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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

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

Make upgrade options clear and concise for customers

Programs in many regions of the U.S. find that the concept of home performance is new to homeowners. Homeowners may not know how energy efficiency measures compare (e.g., energy savings benefits of insulation versus new windows) or have not heard about some effective measures, such as air sealing...
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

Partnering with Utilities Part 1 -- Successful Partnerships and Lessons from the Field

Author(s)
Jennifer Clymer, ICF International,
Philip LaMay, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
Christian Williss, Denver, Colorado,
Sharon Procopio, Denver, Colorado
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge
This webcast served as a roundtable for communities to describe successful partnerships between local governments and utilities that enabled the local governments to implement new clean energy programs or enhance existing ones.
Resource - Webcast

You Are My Sunshine: Integrating Residential Solar and Energy Efficiency (301)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix,
Austin Energy,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on combining solar and home performance energy efficiency.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Trends in Multifamily Programs: What's Working and What's Challenging

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy,
MPower Oregon

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on introducing and building interest in multi-family energy efficiency.

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

Intelligent Efficiency Technology and Market Assessment

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy
The adoption of intelligent efficiency applications is increasing across multiple sectors of the economy. This report analyzes over two dozen of these applications in the buildings, manufacturing, transportation, and government sectors. We describe the technologies involved, characterize their use, and quantify their deployment. We also look at several enabling and cross-cutting technologies and the use of intelligent efficiency in utility-sector energy efficiency programs.
Resource - Publications

Intelligent Efficiency Technology and Market Assessment

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy

The adoption of intelligent efficiency applications is increasing across multiple sectors of the economy. This report analyzes over two dozen of these applications in the buildings, manufacturing, transportation, and government sectors. We describe the technologies involved, characterize their use, and quantify their deployment. We also look at several enabling and cross-cutting technologies and the use of intelligent efficiency in utility-sector energy efficiency programs.

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

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

Is Energy Efficiency Capitalized into Home Prices? Evidence from Three US Cities

Author(s)
Resources for the Future
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy

This study looks at evidence of capitalization of energy efficiency features in home prices using data from real estate multiple listing services (MLS) in three metropolitan areas: the Research Triangle region of North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Portland, Oregon. These home listings include information on Energy Star certification and, in Portland and Austin, local green certifications. Our results suggest that Energy Star certification increases the sales prices of homes built between 1995 and 2006 but has no statistically significant effect on sales prices for newer homes.

Resource - Publications

Going Beyond Code: A Guide to Creating Energy Efficient and Sustainable Buildings in the Southwest

Author(s)
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date
2008
Organizations or Programs
Buckeye Green Building Program,
Chandler Green Building Program,
Pima County Residential Green Building Program,
Scottsdale Green Building Program,
Southern Nevada Green Building Partnership,
Rohnert Park Green Building Program,
Green County San Bernardino,
Albuquerque Green Path Program,
City of Boulder,
CO,
Boulder County BuildSmart Program,
Nevada Sierra Green,
Santa Fe Residential Green Building Code,
Eagle County ECObuild,
Aspen & Pitkin County,
CO Efficient Building Program,
Austin Energy,
EnergySmart

This guide helps states and localities develop voluntary or mandatory programs that go well beyond minimum code requirements for new buildings. It addresses energy efficiency materials and resource conservation, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and site development and land use.

Resource - Publications

Spotlight on Austin, Texas: Let Your Contractor Be Your Guide for Big Rewards

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy
This case study discusses strategies that Austin Energy, a municipally owned utility, used to collaborate closely with building contractors to launch a new Best Offer Ever promotion quickly and effectively.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (12)
  • Tips for Success (5)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (9)
  • (-) Program Design & Customer Experience (17)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (5)
  • Marketing & Outreach (14)
  • Financing (4)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (6)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (3)
  • Strategy Development (14)
  • Planning (12)
  • Implementation (13)
  • Evaluation (6)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (4)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • California (5)
  • Colorado (3)
  • Connecticut (1)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (1)
  • Georgia (2)
  • Hawaii (1)
  • Illinois (4)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kentucky (1)
  • Maine (3)
  • Manitoba (1)
  • Maryland (2)
  • Massachusetts (3)
  • Michigan (3)
  • Minnesota (2)
  • Missouri (2)
  • Montana (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New Jersey (1)
  • New York (4)
  • North Carolina (1)
  • Ohio (1)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • Oregon (7)
  • Pennsylvania (2)
  • Rhode Island (2)
  • South Dakota (1)
  • Texas (14)
  • Utah (1)
  • Vermont (3)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (3)
  • Washington DC (3)
  • 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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