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Consider a diversity of funding and revenue sources and make selections based on local opportunities when planning for long-term program sustainability

In order to craft a sustainable financial model, organizations need to identify long-term sustainable revenue sources. As with the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, grant funding can be a great way to get an effort off the ground; however, grant funding does run out, leaving the need to secure...
Tips for Success

Good news is addictive – spread news about program accomplishments widely and often

Successful programs use many channels to communicate accomplishments and results to stakeholders. These include word of mouth and products such as press releases, announcements on websites, case studies, and presentations. Many programs use earned media—especially local media when possible—by giving...
Tips for Success

Help contractors understand the program’s financing options and benefits, so they can communicate to homeowners

Homeowners do not benefit from access to financing if they don’t know about or understand options available to them. Contractors are often the primary transaction point for selling upgrades, and many programs have found that ongoing collaboration with contractors through sales training, regular...
Tips for Success

Adapt messages to your primary target audience’s needs

Many programs found that market research can help identify, segment, and characterize audiences to understand how to prioritize them. A comprehensive evaluation of over 140 programs across the United States found that programs had greater success when they identified specific target populations...
Tips for Success

Engage media to garner attention and credibility

Many successful programs found that getting media attention for their offerings and benefits helped add credibility to marketing efforts and expand their reach. By positioning "green" stories or home improvement mini-segments on local television or radio stations, they provided timely content that...
Tips for Success

REEO Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities Webinar

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Michigan Saves,
ConEdison’s Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program,
Florida's Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program,
Set the PACE St. Louis,
City of Chicago,
Energy Outreach Colorado,
Massachusetts Low-Income Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program

This webinar covers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities for Deep Energy Savings report published in 2016.n

Resource - Webcast

Clean Energy Program Funding: EPA Local Climate and Webcast Series

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Green Works Orlando,
Community Energy Challenge,
Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL)

Three-part webinar series. Part I discusses how to design and implement funding programs, line up partners, and gain support for clean energy programs through both conventional and non-conventional methods. Part II discusses how to locate available sources of funding. Part III explains how to leverage existing funds and make clean energy investments more affordable for clean energy program audiences.

Resource - Webcast

Part I: Getting Started: Answering Big Picture Funding Questions

Author(s)
Neelam Patel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Pat McGuckin, The Cadmus Group, Inc.,
Richard Dooley, Arlington County, Virginia,
Shawn Collins, Opportunity Council,
Alex Ramel, Sustainable Connections
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Community Energy Challenge,
Green Works Orlando

This webcast (Part I of a three-part series) covers the big picture questions that local governments should consider for funding clean energy programs. What resources are available? What are the program priorities? How can these programs pay for themselves? What funding is available? The webinar guides local governments through these and other questions in the context of their own unique circumstances and illustrates the concepts through case studies that explore how local governments have used both conventional and unconventional methods to gain support, line up partners, and design and implement their funding programs.

Resource - Webcast

How to Design and Market Energy Efficiency Programs to Specific Neighborhoods

Author(s)
Michelle Leigh, County of Volusia, Florida,
Andrea Petzel, City of Seattle, Washington,
Lilah Glick, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works,
Volusia County,
FL,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)

This webcast offers information on successful marketing strategies, as well as design considerations and market research insights for creating and marketing successful projects in specific neighborhoods.

Resource - Webcast

Emerging Trends in Public-Private Financing Programs: Lessons Learned for PACE, On-Bill and Credit Enhancements

Author(s)
Kevin Moyer, Toledo Port Authority,
Ben Taube, Ygrene Energy Fund,
Greg Leventis,,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio

This presentation covers lesson learned for PACE from the Toledo Port Authority, innovative real estate finance solutions from the Ygrene Energy Fund, and financing energy improvements on utility bills.

Resource - Topical Presentations

The Ultimate Retrofit: Zero Energy Ready Homes

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on best practices on upgrades for zero energy ready homes. Speakers include  Florida Solar Energy Center and BIRAenergy.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Connect 4: Energy Efficiency in Relation to Other Program and City Goals (101)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how energy efficiency could be used to achieve other goals. It features speakers from the City of Orlando and Seattle City Light.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Update on Revenue Strategies

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart,
Energy Upgrade California,
Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF)

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on new and updated revenue strategies.

Resource - Topical Presentations

ResStock State Fact Sheets

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
2017

Each ResStock fact sheet presents the potential for residential energy and utility bill savings for the state. The top ten energy savings home improvements are highlighted.

Resource - Publications

Lessons Learned: Peer Exchange Calls No. 10

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016

This document features lessons learned shared by Better Buildings Residential Network members during Peer Exchange Calls held during Autumn 2016.

Resource - Publications

More Savings for More Residents: Progress in Multifamily Housing Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2017

This report updates ACEEE's 2013 assessment of multifamily energy efficiency programs in US metropolitan areas with the most multifamily households. Using housing, policy, and utility-sector data from 2014 and 2015, this report documents how these programs have changed in the context of dynamic housing markets and statewide policy environments. The report also offers an analysis of the number, spending, offerings, and targeted participants of current programs and their potential for further expansion.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency Jobs in America

Author(s)
E4TheFuture,
Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Publication Date
2016

The report, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and a survey of tens of thousands of businesses across the country, provides detailed breakdowns of clean energy jobs not available previously, and it was developed and released in connection with a major U.S. Department of Energy study of all energy jobs in America.

Resource - Publications

Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities for Deep Energy Savings

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Michigan Saves,
ConEdison’s Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program,
Florida's Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program,
Set the PACE St. Louis,
City of Chicago,
Energy Outreach Colorado,
Massachusetts Low-Income Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program

This report was developed to help inform national stakeholders about the strategies that have been used to achieve deep energy savings in the multifamily housing sector through energy efficiency upgrades. These strategies could be used as models in areas where utility program administrators and policymakers seek to achieve deep energy savings in the multifamily building stock for the purposes of reducing energy costs, creating comfortable and healthy homes, meeting regulatory requirements, or reducing the environmental impacts of energy consumption. This report includes a national multifamily market characterization, barriers and opportunities for program and policy efforts, and eight exemplary case studies from across the country.

Resource - Publications

Current Practices in Efficiency Financing: An Overview for State and Local Governments

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Kansas How$mart,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Michigan Saves,
Texas LoanSTAR,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings Program

This report is a guide to all customer-facing financing products—products offered by a lender directly to a borrower—used to pay for energy efficiency. Intended for state and local governments that are deciding whether to start a new program, tune up and existing program, or create a Green Bank, it provides information on the full range of financing product options for target participants, the tradeoffs of various products, and potential advantages and disadvantages for different types of customers.

Resource - Publications

Building Better Energy Efficiency Programs for Low-Income Households

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Vermont

This report details opportunities for scaling up program activity and increasing savings from programs reaching the people who need it most. It discussed best practices from existing programs for overcoming many of the key challenges that program administrators face, including how to address housing deficiencies that prevent energy efficiency upgrades, how to address cost effectiveness challenges, and how to serve hard-to-reach households.

Resource - Publications

Lifting the High Energy Burden in America's Largest Cities: How Energy Efficiency Can Improve Low-Income and Underserved Communities

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2016

Energy burden is the percentage of household income spent on home energy bills. In this report, ACEEE, along with the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, measures the energy burden of households in 48 of the largest American cities. The report finds that low-income, African-American, Latino, low-income multifamily, and renter households all spend a greater proportion of their income on utilities than the average family. The report also identifies energy efficiency as an underutilized strategy that can help reduce high energy burdens by as much as 30%. Given this potential, the report goes on to describe policies and programs to ramp up energy efficiency investments in low-income and underserved communities.

Resource - Publications

Regional Roundup of Energy Efficiency Policy

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2016

The Regional Roundup of Energy Efficiency Policy is intended to give policymakers, regulators, efficiency proponents, program administrators and other stakeholders a comparative view of the progress of energy efficiency policies and programs across the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region. Along with state-level highlights, the report examines regional trends and shared challenges in harnessing the potential of energy efficiency to meet today’s pressing energy and environmental challenges.

Resource - Publications

A Policymaker’s Guide to Scaling Home Energy Upgrades

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Enhabit,
Mass Save,
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
Manitoba Hydro,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Michigan Saves,
Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans,
Austin Energy,
Efficiency Vermot,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star,
Build It Green,
Earth Advantage,
Elevate Energy,
Arizona Public Service (APS),
Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

This Guide is designed to help state and local policymakers to take full advantage of new policy developments by providing them with a comprehensive set of tools to support launching or accelerating residential energy efficiency programs. The Guide focuses on four categories of policies that have proven particularly effective in providing a framework within which residential energy efficiency programs can thrive: incentives and financing, making the value of energy efficiency visible in the real estate market, data access and standardization, and supporting utility system procurement of energy efficiency.

Resource - Publications

A Changing Landscape: The Regional Roundup of Energy Efficiency Policy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2015

This report represents NEEP’s annual assessment of the major policy developments of 2014, as well as its look into the immediate future, where NEEP gauge states’ progress toward capturing cost-effective energy efficiency as a first-order resource. While looking at the region as a whole, NEEP also provides summary and analysis of some of the biggest building energy efficiency successes and setbacks from Maine to Maryland — including significant energy efficiency legislation and regulations and changes in funding levels for energy efficiency programs.

Resource - Publications

Customer Incentives for Energy Efficiency Through Electric and Natural Gas Rate Design

Author(s)
National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency
Publication Date
2009

This report summarizes the issues and approaches involved in motivating customers to reduce the total energy they consume through energy prices and rate design.

Resource - Publications

Overview of Residential Energy Feedback and Behavior-based Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
Energy and Environmental Economics
Publication Date
2011

This report provides an overview of residential customer information and behavior efficiency programs, and identifies key challenges to and solutions for increasing the penetration of these programs nationwide.

Resource - Publications

Delivering Energy Efficiency to Middle Income Single Family Households

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2011

This report provides state and local policymakers with information on successful approaches to the design and implementation of residential efficiency programs for households ineligible for low-income programs.

Resource - Publications

Review of Selected Home Energy Auditing Tools

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Florida Weatherization Assistance Program,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
This report presents a review of selected home energy auditing tools. The energy audit tools reviewed in this study include REM/Rate, BEACON Home Energy Advisor, EnergyInsights, Home Energy Tune-uP, EnergyGauge, TREAT, the National Energy Audit Tool (NEAT), Home Energy Saver Professional (HESPro), and RealHomeAnalyzer.
Resource - Publications

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Process Evaluation - Phase 1

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the phase 1 process evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Process Evaluation-Phase 2

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the phase 2 process evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Impact Evaluation

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the impact evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Energy Pro3: The Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency Investments in the Southeast

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report provides an independent analysis of the economic performance of SEEA's 13-city, U.S. Department of Energy-funded energy efficiency upgrade consortium from 2010 to 2013. It estimates the net impacts of SEEA's energy efficiency programs on the economy of the southeast region as a whole, and on the economies of the states with participating programs.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Custom Messages for Specific Markets: Examples From JEA

Author(s)
JEA
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA
This presentation describes JEA's program and lessons learned about designing custom messages for specific markets.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Sarasota County Energy Efficiency Upgrade Financing Program: Market Assessment

Author(s)
Environmental Finance Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Publication Date
2012

This market assessment for the Sarasota County (Florida) Energy Efficiency Upgrade Financing Program identifies the customers and potential demand for an energy efficiency upgrade financing program.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

JEA Bill Insert

Author(s)
JEA
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA

Bill insert used by JEA to advertise their energy efficiency program.

Resource - Program Materials

Building Relationships with Financial Institutions

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA

In this video interview segment, Bruce Doeuck of JEA ShopSmart in Jacksonville, Florida, discusses the importance of building relationships with financial institutions.

Resource - Case Studies

Energy Efficiency Finance: New Horizons in the Southeast

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA
Case study highlighting the home performance lending program spearheaded by local utility JEA and JaxMetro Credit Union in Jacksonville, Florida. This program is one of the most successful in the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance's Community Consortium.
Resource - Case Studies

Strategic Financing Partnerships Help Jacksonville Program Take Loans From Buydown to Uptake

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA
Find out how JEA successfully increased interest in its low-interest loan program beyond a short-term incentive.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (33)
  • Tips for Success (5)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (13)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (15)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (7)
  • Marketing & Outreach (14)
  • Financing (9)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (3)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (2)
  • Strategy Development (24)
  • Planning (24)
  • Implementation (24)
  • Evaluation (12)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (19)
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  • Washington D.C. (3)
  • Washington DC (20)
  • West Virginia (3)
  • Wisconsin (36)
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Organizations or Programs

  • ShopSmart with JEA (7)
  • Michigan Saves (4)
  • Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) (4)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (4)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (3)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (3)
  • Austin Energy (2)
  • City of Chicago (2)
  • Community Energy Challenge (2)
  • Community Power Works (2)
  • ConEdison’s Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program (2)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (2)
  • EnergySmart (2)
  • Enhabit (2)
  • Florida's Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program (2)
  • Green Works Orlando (2)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (2)
  • Massachusetts Low-Income Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program (2)
  • Set the PACE St. Louis (2)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (1)
  • BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio (1)
  • Build It Green (1)
  • Earth Advantage (1)
  • Efficiency Vermont (1)
  • Efficiency Vermot (1)
  • Elevate Energy (1)
  • Energize Bedford (1)
  • Energy Upgrade California (1)
  • EnergyWorks (1)
  • FL (1)
  • Florida Weatherization Assistance Program (1)
  • Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL) (1)
  • Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star (1)
  • Kansas How$mart (1)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (1)
  • Manitoba Hydro (1)
  • Mass Save (1)
  • Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (1)
  • Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings Program (1)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (1)
  • NOLA WISE (1)
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company (1)
  • RePower Bainbridge (1)
  • RePower Bremerton (1)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (1)
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) (1)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (1)
  • Volusia County (1)
  • Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans (1)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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