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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

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

Using Mobile Applications to Generate Customer Demand

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Nova Scotia

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how to use web and mobile applications to generate and increase customer demand.

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

Community-Based Social Marketing Toolkit

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Small Town Energy Program (STEP),
Baltimore Energy Challenge,
Efficiency Maine,
Energy Impact Illinois,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
CoMo Energy Challenge,
Empower Chattanooga,
Somerville Energy Efficiency Now!,
PG&E,
Seattle City Light,
City of Fort Collins

This toolkit describes how to strengthen residential energy efficiency program outreach and marketing efforts through data-driven, tailored efforts to change behaviors. One of the greatest challenges facing the residential energy efficiency market is motivating people to take steps to save energy. This toolkit provides guidance, resources, and examples for applying community-based social marketing (CBSM) to increase the number of homes that are energy efficient.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Better Buildings Residential Network Social Media Toolkit

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Austin Energy,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
Enhabit,
EnergyFit Nevada

The Better Buildings Residential Network Social Media toolkit can be used to help residential energy efficiency programs learn to engage potential customers through social media. Social media can build brand awareness concerning home energy upgrades and the entities working on them, which can lead to more energy upgrade projects taking place in the long run. This toolkit will help program managers and their staff with decisions like what social media works best for various program needs. When aligned with other marketing and outreach efforts, social media can be a useful tool in attracting home energy upgrade customers. Note that social media changes constantly, so users of this toolkit need to regularly reassess their methods and review results to ensure goals are being met.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Verifying Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Current Practices and Recommendations

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
Energy Right Solutions for Buisness,
Energy Right Solutions for Industry,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
National Grid Energy Efficiency Program,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs,
Enhabit,
District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility,
BC Hydro,
Ontario Power Authority Industrial Accelerator Program,
Elevate Energy

Among the many benefits ascribed to energy efficiency is the fact that it can help create jobs. Although this is often used to motivate investments in efficiency programs, verifying job creation benefits is more complicated than it might seem at first. This paper identifies some of the issues that contribute to a lack of consistency in attempts to verify efficiency-related job creation. It then proposes an analytically rigorous and tractable framework for program evaluators to use in future assessments.

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

Strategies for Improving Efficiency in Delivering Efficiency

Author(s)
Cynthia Adams, Local Energy Alliance Program,
Larry Earegood, Consumers Energy (MI),
John Schott, NYSERDA,
Gavin Hastings, Arizona Public Service,
Emily Salzberg, Washington State University Energy,
Adam Buick, Community Power Works (WA),
Bob Knight, BKi
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Arizona Public Service (APS),
Community Power Works,
Energy Upgrade California,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
Michigan Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
RePower Kitsap

Quick summaries of strategies various programs have used to improve the efficiency of delivering efficiency.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

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

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

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

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 (14)
  • Tips for Success (1)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (12)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (6)
  • (-) Marketing & Outreach (15)
  • Financing (9)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (12)

Program Design Phases

  • Strategy Development (7)
  • Planning (5)
  • Implementation (11)
  • Evaluation (4)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (2)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (2)
  • Colorado (2)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (2)
  • Illinois (2)
  • Maine (1)
  • Maryland (2)
  • Massachusetts (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Missouri (2)
  • Nevada (1)
  • New York (3)
  • North Carolina (1)
  • Nova Scotia (2)
  • Ohio (1)
  • Ontario (1)
  • Oregon (2)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • Tennessee (1)
  • Texas (1)
  • Washington (6)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (1)

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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