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Directly install measures during the assessment

Programs that enabled contractors to install energy saving measures during the home energy assessment were more successful than those that did not. Based on a comprehensive analysis of over 140 programs across the United States, programs that provided direct installation of some low-cost measures...
Tips for Success

Offer customers a range of upgrade paths, including single measures and staging upgrades over time

Programs that offered several paths for customers to upgrade their homes—for example through a choice of single or bundled measures, staged upgrades over time, or a comprehensive whole home upgrade—were found to motivate greater homeowner participation and generate higher energy savings, according...
Tips for Success

Offer homeowners multiple types of assessments

Several successful residential energy efficiency programs offered multiple types of home energy assessments to appeal to a wider spectrum of homeowner interests and needs. These ranged from online home assessments to brief walk-throughs to full diagnostic testing. A comprehensive evaluation of over...
Tips for Success

Provide information to help customers pick the right contractor

Early on, many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners focused on providing customers with a range of contractors to choose from, while providing contractors with access to customers. Customer feedback received by some programs, however, indicated that customers were confused or overwhelmed...
Tips for Success

Aim for early wins that give the program experience and showcase upgrades as a way to attract customers

Several residential energy efficiency programs have successfully launched their efforts by focusing on completing early upgrades that build visibility for their program, create momentum, and allow programs to learn how to reach homeowners effectively. This early success provides results that the...
Tips for Success

Peer Exchange Call: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and Home Energy Score Integration

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Focus on Energy,
Energize Connecticut,
Columbia Water & Light

Focus on Energy, Columbia Water & Light, and utilities from the Energize Connecticut program share how they integrate and implement the Home Energy Score and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs.

Resource - Webcast

Workforce Development and Sales Training for Energy Efficiency Contractors

Author(s)
Elizabeth Stuart, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine,
Efficiency Vermont
This webcast reports on the energy efficiency services sector workforce size, expectations for growth, and training needs and features a case studies from Efficiency Vermont and Efficiency Maine.
Resource - Webcast

Residential Retrofit Program Design Guide Overview

Author(s)
Richard Faesy, Energy Futures Group,
Andy Meyer, Efficiency Maine,
Nikki Kuhn, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine

Webcast on the DOE Residential Retrofit Program Design Guide, which focuses on the key elements and design characteristics of building and maintaining a successful residential upgrade program.

Resource - Webcast

How to Design a Community Energy Alliance

Author(s)
Ben Taube and Jolyn Newton, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Eric Mackres, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
City of Decatur Kilowatt Crackdown,
Community Energy Challenge,
Go Green Nashville,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)
Webcast on how to design a community energy alliance.
Resource - Webcast

Working with Real Estate Home Inspectors, Exterminators, and Other Nontraditional Partners

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

This peer exchange call summary focused on leveraging home inspectors and others in the real estate transaction processes.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Moving Multifamily Buildings From Assessments to Upgrades

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy,
Efficiency Maine

This peer exchange call summary focused on moving from assessments to upgrades in multifamily buildings.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Efficiency Maine Downloads and Forms Portal

Author(s)
Efficiency Maine
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine

Efficiency Maine developed this online portal, where many of its program forms are available for download (e.g., program overviews and manuals, participation agreements, and related application materials).

Resource - Templates & Forms

Saving Watts to Save Drops: Inclusion of Water Efficiency in Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2018
Organizations or Programs
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Focus on Energy,
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO),
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company,
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E),
NV Energy

This study provides an overview of practices for quantifying and reporting avoided energy-water costs from demand-side measures. It also summarizes the regulatory guidance for incorporating water savings into cost-effectiveness screening for energy efficiency programs.

Resource - Publications

Boulder, Colorado's SmartRegs: Minimum Performance Standards for Residential Rental Housing

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado
In 2011 the City of Boulder, Colorado enacted its “SmartRegs” ordinances that require all single family and multifamily rental properties to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard by January 2019. The SmartRegs initiative is designed to help the city achieve its ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals and to improve the quality, safety, and marketability of Boulder’s rental housing stock.
Resource - Publications

Behaving Ourselves: How Behavior Change Insights Are Being Applied to Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
Kira Ashby, Consortium for Energy Efficiency,
Monica Nevius, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority,
Bruce Ceniceros, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Pepco Holdings' Home Performance with Energy Audits Program,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Public Service of New Hampshire,
PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program,
FortisBC’s 20/20 Challenge Program,
Focus on Energy

This paper describes a wide variety of behavior change insights potentially applicable to the energy efficiency program context, provides examples of efficiency programs that have applied these insights, and explores some untapped opportunities to achieve energy savings through behavior change.

Resource - Publications

Reaching More Residents: Opportunities for Increasing Participation in Multifamily Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Focus on Energy,
National Grid Rhode Island,
DC Sustainable Energy Utility Low-Income Multifamily Initiative,
Bay Area Regional Energy Network Multifamily Building Enhancements,
Con Edison Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program,
Con Edison Multifamily Low Income Program,
Puget Sound Energy,
Xcel Energy,
Elevate Energy,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Public Service Electric and Gas Multifamily Program,
Pacific Gas & Electric Company,
Arizona Public Service (APS) Company,
Austin Energy,
Efficiency Vermont,
CenterPoint Energy,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

The multifamily sector can be hard to reach when it comes to energy efficiency programs. Besides being diverse and complex, the sector presents a unique set of challenges to efficiency investments. The result is that multifamily customers are often underserved by energy efficiency programs. Drawing on data requests and interviews with program administrators, this report summarizes the challenges to program participation and identifies best practices that programs can use to reach and retain large numbers of multifamily participants.

Resource - Publications

Existing Homes Program Guide

Author(s)
Consortium for Energy Efficiency
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Ameren Illinois Utilities,
Avista Utilities,
BC Hydro,
Cape Light Compact,
All-Electric Home Performance Tune-Up,
Efficiency Vermont,
New Jersey Natural Gas,
Northeast Utilities Home Energy Solutions,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program,
Vectren Energy Delivery's Home Energy Savings Program,
Focus on Energy

This guide provides background on the home improvement market in the U.S. and Canada and end users and systems in existing homes, as well as a description of energy efficiency program approaches and strategies.

Resource - Publications

Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) Grant Agreement Fort Collins Utilities

Author(s)
Fort Collins Utilities
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
City of Fort Collins Utilities

Fort Collins Utilities and partners, Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) and CLEAResult, launched Efficiency Works-Home program, the Efficiency Works- Neighborhoods (EW-N) Pilot. The Pilot is a new model of Utility Energy Efficiency conservation program that is designed for the scale and comprehensiveness of EE and renewables needed to meet the City of Fort Collins Climate Action Plan in the existing home sector.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

The Energy Advisor Model: Lessons Learned

Author(s)
Dave Hatchimonji, EnergySmart
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

Overview of lessons learned from EnergySmart Colorado's energy advisor model.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

2016 Annual Report of the Efficiency Maine Trust

Author(s)
Efficiency Maine
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine

Year in review annual report which includes program data and success stories.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Using Data to Monitor Market Transformation

Author(s)
Melissa Glickman, Boulder County, Colorado (now EnergySmart)
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

EnergySmart Colorado uses surveys and a customer database to get feedback from homeowners that helps fine-tune program services and operations.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

EnergySmart Residential Survey

Author(s)
EnergySmart
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

Example survey about a homeowner's experience with a visit from an energy advisor as part of EnergySmart in Boulder County, Colorado.

Resource - Program Materials

Sample Energy Reduction Plan: 1234 Any Street

Author(s)
Efficiency Maine
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine
Sample energy reduction plan that details specific steps to be taken by the ownership and management at 1234 Any Street to achieve estimated energy savings based on an energy assessment.
Resource - Program Materials

Program Design Flowchart for Eagle County, Colorado

Author(s)
EnergySmart Colorado
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado
Example of a program design flowchart showing key steps and relationships for the energy efficiency program in Eagle County, Colorado.
Resource - Program Materials

Project Implementation Plan: Colorado Retrofit Ramp-Up Project

Author(s)
EnergySmart
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

Example of an implementation plan developed by EnergySmart Colorado at the beginning of the implementation of its Better Buildings Neighborhood Program.

Resource - Program Materials

Community-Based Social Marketing in Fort Collins

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
City of Fort Collins Utilities

The City of Fort Collins, Colorado increased the number of homes that are energy efficient through the use of community-based social marketing. Strategies to maximize impact included identifying neighborhoods based on data analysis, simplifying the process for completing upgrades, and using trusted messengers for delivery of tailored messages on energy efficiency services.

Resource - Case Studies

Spotlight on Maine: Contractor Sales Training Boosts Energy Upgrade Conversions

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine

This case study explains how Efficiency Maine provided contractor sales training to boost upgrade conversions.

Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (22)
  • Tips for Success (5)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (7)
  • (-) Program Design & Customer Experience (27)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (12)
  • Marketing & Outreach (29)
  • Financing (10)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (13)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (1)
  • Strategy Development (14)
  • Planning (15)
  • Implementation (20)
  • Evaluation (4)

States or Territories

  • Arizona (1)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (3)
  • Colorado (11)
  • Connecticut (1)
  • Georgia (1)
  • Illinois (2)
  • Maine (11)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Massachusetts (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • Nevada (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New York (2)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • Texas (4)
  • Vermont (2)
  • Washington (2)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (4)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (17)
  • Austin Energy (15)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (15)
  • Elevate Energy (12)
  • (-) Efficiency Maine (11)
  • Efficiency Vermont (11)
  • (-) EnergySmart Colorado (9)
  • Energy Upgrade California (9)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (9)
  • RePower Bainbridge (9)
  • Community Power Works (8)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (8)
  • RePower Kitsap (8)
  • EnergySmart (7)
  • Michigan Saves (7)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (7)
  • RePower Bremerton (7)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (6)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (6)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (6)
  • (-) Focus on Energy (5)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (5)
  • Energize Phoenix (4)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (3)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (3)
  • EmPOWER Maryland (3)
  • EnergyWorks (3)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (3)
  • PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program (3)
  • Be SMART (2)
  • Build It Green (2)
  • (-) City of Fort Collins Utilities (2)
  • Commonwealth Edison Company (ComED) (2)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (2)
  • Energize Connecticut (2)
  • Energize New York (2)
  • Healthy Homes Incentive Program (2)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (2)
  • Long Island Green Homes (2)
  • Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (2)
  • Mass Save (2)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (2)
  • New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (2)
  • Public Service of New Hampshire (2)
  • Puget Sound Energy (2)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (2)
  • Seattle City Light (2)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (2)
  • Southern California Edison (2)
  • Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) (2)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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