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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

Good news is addictive – spread news about program accomplishments widely and often

Successful programs use many channels to communicate accomplishments and results to stakeholders. These include word of mouth and products such as press releases, announcements on websites, case studies, and presentations. Many programs use earned media—especially local media when possible—by giving...
Tips for Success

Communicate with audiences at least three times; once is not enough

All residential energy efficiency programs have found that outreach needs to be repeated to connect with and remind potential participants about program offerings. As marketing gurus note, the majority of people need to be exposed to a product message at least three times (on separate occasions) to...
Tips for Success

Make upgrade benefits visible by showcasing completed projects and actual results

Unlike remodeling projects, home energy upgrade benefits are generally not immediately visible to the casual observer. Strategies that demonstrate tangible benefits from upgrades can help increase understanding and motivation with potential customers. To help energy efficiency become real, some...
Tips for Success

Managing Financing Programs: Spreadsheet Models

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Montana Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program,
Texas LoanSTAR
This webcast provides an overview of spreadsheet models available to help manage financing programs.
Resource - Webcast

Revolving Loan Fund Basics and Best Practices

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2009
Organizations or Programs
Texas LoanSTAR,
Montana Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program
This webcast featured four presentations providing examples and best practices for revolving loan funds.
Resource - Webcast

Current Practices in Efficiency Financing: An Overview for State and Local Governments

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Kansas How$mart,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Michigan Saves,
Texas LoanSTAR,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Nebraska Dollar and Energy Savings Program

This report is a guide to all customer-facing financing products—products offered by a lender directly to a borrower—used to pay for energy efficiency. Intended for state and local governments that are deciding whether to start a new program, tune up and existing program, or create a Green Bank, it provides information on the full range of financing product options for target participants, the tradeoffs of various products, and potential advantages and disadvantages for different types of customers.

Resource - Publications

Trusted Partners: Everyday Energy Efficiency Across the South

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
NOLA WISE

This report describes ACEEE's Deep South Ethnographic Project, which aimed to answer an overarching question: are end-users of energy in the Southeastern states interested in energy efficiency? This report includes the demographics of ACEEE's informants and responses to a set of questions about energy usage, bills, and money. The report also includes individual case studies from five different sites.

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

Revolving Loan Funds

Author(s)
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Publication Date
2009
Organizations or Programs
Texas LoanSTAR,
Utah Revolving Loan Fund for Schools,
Rhode Island Energy Revolving Loan Fund,
Ohio Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund,
Montana Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program,
Arizona Energy Loan Program,
Florida Conversion Revolving Loan Program,
Efficiency Kansas Revolving Loan Program,
North Carolina Energy Program
This report provides information for states intending to set up a new revolving loan fund for state energy programs.
Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency Financing: Models and Strategies

Author(s)
The Energy Foundation
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
Maryland Clean Energy Center Home Owner Loan Program,
Texas LoanSTAR,
Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Energy Efficient Mortgage Program,
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) PowerSaver,
Community Preservation Corporation Green Financing Initiative,
New Resource Bank,
Sempra Utilities,
United Illuminating

Reviews and summarize energy efficiency financing models and strategies. Models are analyzed according to funding sources, program structures, limits to scale, repayment vehicles, and project risks. Strategies consider applicable building sectors, models, levels of establishment, growth potential, advantages, and disadvantages.

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

Designing Custom Messages for Specific Markets: Global Green New Orleans

Author(s)
Global Green New Orleans
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Global Green New Orleans,
NOLA WISE

This presentation describes the Global Green New Orleans program and lessons learned about designing custom messages for specific markets.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Engaging Neighbors Through Home Energy Showcases

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

In this video interview segment, Elizabeth Galante of NOLA WISE (New Orleans, Louisiana, Worthwhile Investments Save Energy), describes the program's home energy showcases, which were a successful marketing initiative that helped entice homeowners to undertake home energy upgrades.

Resource - Case Studies

State Energy Efficiency Loan Programs

Author(s)
Alliance to Save Energy
Publication Date
2009
Organizations or Programs
Texas LoanSTAR,
Kansas Energy Efficiency Program,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP)
This brief focuses on loan programs in 30 states that are currently providing low- to no-interest loans to finance energy efficiency improvements--from energy-efficient windows to replacement HVAC systems--in the residential, business, and public sectors.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (11)
  • Tips for Success (4)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Program Design & Customer Experience (1)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (1)
  • Marketing & Outreach (7)
  • Financing (8)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (2)
  • Strategy Development (10)
  • Planning (9)
  • Implementation (11)
  • Evaluation (5)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (1)
  • Arizona (1)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • California (4)
  • Colorado (2)
  • Florida (2)
  • Georgia (3)
  • Hawaii (1)
  • Illinois (2)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Louisiana (6)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Massachusetts (1)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Mississippi (1)
  • Montana (1)
  • Nebraska (1)
  • New York (2)
  • Ohio (1)
  • Oregon (1)
  • Pennsylvania (3)
  • Texas (2)
  • Virginia (2)
  • Wisconsin (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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