Skip to main content
Energy.gov Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Residential Program Guide
  • About
  • Common Topics

Secondary

  • Explore Residential Guide
    • Handbook Index
    • Program Components
    • Program Design Phases
  • Resources
    • Quick Answers
    • Proven Practices
    • Energy Data Facts
    • Tips For Success
    • Resource Library
    • Glossary
  • Tech Solutions
    • About Tech Solutions
    • HVAC
    • Heat Pump Water Heater

Breadcrumbs

EERE » Residential Program Guide » Common Search Topics » Search by Topic

Page title

Search by Topic

Showing results 1 - 41 of 41

Adapt your business model to fit your external environment

To develop a successful business model, Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found it critical to have a strong understanding of the external environment within which they operated. This included who their customers were, who their competitors and partners were, what key policies governed...
Tips for Success

Contractors are your sales team – educate and empower them with the skills to sell home energy upgrades

Many home performance programs have confronted the challenge of how to reach out to more customers and to improve conversion rates of customer interest into completed upgrades. Realizing that the contractor is a primary face-to-face link between customers and the program, some Better Buildings...
Tips for Success

Develop routine reports or dashboards to help monitor the collected data

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that program dashboards—regularly updated, easily accessed, summary reports of key metrics—helped them identify problems and monitor program progress toward their goals. Depending on the program’s goals and needs, dashboards included metrics...
Tips for Success

Develop data collection and evaluation plans in conjunction with program design

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that it was important to communicate during the program design phase with organizations and individuals that will collect or supply data for the evaluation. In this way, the involved individuals and organizations understand why the data is...
Tips for Success

Establish data sharing relationships as early as possible

Though potentially challenging, establishing relationships for sharing energy consumption data is critical for evaluating program impact on energy and cost savings. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found success by approaching utilities during the program planning phase, or at...
Tips for Success

Measure and evaluate performance at key points in the process

Measuring performance at key points in the upgrade process (e.g., assessments, conversion rates, and financing applications) has helped programs understand where their processes are working smoothly and where they are not. This information has helped them continuously improve their program design...
Tips for Success

Set realistic expectations for launching and scaling up your program

Many program administrators have found that launching and scaling up a program often takes longer than planned for, especially when forming partnerships with contractors and lenders. New energy efficiency programs often need at least 2-3 years to launch and become fully operational. Across programs...
Tips for Success

Develop partnerships based on an alignment of goals, strong collaboration, and consistent communication

Programs that have developed strong and lasting partnerships have done so by identifying shared goals and seeking ways in which programs and partners can mutually benefit by advancing each other's missions. Even if partners don’t have the same goals as your program, you can still try to find ways to...
Tips for Success

Consider tiered financing or rebates to encourage deeper upgrades

Without an incentive, homeowners and contractors may limit themselves to smaller upgrade projects. Programs in search of more energy savings have found that some homeowners already interested in an upgrade are amenable to a bigger upgrade when coupled with better financing terms or larger rebates...
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

Promote existing loan products when possible before developing new ones

Developing new energy efficiency loan products requires financial expertise and resources that not every program has available or that might not even be necessary. Finding and promoting existing energy efficiency loan products, such as loans that may be offered by a local credit union, your state...
Tips for Success

Communicate with audiences at least three times; once is not enough

All residential energy efficiency programs have found that outreach needs to be repeated to connect with and remind potential participants about program offerings. As marketing gurus note, the majority of people need to be exposed to a product message at least three times (on separate occasions) to...
Tips for Success

Follow through with customers

Following up on leads that result from your marketing and outreach efforts quickly and consistently will help your program convert them from interested parties to satisfied customers. Many programs found a sizable drop-off in action if they or their contractors were not able to follow up within a...
Tips for Success

Streamline the financing process with easy loan applications and quick approvals

Complicated loan and program application processes have deterred many potential customers from following through with an upgrade. Delays and overly burdensome requirements raise barriers to participation. Many programs have successfully employed strategies to reduce the number of requirements that...
Tips for Success

Language matters – use words that resonate with your target audience

Words have power, so many programs decided to use language with positive associations. For example, the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program encouraged use of the term "assessment" instead of "audit" to avoid the negative connotation of a tax audit. "Home energy upgrade" sounds more positive than...
Tips for Success

Financial Program Management for Continuous Improvement

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado,
emPowerSBC
This webcast discussed financial program management.
Resource - Webcast

Contractor Sales Training

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks,
Efficiency Maine,
BetterBuildings for Michigan

This peer exchange call summary focused on sales training assistance programs for contractors.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Incorporating Behavior Change Efforts Into Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
EnergyWorks KC

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how programs use behavior change strategies to reduce energy use.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Collaborating With Utilities on Residential Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
EnergyWorks

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how a residential energy efficiency program can work with, for or as utilities.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Cost-Effectiveness Tests and Measuring Like a Utility

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on evaluating and demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of energy upgrades to programs.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Mastermind Session: EnergyWorks Philadelphia

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks

This peer exchange call summary focused on loan product structure and using market research to identify candidates for upgrades of occupied commercial buildings.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Program Course Corrections Based on Evaluation Results

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge

This peer exchange call summary focused on effective program evaluation and incorporating changes into programs based off evaluation insight.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Better Buildings Program: Brands & Websites

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan,
CharlestonWISE,
Enhabit,
Community Power Works,
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
Efficiency Maine,
emPowerSBC,
Energize Bedford,
Energize Phoenix,
EnergySmart Colorado,
Energy Upgrade California,
EnergyWorks,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),
Green Madison,
BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade,
Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2),
Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO),
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,
New Hampshire BetterBuildings,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
reEnergize,
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton

This presentation includes the brands, website addresses, and images for most of the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Program Management and Continuous Improvement for Financing Programs

Author(s)
Chris Lohmann, U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
emPowerSBC,
EnergySmart Colorado

Presentation providing an overview of financing programs, a strategy for continuous improvement, tools for program management, a risk management strategy, and common risks associated with financing programs.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Connecticut Volunteer Data Collection Templates

Author(s)
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
This template, used by Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge, standardizes volunteer data collection efforts at events.
Resource - Templates & Forms

Connecticut Workshop Survey

Author(s)
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Short survey for Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge workshop participants. The workshop allowed the program to share its energy efficiency offerings with homeowners.
Resource - Templates & Forms

Partnering with Utilities and Other Ratepayer-Funded Energy Efficiency Program Administrators

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes,
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
Silicon Valley Energy Watch Program,
The Home Energy Rebate Option,
New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
Efficiency Vermont,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
The objective of this document is to help state and local governments understand the role of program administrators (PAs) and assist them in developing successful partnerships with utility and other energy efficiency PAs. The majority of this paper presents information on partnering and leveraging current energy efficiency activities. However, it also includes information for governments in areas without active PAs, as well as an appendix with a case study describing how state and local governments can fill gaps and administer programs in the absence of a PA.
Resource - Publications

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Grantee Incentives

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Atlanta SHINE,
Be SMART,
Beacon Communities Project,
BetterBuildings for Michigan,
BetterBuildings for Greensboro,
BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade,
Camden POWER - A Better Buildings Initiative,
CarrboroWISE,
City of Indianapolis Better Buildings Program,
Chapel Hill WISE,
CharlestonWISE,
Enhabit,
Community Alliance for Energy Efficiency (Cafe2),
Community Power Works,
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
DecaturWISE,
Efficiency Maine,
emPowerSBC,
Energize Phoenix,
EnergyFit Nevada,
Energy Impact Illinois,
EnergySmart,
Energy Upgrade California,
EnergyWorks,
Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),
Huntsville WISE,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
Michigan Saves,
Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO),
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
reEnergize,
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton,
Richmond Regional Energy Alliance (RREA),
ShopSmart with JEA,
Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF),
Small Town Energy Program (STEP),
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC),
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This publication summarizes some of the incentives offered by Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency Residential Marketing Keep it Simple. Keep it Focused.

Author(s)
Nancy L. Hohns, EnergyWorks
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
This presentation describes the brand, messaging strategy, and campaign tactics used by Philadelphia EnergyWorks to reach its target audience.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Shared Value in Utility and Efficiency Partnerships - Lessons in Perseverance, Flexibility and Mutual Respect

Author(s)
Kerry O'Neill, Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge's perspective on their partnership with Northeast Utilities.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Shared Value in Utility and Efficiency Partnerships - Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

Author(s)
Nikki Kuhn, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix,
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA),
Efficiency Vermont
Presentation that focuses on grantee program-utility partnership models.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Listening to Consumer Behavior

Author(s)
Kat Donnelly, Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
This presentation outlines the steps Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge program took to obtain and sort useful feedback from surveys and volunteer observations.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Connecticut - Analyzing Outreach Effectiveness to Improve Program Design

Author(s)
Kerry O'Neill, Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge

This presentation shares how the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge collected and evaluated data and used the results to improve its program.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge: Small Changes. Big Results.

Author(s)
Clean Water Fund
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
This presentation describes Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge program and lessons learned on community engagement as a driver of demand.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Get Helpful Tips for Collecting Utility Data

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
A list of tips from Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge for working with utilities to access energy usage data.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Technology Solutions and Programmatic Approaches: Driving Innovation in Residential Energy Efficiency Strategies

Author(s)
Kat Donnelly, EMpowerDevices,
Kerry O'Neill, Earth Markets
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge

Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge uses dashboards that display key project data for administrators and contractors to monitor progress over time. The program has evaluated performance at different steps in the process and identified strategies to improve performance where needed, such as sales training for contractors, energy advisors, monthly contractor scorecards, and multiple customer "touches." These improvements increased the close rate from 26 to 60 percent in one year.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Request for Proposals for the EnergyWorks Public Information and Marketing Campaign for the City of Philadelphia

Author(s)
City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
This is a sample request for proposals (RFP) from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for public information and marketing support.
Resource - Program Materials

Marketing and Outreach Partnerships

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
In this video interview segment, Liz Robinson with EnergyWorks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, talks about the faith-based partnerships EnergyWorks developed to help promote the program.
Resource - Case Studies

EnergyWorks Grabs Attention in Calm and Stormy Weather with Intuitive Ads

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
EnergyWorks' phased marketing campaign appeals to Philadelphia homeowners based on the current weather conditions.
Resource - Case Studies

In the City of Brotherly Love, Sharing Know-How Leads to Sustainability

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
Philadelphia EnergyWorks helped sustain future programs by sharing marketing insights and program data with a local utility partner.
Resource - Case Studies

Low-Interest Rates Entice Philadelphians to Reach for the Stars

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks
Outlines Philadelphia's EnergyWorks program's use of low-interest loans to incentivize homeowners by tying the interest rate to the number of energy efficiency measures incorporated into the home.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (26)
  • Tips for Success (15)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (6)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (10)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (12)
  • Marketing & Outreach (19)
  • Financing (9)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (2)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (9)
  • Strategy Development (27)
  • Planning (24)
  • Implementation (23)
  • Evaluation (17)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Arizona (3)
  • California (6)
  • Colorado (4)
  • Connecticut (16)
  • Florida (1)
  • Georgia (1)
  • Louisiana (2)
  • Maine (3)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Massachusetts (1)
  • Michigan (3)
  • Missouri (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (18)
  • Texas (1)
  • Vermont (1)
  • Virginia (3)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (64)
  • Energy Upgrade California (49)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (45)
  • Efficiency Maine (37)
  • Austin Energy (34)
  • Michigan Saves (28)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (26)
  • RePower Bainbridge (25)
  • Efficiency Vermont (24)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (24)
  • Elevate Energy (23)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (23)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (23)
  • RePower Kitsap (22)
  • Community Power Works (21)
  • RePower Bremerton (21)
  • (-) Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (20)
  • EnergySmart (20)
  • (-) EnergyWorks (20)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (16)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (15)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (15)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (13)
  • Focus on Energy (12)
  • Energize Phoenix (11)
  • Energize Connecticut (9)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (9)
  • Mass Save (9)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (8)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (8)
  • NOLA WISE (8)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (8)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (8)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (7)
  • Be SMART (7)
  • Long Island Green Homes (7)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (7)
  • National Grid (7)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (7)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (7)
  • CharlestonWISE (6)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (6)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (6)
  • New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (6)
  • reEnergize (6)
  • Build It Green (5)
  • Cambridge Energy Alliance (5)
  • Community Energy Challenge (5)
  • (-) emPowerSBC (5)
  • Energize New York (5)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
Contact | Building Technologies Office

OFFICE of
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Forrestal Building
1000 Independence Ave. SW
Washington DC 20585

Link to Facebook Link to Twitter Link to Youtube Link to Linkedin

An office of

Energy.Gov

About EERE

Careers and Internships

EERE Home

Publications Library

Contact EERE

Energy.gov Resources

Budget & Performance

Directives, Delegations & Requirements

FOIA

Inspector General

Privacy Program

Small Business

Staff & Contractor Resources

Federal Government

The White House

USA.gov

  • Web Policies
  • Privacy
  • No Fear Act
  • Whistleblower Protection
  • Information Quality
  • Open Gov
  • Accessibility
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Program