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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

Incentivize the action you want your customer to take

Successful programs know that it is not enough to get customers interested in their services. They know that homeowners that receive assessments but don’t undertake upgrades don’t receive the benefits of energy efficiency—and programs don’t get credit for energy savings. Instead of emphasizing...
Tips for Success

Provide customers with a single point of contact to help them through the upgrade process

While homeowners may be interested in the benefits of an energy upgrade, many are deterred from completing an upgrade project because of the complex and unknown process. Often, a significant portion of homeowners who receive energy assessments do not continue with the upgrades. As part of the Better...
Tips for Success

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

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

Multifamily Smart Tech, Health, and Utility Data - A Joint Call With NEWHAB and the DOE Better Buildings Residential Network

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call summary focused on leveraging smart tech, health and/or utility data to increase participation in multifamily energy efficiency programs. It featured speakers from The Network for Energy, Water and Health in
Affordable Buildings, New Ecology, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Emerald Cities Collaborative.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Making an Impact: Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on unique challenges for energy efficiency and weatherization programs serving lower income residents in single-family and multifamily housing. Speakers include American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Elevate Energy, and Energy Outreach Colorado.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Making Home Energy Data Accessible in the Real Estate Market – Better Buildings Accelerator

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

The Better Buildings Home Energy Information Accelerator aims to make energy data more accessible to home buyers, realtors and others. This presentation covers how Colorado launched a statewide residential labeling initiative that made home energy data available at point of sale, and how partnerships in the Northeast are incorporating energy efficiency into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with Vermont pioneering the regional effort.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Beyond the Light Touch: Next Steps for Improving Energy Efficiency in Multi-Family Affordable Housing

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This webcast in a multi-part series highlighting efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) to low-income communities.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Program Design Guide: Energy Efficiency Programs in Multifamily Affordable Housing

Author(s)
Energy Efficiency For All
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Elevate Energy

This guide identifies 12 best practices for policymakers, regulators, and program administrators to help building owners invest to increase the energy efficiency of multifamily affordable housing.

Resource - Publications

Catalyzing Efficiency: Unlocking Energy Information and Value in Apartment Buildings

Author(s)
Institute for Market Transformation
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy,
Austin Energy,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Mass Save,
City of New York’s Retrofit Accelerator,
Seattle RENEW Multi-Family Housing Program

This report explores how governments and energy efficiency implementers could help stakeholders better analyze and act upon building performance data to unlock savings.

Resource - Publications

Accelerating the Commercial PACE Market: Statewide Programs and State Energy Office Participation in Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing

Author(s)
National Association of State Energy Officials
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Lean and Green Michigan,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Michigan Saves,
Keeping PACE in Texas,
Energize New York

This report examines how State Energy Offices and state-level partners are supporting growth and uptake of Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing around the country. The report offers examples, insights, and strategies for State Energy Offices, green banks, state financing agencies, and other public and private entities to catalyze, accelerate, organize, and expand C-PACE markets.

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

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

2014 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Valuing Home Performance Improvements in Real Estate Markets

Author(s)
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This paper describes existing barriers to integrating energy efficiency data into real estate markets, and illustrates recent efforts to address them. National cross-industry collaborations have resulted in standard data collection and transfer tools that allow home performance data to be shared across industries. Real estate markets in some regions have begun including these data into multiple listing services (MLS), making them visible during real estate transactions.

Resource - Publications

What's Working in Residential Energy Efficiency Upgrade Programs: Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance

Author(s)
Andy Holzhauser, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)
Presentation on the organization, funding structure, and market focus of the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Keeping It Simple from the Customer's Perspective - Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance

Author(s)
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)
Presentation describing the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance program and tactics used to drive demand and enhance service delivery to make the program simpler for customers.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Elevate Energy: Energy Efficiency Services for Affordable Multifamily Buildings

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This document profiles the Chicago-area non-profit Elevate Energy, which offers a full-service energy efficiency retrofit program for owners of and tenants in affordable multifamily buildings in eleven states.

Resource - Case Studies

Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Multifamily Housing

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy,
ICAST’s ResourceSmart initiative

This case study addresses multifamily energy upgrade experiences by two members of the Better Buildings Residential Network—Elevate Energy and the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST).

Resource - Case Studies

Quantifying the Financial Benefits of Multifamily Retrofits

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

In this project, the U.S. Department of Energy Building America team Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit (PARR) worked with Elevate Energy on three tasks: to conduct pre- and post-retrofit analysis on the income and expense data of 13 Chicago-area multifamily buildings, to compare Chicago income and expense data to two national samples, and to explore the ramifications that energy-efficiency retrofits have on nine Chicago-area neighborhoods.

Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (17)
  • Tips for Success (3)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (13)
  • (-) Program Design & Customer Experience (20)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (6)
  • Marketing & Outreach (17)
  • Financing (8)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (4)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (2)
  • Strategy Development (13)
  • Planning (15)
  • Implementation (15)
  • Evaluation (6)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (2)
  • Arkansas (2)
  • California (4)
  • Colorado (7)
  • Connecticut (2)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (2)
  • Georgia (4)
  • Hawaii (1)
  • Illinois (12)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kentucky (1)
  • Maine (1)
  • Manitoba (1)
  • Maryland (5)
  • Massachusetts (5)
  • Michigan (5)
  • Minnesota (3)
  • Missouri (2)
  • Montana (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New Jersey (2)
  • New York (7)
  • Ohio (4)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (3)
  • Rhode Island (2)
  • South Dakota (1)
  • Texas (6)
  • Utah (2)
  • Vermont (3)
  • Virginia (3)
  • Washington (3)
  • Washington DC (4)
  • Wisconsin (2)

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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