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Leverage the many complementary benefits of energy efficiency programs to broaden your organization’s reach and partnership opportunities

Home energy assessments and upgrades can offer more than just energy savings benefits. They can make homes safer, enhance home value, and reduce health risks for residents. Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that emphasizing the full range of benefits that upgrades offered helped...
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

Recognize and reward good contractor performance

Many programs used the information they gathered through their quality assurance efforts to recognize contractors that deliver consistent, high-quality work. Rewarding good contractor performance can help you build trust, strengthen partnerships, and boost workforce morale. You can incentivize...
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

Measure and evaluate performance at key points in the process

Measuring performance at key points in the upgrade process (e.g., assessments, conversion rates, and financing applications) has helped programs understand where their processes are working smoothly and where they are not. This information has helped them continuously improve their program design...
Tips for Success

Keep the program simple for your customers

Given all of the other things that compete for your audience’s attention, it is critical that program participation steps are straightforward and easy to understand. Many programs have found that complexity makes it harder for interested homeowners to complete upgrade projects. These programs have...
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

Consider tiered financing or rebates to encourage deeper upgrades

Without an incentive, homeowners and contractors may limit themselves to smaller upgrade projects. Programs in search of more energy savings have found that some homeowners already interested in an upgrade are amenable to a bigger upgrade when coupled with better financing terms or larger rebates...
Tips for Success

Speak about financing in ways that resonate with homeowners

Many programs struggle with communicating the value of financing to homeowners. Financing can be a complicated topic, and ensuring that homeowners understand how their loans work and the benefits they will realize is important for converting interest into action. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood...
Tips for Success

Help contractors understand the program’s financing options and benefits, so they can communicate to homeowners

Homeowners do not benefit from access to financing if they don’t know about or understand options available to them. Contractors are often the primary transaction point for selling upgrades, and many programs have found that ongoing collaboration with contractors through sales training, regular...
Tips for Success

Making the Grade: Innovative Approaches to Improving Quality

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on innovative approaches to increase contractors' work quality through feedback reports and contractor ranking, decrease quality assurance costs through remote quality assurance, and improve contractor engagement. It features speakers from Consumers Energy, Enhabit, and DOE.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Residential Energy Efficiency Messaging

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on effective messaging.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Loan Performance Data and Communication

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine,
Indianapolis Better Buildings Program,
Enhabit

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on gathering and communicating loan performance data.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Better Buildings Residential Network Lessons Learned: Peer Exchange Calls No.4

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart,
Bend Energy Challenge,
Mass Save,
Focus on Energy,
Enhabit

This document summarizes top marketing and outreach takeaways shared by Better Buildings Residential Network members during spring 2015 Peer Exchange Calls.

Resource - Publications

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

Best Practices for Energy Retrofit Program Design: Business Models Recommendations

Author(s)
Home Performance Resource Center
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy,
Long Island Green Homes,
New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Enhabit

This paper, which is based on detailed case studies of nine existing state and local programs, presents recommendations for energy upgrade programs to facilitate industry growth and support contractor business models.

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

Energy Efficiency Finance: Options and Roles for Utilities

Author(s)
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Arizona Public Service (APS),
Enhabit,
Georgia How$mart,
Hawaiian Electric Company,
Kansas How$mart,
How$martKY,
Mass Save,
Public Service of New Hampshire,
Rural Energy Savings Program,
Sempra Energy Utilities,
United Illuminating

This report describes different approaches to energy efficiency finance taken by utilities.

Resource - Publications

Clean Energy Financing Programs: A Decision Resource for States and Communities

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy,
Bridgeport Housing Authority Energy Efficiency,
City of Pendleton,
OR,
Enhabit,
ClimateSmart Initiative,
Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes,
Connecticut Solar Lease,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Long Island Green Homes,
Montana Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program,
Palm Desert Energy Independence Program,
Sonoma County Energy Independence Program,
Sustainable Connections: Energy Challenge,
Texas LoanSTAR

This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resource is intended to help state and local governments design finance programs for their jurisdiction. It describes financing program options, key components of these programs, and factors to consider as they make decisions about getting started or updating their programs.

Resource - Publications

What Have We Learned from Energy Efficiency Financing Programs?

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Enhabit

This report presents results, recommendations, and case studies of energy efficiency financing programs.

Resource - Publications

Better Buildings for Michigan Neighborhood Sweep Summary Report

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan
This report summarizes the results of five neighborhood sweeps, covering more than 2,000 households in Michigan.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Key Findings and Recommendations From the Process Evaluation of Clean Energy Works Oregon (now Enhabit)

Author(s)
Energy Trust Oregon (Prepared by Johnson Consulting Group)
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit

This report presents key findings and recommendations from the process evaluation of Clean Energy Works Oregon's (now Enhabit's) energy efficiency financing program. Table 1 provides a good list of key process evaluation research questions which may help others scope comprehensive process evaluations.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Effective Incentive Structures: Michigan

Author(s)
Mary Templeton, BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan

Presentation on how Michigan Saves realigned its incentives to encourage more projects with significant energy savings potential.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Request for Proposals for Phase V (Neighborhood Phase) of Clean Energy Works Portland (now Enhabit)

Author(s)
Clean Energy Works Oregon (now Enhabit)
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit

This is an example of an RFP for workforce development and other program elements. The RFP covers recruitment, outreach and marketing oriented to homeowners and workers, and service delivery of energy assessments and upgrades.

Resource - Program Materials

Spotlight on Portland, Oregon: Making the Program Work for Contractors

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit

This case study discusses the strategies Clean Energy Works Oregon's (now Enhabit's) used to actively engage contractors to make the program successful (e.g., balancing contractors' work priorities, enforcing quality standards).

Resource - Case Studies

Spotlight on Portland, Oregon: Use Incentives to Get Attention and Encourage Deep Savings

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit

This case study discusses how Clean Energy Works Oregon (now Enhabit) used performance-based incentives, limited-time bonus rebates, early financing approvals, and seasonal advantages to broaden its program reach and increase home upgrade completions.

Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (16)
  • Tips for Success (10)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (7)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (6)
  • Marketing & Outreach (7)
  • Financing (10)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (6)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (12)
  • Strategy Development (48)
  • Planning (53)
  • Implementation (52)
  • (-) Evaluation (26)

States or Territories

  • Arizona (2)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (6)
  • Colorado (5)
  • Connecticut (1)
  • Florida (1)
  • Illinois (2)
  • Indiana (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Maine (2)
  • Maryland (3)
  • Massachusetts (1)
  • Michigan (2)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • New Jersey (1)
  • New York (3)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Ontario (1)
  • Oregon (18)
  • Pennsylvania (3)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • Texas (2)
  • Vermont (2)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (3)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (1)

Organizations or Programs

  • (-) Enhabit (24)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (12)
  • Austin Energy (11)
  • Efficiency Maine (11)
  • Energy Upgrade California (11)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (10)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (10)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (8)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (7)
  • Michigan Saves (7)
  • EnergySmart (6)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (6)
  • National Grid (6)
  • Community Power Works (5)
  • Efficiency Vermont (5)
  • Elevate Energy (5)
  • Energize Connecticut (5)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (5)
  • Eversource (5)
  • Long Island Green Homes (5)
  • RePower Bainbridge (5)
  • RePower Kitsap (5)
  • Focus on Energy (4)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (4)
  • RePower Bremerton (4)
  • United Illuminating (4)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (3)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (3)
  • Energize Phoenix (3)
  • EnergyWorks (3)
  • Low Income Energy Efficiency (LIEE) Program (3)
  • Mass Save (3)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (3)
  • NOLA WISE (3)
  • Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) (3)
  • AEP Ohio (2)
  • Be SMART (2)
  • BeSmart Maryland (2)
  • (-) BetterBuildings for Michigan (2)
  • CharlestonWISE (2)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (2)
  • emPowerSBC (2)
  • Energize New York (2)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (2)
  • Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (2)
  • New Jersey Clean Energy Program (2)
  • Puget Sound Energy (2)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (2)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (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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