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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

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

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

Outreach to Multifamily Landlords and Tenants

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Clean Energy Durham,
Austin Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on ways to reach out to landlords.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Using Social Media for Long Term Branding

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge,
Energy Impact Illinois

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on using social media for long-term branding and marketing.

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

Energy Island: A Guide to Creating Your Island Energy Challenge

Author(s)
RePower Bainbridge,
Conservation Services Group,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton
This guide is designed to serve as a "how-to" reference for island communities (or small, similarly sized, more isolated communities) that want to develop and implement a residential energy-efficiency and conservation program. The purpose of this guide is to help communities chart a course for successful program development based on the lessons learned during implementation and operation of RePower Bainbridge, an energy-efficiency program on Bainbridge Island, Washington.
Resource - Publications

Powering the New Energy Future From the Ground Up

Author(s)
Climate Solutions
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,
EnergySmart,
Eugene Water and Electric Board,
Community Energy Challenge,
Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,
Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project,
Knoxville,
TN,
Oberlin Project,
Energize New York,
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton,
Burlington Sustainability Action Team,
Gainesville Regional Utilities,
Hillsboro Solar Advantage,
Issaquah,
WA,
MPower Madison Program,
Solarize Pendleton,
Clear the Air Challenge,
Santa Fe,
NM,
West Union,
IA,
Sustainable Williamson,
CharlestonWISE,
City of Aiken,
SC,
City Green Initiative,
Kilowatt Cruncher Challenge,
Smarter Sustainable Dubuque,
Small Cities Climate Action Partnership,
City of Grand Rapids,
MI,
Town of GreenÞeld,
MA,
City of Keene,
NH,
Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL),
Clean Local Energy Accessible Now,
RichmondBuild Pre-apprenticeship Construction Skills and Green Jobs Training Academy

This report from Climate Solutions analyzes small- to medium-sized American cities that are using successful methods to further clean energy economic development. Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners that are featured in the report include Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, Washington; Boulder, Colorado; Bedford, New York; Madison, Wisconsin; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The report includes details on the how the featured cities funded their projects, found successful models to reach their goals, and to see which new projects are off to a promising start.

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

Using Community-Based Social Marketing to Drive Demand for Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
RePower Bainbridge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton
This presentation explores the community-based social marketing aspects of RePower Bainbridge and includes insights on knowing your audience, market barriers, and leverage opportunities.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

RePower Program -- People Will Talk: Making Energy Efficiency a Neighborhood Issue

Author(s)
Helen Biersack, RePower
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton
This presentation describes Washington's RePower program and lessons learned on community engagement as a driver of demand.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

City of Greensboro Better Buildings Project: Market Assessment

Author(s)
Environmental Finance Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
This market assessment for the City of Greensboro, North Carolina identifies the customers and potential demand for an energy efficiency upgrade financing program.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Turning Around Your Residential Program: Lessons Learned - City and County of Denver

Author(s)
Elizabeth Babcock, City and County of Denver, Colorado
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge
This presentation highlights key plan elements that helped a Denver energy efficiency program reorient toward success.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Clean Energy Durham – People Will Talk: Making Energy Efficiency a Neighborhood Issue

Author(s)
Dan Curry, Clean Energy Durham
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Clean Energy Durham,
Warren County Energy Savings Program

This presentation discusses how Clean Energy Durham focuses on getting neighbors to talk to neighbors about energy efficiency to drive demand.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

March Energy Madness

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
Energize Delaware,
Watt Watchers,
Empower Chattanooga,
Energy Upgrade California

This presentation includes examples of 16 programs' creative marketing materials.  The Better Buildings Residential Network held a March Madness tournament to find the most creative residential energy efficiency messages during March Peer Exchange Calls. Sixteen marketing campaigns were featured in a bracket challenge on the calls, and participants made their picks. Residential Network member the Fuel Fund of Maryland was chosen as the winning message for its Watt Watchers campaign.

Resource - Program Materials

RePower Bainbridge's Final Boarding Call Infographic

Author(s)
Conservation Services Group
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton
This infographic summarizes the results of RePower Bainbridge's Final Boarding Call event, providing an effective, engaging way to share program results with partners and other stakeholders.
Resource - Program Materials

Focus Series: Energy Advisor Program Helps Homeowners Go the Extra Mile in Mile-High City

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge

This case study discusses Denver Energy Challenge's adjustment from focusing on door-to-door outreach to an energy advisor model that allowed customers to receive one on one support throughout the home energy upgrade process.

Resource - Case Studies

Messaging to Motivate

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton
In this video interview segment, Yvonne Kraus of Conservation Services Group in Bainbridge Island, Washington, discusses why the RePower program created multiple branding and messaging themes.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (15)
  • Tips for Success (3)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (7)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (15)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (5)
  • (-) Marketing & Outreach (18)
  • Financing (13)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (4)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (1)
  • Strategy Development (11)
  • Planning (9)
  • Implementation (9)
  • Evaluation (5)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (1)
  • California (2)
  • Colorado (5)
  • Connecticut (1)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (1)
  • Illinois (1)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • New York (2)
  • North Carolina (3)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
  • Ohio (1)
  • Oregon (1)
  • Texas (1)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (6)

Organizations or Programs

  • Energy Upgrade California (31)
  • Enhabit (20)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (15)
  • Efficiency Maine (14)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (13)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (11)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (10)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (10)
  • Austin Energy (9)
  • Community Power Works (9)
  • Efficiency Vermont (9)
  • EnergyWorks (9)
  • (-) RePower Bainbridge (9)
  • RePower Bremerton (9)
  • RePower Kitsap (9)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (8)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (7)
  • Energize Phoenix (7)
  • Michigan Saves (7)
  • NOLA WISE (7)
  • Elevate Energy (6)
  • EnergySmart (6)
  • Focus on Energy (6)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (6)
  • (-) Denver Energy Challenge (5)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (5)
  • Mass Save (5)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (5)
  • Cambridge Energy Alliance (4)
  • CharlestonWISE (4)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (4)
  • Small Town Energy Program (STEP) (4)
  • (-) emPowerSBC (3)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (3)
  • Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star (3)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (3)
  • New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (3)
  • Puget Sound Energy (3)
  • reEnergize (3)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (3)
  • Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) (3)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (2)
  • Baltimore Energy Challenge (2)
  • Bend Energy Challenge (2)
  • BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade (2)
  • (-) Clean Energy Durham (2)
  • CoMo Energy Challenge (2)
  • Energize Bedford (2)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (2)
  • Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO) (2)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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