minutes to solve as many challenges as possible before time runs out. The space itself is climate-controlled by energy-efficient heat pump technology, further demonstrating real-world energy-saving solutions.
The mobile unit encompasses more than just the escape room—it offers a variety of interactive elements to engage participants while they wait. These include "Rock the Bike" stationary bikes that measure energy usage, plus games like cornhole and Plinko, all designed to educate attendees about energy consumption in a fun and hands-on way. PSE&G brand ambassadors are on-site to engage with attendees, provide information about energy-saving programs, and sign up participants for relevant services.
Results
This project sets a new standard for mobile activations by gamifying energy efficiency. The Great Energy Escape has already made a significant impact in raising awareness about energy efficiency in a highly engaging way.
And it’s working: 96% of participants give The Great Energy Escape four or five stars out of five. 93% of players said they learned something new about energy efficiency, while 90% of players said they planned to implement energy efficiency strategies they learned in the game at home. These results are key to PSE&G’s goal of educating and engaging customers.
“This initiative has been a meaningful way to engage with our customers. By combining education and entertainment, the mobile escape room sparks real excitement around energy efficiency and encourages people to take action at home. That’s exactly the kind of impact we strive for.”
96%
participants give The Great Energy Escape four or five stars out of five
93%
said they learned something new about energy efficiency from the escape room
90%
said they planned to implement energy efficiency strategies they learned in the game at home
