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Connect home performance professionals to trainings focused on the skills that employers want and the community needs

Effective home performance contractors require many types of skills and expertise. To help individuals develop those skills, programs can target training on the specific topics and skills needed for successful home performance work. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that they...
Tips for Success

Maintain a sufficient workforce from program launch into program maturity

Your program will rely on its contractor base in order to succeed, so take steps to ensure that the capacity of the workforce is sufficient to launch your program and to maintain it as it grows. An evaluation of over 140 programs found that successful programs fostered and maintained relationships...
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

Provide materials and training to ensure data quality, consistency, and accuracy

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that it is important to get buy-in from program staff and contractors on the importance of data integrity to the program mission and then to invest time to develop materials and train everyone who has a role in data collection and analysis...
Tips for Success

Make sure there are enough customers in your target market to meet your goals and attract partners

Many programs that focused on a specific neighborhood or other small geographic areas have found it difficult to generate enough customer interest, partner interest, and upgrade activity to meet program goals. Regional or statewide approaches are often more attractive to contractors, lenders...
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

Training: How to get Results - What Matters, What Doesn't

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
New Mexico Energy$mart,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Community Power Works

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on strategies for contractor training.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Quality Control, Standardization of Upgrades, and Workforce Expectations

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Community Energy Challenge,
Community Power Works

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on quality assurance and control, standardization of upgrades and workforce expectations.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Programs: Operating as a Prime Contractor

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
SustainableWorks,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),
CharlestonWISE

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on the challenges, strategies and advantages of  operating as a prime contractor.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Green with Envy: Neighbor Comparisons and Social Norms in Five Home Energy Report Programs

Author(s)
Kira Ashby and Hilary Forster, Consortium for Energy Efficiency,
Bruce Ceniceros, Sacramento Municipal Utility District,
Bobbi Wilhelm, Puget Sound Energy,
Kim Friebel, Commonwealth Edison,
Rachel Henschel, National Grid,
Shahana Samiullah, Southern California Edison
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
National Grid,
Southern California Edison,
Puget Sound Energy,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComED)

This paper explores ways in which program administrators are using social norms to spur behavior change and, as a result, curb energy use. In recent years, home energy reports (HER) programs have applied the concept of social norms to the energy efficiency context. These feedback programs inform customers of how their energy consumption compares to their neighbors' and provide other information about their usage, with the goal of enticing customers to change their energy use behavior to improve their relative neighborhood ranking.

Resource - Publications

Home Energy Makeover Contests: Who Are the Winners and Losers in Motivating Existing Homeowners to Make "Whole House" Energy Saving Improvements

Author(s)
UtilityExchange.org,
Building Performance Institute
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Atlanta SHINE,
DecaturWISE,
CharlestonWISE,
Enhabit,
Energy Upgrade California,
Help My House,
FirstEnergy,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
NOLA WISE

This paper first details industry best practices for contest administration, including tips for developing an overall contest plan and timeline, product sponsor recruitment, building a dynamic informational website, maximizing customer participation, selecting the winning home, seamless installation management, capturing and documenting project results, conducting a high profile media open house and facilitating customer workshops that educate homeowners and strengthen trade ally relationships. This paper then presents results and key lessons learned from more than 20 contests supported with funds from local community sustainability programs, utility energy efficiency programs, and U.S. Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds between 2008 and 2012.

Resource - Publications

Job Quality, Equitable Access and Quality Assurance Standards in Leading Residential Weatherization Programs

Author(s)
Community Benefits Law Center
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit,
New Jersey Weatherization Assistance Program,
Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program,
Washington State Energy Program,
Community Power Works,
Santa Clara County AB811 Pilot Program

Summary of the standards that support job quality, equitable access and quality assurance in several residential energy efficiency programs from different parts of the country.

Resource - Publications

Seattle Community Power Works Fall 2012 Progress Report

Author(s)
Washington State University Energy Program
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works
This mid-program evaluation includes extensive analysis of program sectors, including results of surveys of participants, and summarizes lessons learned to date.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Community Power Works of Seattle Planning Presentation

Author(s)
Community Power Works
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works
This planning document from Community Power Works of Seattle, Washington, includes flow charts and tables designed to help guide both the initial launch of the program, which includes setting goals, and its ongoing development.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Community Power Works Monthly Indicator Dashboard, March 2015

Author(s)
Community Power Works
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works

The Community Power Works program in Seattle, WA uses a program dashboard to track progress against targets. This is an example dashboard from March 2015, which is updated on a monthly basis with progress toward goals for sign-ups, energy audits, home energy upgrades, and energy savings.

Resource - Program Materials

Community High-Road Agreement for Seattle's Residential Retrofit Programs

Author(s)
Community Power Works
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works

This agreement outlines the goals, contractor standards, hiring standards, training program standards, and procedures for contractor participation in Seattle's Community Power Works program. As a "high-road" agreement, the employment and contracting standards are designed to ensure broad access to economic opportunities for all types of businesses and workers, support training on sustainable career paths, and ensure high-quality work.

Resource - Program Materials

Seattle Community Power Works Implementation Plan

Author(s)
Community Power Works
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works
Example of an implementation plan developed by Seattle's Community Power Works at the beginning of the implementation of its Better Buildings Neighborhood Program.
Resource - Program Materials

Data-Driven Mailing Helps Heat Up Untapped Seattle Market

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works
This case study explains how Community Power Works segmented its primary audience by focusing on owners of oil-heated homes with great results. This case study shares the program's outreach strategy and tactics for recruiting owners of oil-heated homes.
Resource - Case Studies

Spotlight on Seattle, Washington: Community Partnerships Work to Extend Program Reach

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works
This case study shares how Seattle's Community Power Works engaged a vast network of partners to build on existing capacity and knowledge, extending the reach of its program in a short period of time.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (13)
  • Tips for Success (6)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (7)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (4)
  • Marketing & Outreach (7)
  • Financing (3)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (9)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (2)
  • Strategy Development (13)
  • Planning (11)
  • Implementation (9)
  • Evaluation (6)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Arizona (3)
  • (-) California (4)
  • Florida (2)
  • Illinois (2)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Maine (1)
  • Maryland (3)
  • Massachusetts (2)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New Mexico (1)
  • New York (3)
  • Ohio (3)
  • Oregon (4)
  • Pennsylvania (1)
  • Rhode Island (2)
  • South Carolina (2)
  • Texas (2)
  • (-) Washington (17)

Organizations or Programs

  • Energy Upgrade California (44)
  • RePower Bainbridge (21)
  • Enhabit (19)
  • RePower Bremerton (17)
  • RePower Kitsap (17)
  • (-) Community Power Works (16)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (12)
  • Austin Energy (10)
  • Elevate Energy (9)
  • Efficiency Vermont (8)
  • EnergySmart (7)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (7)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (7)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (5)
  • Michigan Saves (5)
  • Build It Green (4)
  • Efficiency Maine (4)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (4)
  • Focus on Energy (4)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (4)
  • Mass Save (4)
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) (4)
  • Better Buildings Program San Jose (3)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (3)
  • emPowerSBC (3)
  • Energize Phoenix (3)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (3)
  • Low Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) Program (3)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (3)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (3)
  • Puget Sound Energy (3)
  • Seattle City Light (3)
  • SustainableWorks (3)
  • Windsor Efficiency PAYS (3)
  • Baltimore Energy Challenge (2)
  • Beacon Communities Project (2)
  • Bend Energy Challenge (2)
  • Be SMART (2)
  • (-) CharlestonWISE (2)
  • ClimateSmart Initiative (2)
  • Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes (2)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (2)
  • Energize Connecticut (2)
  • Energize New York (2)
  • Kansas How$mart (2)
  • Long Island Green Homes (2)
  • NOLA WISE (2)
  • Sonoma County Energy Independence Program (2)
  • Southern California Edison (2)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (2)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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