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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

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

Conduct one-on-one outreach where people gather and help them take action right away

Programs that conducted one-on-one outreach found that community events provided good opportunities for the program and its partners to connect and build credibility with potential customers. Particularly successful events were ones that attracted the program’s target audience and aligned with their...
Tips for Success

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

Revenue From Contractor Fees

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
BetterBuildings for Michigan

This peer exchange call summary focused on how programs are devising plans for creating a contractor revenue stream and potential fee structures.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Contractor Sales Training

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergyWorks,
Efficiency Maine,
BetterBuildings for Michigan

This peer exchange call summary focused on sales training assistance programs for contractors.

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

Best Practices for Working with Utilities to Improve Access to Energy Usage Data

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix,
Efficiency Vermont,
Delmarva Energy Challenge

This resource provides best practices and highlights case studies for how utilities, policymakers, building managers, and community stakeholders can improve access to energy usage data while working towards the goal of improving efficiency in their communities.

Resource - Publications

Reactions to the Residential Retrofit Roundtable Recommendations

Author(s)
Richard Faesy and Chris Kramer, Energy Futures Group (Prepared for the Energy Foundation)
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit,
Michigan Saves,
BetterBuildings for Michigan,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,
Energy Works,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Efficiency Maine,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)

This report explores the approaches and research needs identified in the Building Retrofit Industry and Market (BRIM) Initiative through in-depth discussion with residential energy upgrade experts including a discussion of Marketing & Outreach and the program/contractor interface.

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

Energize Phoenix Energy Efficiency on an Urban Scale: Year Three Summary Report

Author(s)
Energize Phoenix
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix

This summary report provides scientific results, lessons learned, and recommendations for driving energy efficiency in existing buildings on an urban scale. It includes program marketing lesson learned, such as: personal outreach and call to action events are critical marketing opportunities.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

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

Shared Value in Utility and Efficiency Partnerships - Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

Author(s)
Nikki Kuhn, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix,
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
Long Island Power Authority (LIPA),
Efficiency Vermont
Presentation that focuses on grantee program-utility partnership models.
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

Energize Phoenix: Collecting and Using Data to Improve the Program

Author(s)
Dimitrios Laloudakis, Energize Phoenix
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Energize Phoenix
This presentation outlines the techniques for collecting and evaluating energy efficiency program evaluation data, including data related to marketing efforts.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

BetterBuildings for Michigan Power Mailers

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan

These BetterBuildings for Michigan mailers show satisfied program customers claiming they have the power to make changes and bring results by increasing the efficiency of their homes.

Resource - Program Materials

Brand Standards Tool Kit

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan
This branding guide was developed for BetterBuildings for Michigan staff so they can consistently use the program's look and feel, messages, and tone in marketing and outreach materials.
Resource - Program Materials

BetterBuildings for Michigan Early Adopter Poster and Postcards

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan
These outreach materials from BetterBuildings for Michigan include a photograph and quote from credible members of the Grand Valley State University (GSVU) community that served as early adopters for the program.
Resource - Program Materials

Improving Quality Through Performance Metrics

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

This video explains how Better Buildings for Michigan's performance metrics and quality assurance enabled them to encourage high-performing contractors, to help underperforming contractors improve, and ultimately to dismiss some contractors.

Resource - Case Studies

Building a Brand

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

In this video interview segment, Mick Dalrymple of Energize Phoenix shares how the program used information about its audience to create a fun and appealing brand.

Resource - Case Studies

It's Academic: BetterBuildings for Michigan Partners With University to Reach Employees

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Michigan
This Focus Series interview discusses the semester-long, employer-assisted partnership between BetterBuildings for Michigan and Grand Valley State University (GVSU). This successful partnership involved an early adopter outreach campaign and served as a model for other program partnerships.
Resource - Case Studies

Spotlight on Michigan: Experiment to Find the Right Mix of Incentives

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

This case study discusses BetterBuildings for Michigan's targeted outreach campaigns which applied varying incentives and outreach strategies to neighborhoods with a goal to understand which rebates and strategies work best in the target communities.

Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (19)
  • Tips for Success (3)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (5)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (5)
  • Marketing & Outreach (12)
  • Financing (3)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (4)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (2)
  • Strategy Development (10)
  • Planning (14)
  • Implementation (13)
  • Evaluation (5)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (2)
  • Arizona (10)
  • California (2)
  • Colorado (1)
  • Georgia (1)
  • Louisiana (1)
  • Maine (1)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Michigan (10)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • Oregon (1)
  • Pennsylvania (2)
  • Texas (1)
  • Virginia (2)
  • Washington (1)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (64)
  • Energy Upgrade California (49)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (45)
  • Efficiency Maine (37)
  • Austin Energy (34)
  • Michigan Saves (28)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (26)
  • RePower Bainbridge (25)
  • Efficiency Vermont (24)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (24)
  • Elevate Energy (23)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (23)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (23)
  • RePower Kitsap (22)
  • Community Power Works (21)
  • RePower Bremerton (21)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (20)
  • EnergySmart (20)
  • EnergyWorks (20)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (16)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (15)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (15)
  • (-) BetterBuildings for Michigan (13)
  • Focus on Energy (12)
  • (-) Energize Phoenix (11)
  • Energize Connecticut (9)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (9)
  • Mass Save (9)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (8)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (8)
  • NOLA WISE (8)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (8)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (8)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (7)
  • Be SMART (7)
  • Long Island Green Homes (7)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (7)
  • National Grid (7)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (7)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (7)
  • CharlestonWISE (6)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (6)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (6)
  • New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (6)
  • reEnergize (6)
  • Build It Green (5)
  • Cambridge Energy Alliance (5)
  • Community Energy Challenge (5)
  • emPowerSBC (5)
  • Energize New York (5)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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