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Design a program that provides value for contractors and considers their seasonal business cycles

Many residential energy efficiency programs run into challenges maintaining an appropriately sized, well-trained workforce from program launch through maturity, as well as through the fluctuating demand of the seasons of the year. Some programs found that their contractors preferred a smooth annual...
Tips for Success

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

Establish a clear system and process for ensuring quality work

A residential energy efficiency program’s success is dependent on the quality of work that contractors conduct in customers’ homes. Indeed, an in-depth examination of selected program strategies found that effective quality assurance and quality control programs provided a foundation for quality...
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

Establish collaborative partnerships with contractors and communicate with them early and often

Contractors are more likely to serve as program champions when the program engages with them throughout program design, delivery, and improvement. Your contractors are the primary contact points with your customers, and the quality of their interactions and services strongly influences how customers...
Tips for Success

Develop data collection and evaluation plans in conjunction with program design

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that it was important to communicate during the program design phase with organizations and individuals that will collect or supply data for the evaluation. In this way, the involved individuals and organizations understand why the data is...
Tips for Success

Establish data sharing relationships as early as possible

Though potentially challenging, establishing relationships for sharing energy consumption data is critical for evaluating program impact on energy and cost savings. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found success by approaching utilities during the program planning phase, or at...
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

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

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

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

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

Energy Efficiency Quick Start Programs: A Guide to Best Practices

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

SEEA created this document to inform the planning, design and delivery of early-stage energy efficiency programs in the Southeast. This document captures general concepts essential to the successful development and implementation of robust program portfolios, as well as lessons learned from prior experience on the regional and national levels.

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

Leaders of the Pack: ACEEE's Third National Review of Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Columbia Gas of Ohio,
National Grid,
CenterPoint Energy,
Nicor Gas,
United Illuminating Company,
Eversource Energy,
Yankee Gas,
Connecticut Natural Gas,
Southern Connecticut Gas,
Xcel Energy,
Connecticut Natural Gas

This report presents the results of ACEEE's third national review or utility-funded energy efficiency programs, completed in 2013. The report identifies and profiles 63 leading programs that span the wide array of program types offered to utility customers, and highlights key trends and observations that emerged from reviewing these programs.

Resource - Publications

Energy Pro3: Productivity, Progress and Prosperity for the Southeast

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report demonstrates the results achieved to date by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. It highlights the experiences of Consortium programs, their successes driving further investments in energy efficiency improvements, and the challenges that hindered their progress. It also details the infrastructure, resources, and opportunities that support the deployment of energy efficiency programming, and the approaches that the Consortium has found best suited to the region.

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 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

Content Type

  • Tips for Success (12)
  • Resource (8)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (7)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (6)
  • Marketing & Outreach (3)
  • Financing (4)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (13)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (8)
  • Strategy Development (22)
  • (-) Planning (20)
  • Implementation (25)
  • Evaluation (22)

States or Territories

  • Arizona (2)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • California (1)
  • Colorado (2)
  • Georgia (1)
  • Illinois (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Louisiana (1)
  • Maine (2)
  • Maryland (4)
  • Missouri (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New Mexico (1)
  • New York (4)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (3)
  • Texas (3)
  • Vermont (5)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (11)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (45)
  • Energy Upgrade California (29)
  • Austin Energy (27)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (26)
  • Efficiency Maine (19)
  • Michigan Saves (19)
  • Elevate Energy (18)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (16)
  • RePower Bainbridge (16)
  • Efficiency Vermont (15)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (14)
  • RePower Kitsap (14)
  • EnergySmart (13)
  • RePower Bremerton (13)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (12)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (11)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (11)
  • (-) Community Power Works (10)
  • EnergyWorks (10)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (9)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (9)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (8)
  • Focus on Energy (8)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (8)
  • Mass Save (7)
  • Long Island Green Homes (6)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (6)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (6)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (5)
  • Cambridge Energy Alliance (5)
  • Energize Phoenix (5)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (5)
  • (-) NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (5)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (5)
  • Be SMART (4)
  • Build It Green (4)
  • Community Energy Challenge (4)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (4)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (4)
  • Energize Connecticut (4)
  • Kansas How$mart (4)
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) (4)
  • (-) Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (4)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (3)
  • CharlestonWISE (3)
  • Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL) (3)
  • NOLA WISE (3)
  • Public Service of New Hampshire (3)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (3)
  • Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) (3)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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