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Invest in information and communications technology

Paper-based or spreadsheet-based information collection processes can be low cost to develop and easy to roll-out, but more often than not, they become cumbersome to aggregate and store the data from many sources. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that investing in...
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

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

Community Organizing and Outreach

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart,
Bend Energy Challenge,
Energy Upgrade California

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on community-based outreach and organizing strategies to market home energy assessments and upgrades.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Green for All Energy Efficiency Toolkit

Author(s)
Green For All
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit,
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC),
EnergyWorks KC,
Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge,
BetterBuildings for Greensboro,
Green and Healthy Homes Initiative,
Working Partnerships USA,
NYC Apollo Alliance,
Community Power Works,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
RePower Bremerton,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),
RePower Bainbridge,
Better Buildings Near Eastside Neighborhood Sweeps Program,
RePower Kitsap,
Michigan Saves,
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
EnergySmart,
Efficiency Vermont,
Long Island Green Homes,
Energy Impact Illinois,
Energize Bedford,
reEnergize

This practitioner-focused Toolkit for Residential Energy Efficiency Upgrade Programs was created by Green For All to assist new, established, and future energy efficiency programs launch and scale initiatives that can deliver the full promise of the green economy. It is intended as a practical resource that offers examples, tools, and templates that a program manager can deploy to implement a variety of aspects of their program including best practice briefs and summary documents, RFPs, contracts, and other program design and implementation templates that communities nationwide have used to create their own efficiency programs.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

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

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

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

Request for Proposals for Energy Efficiency Loan Products

Author(s)
Dan Curry, BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro

This presentation provides an overview of the lending RFP issued by the city of Greensboro's Better Buildings Program, including a description of the roles and responsibilities for the city and its financial partners.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

City of Greensboro Better Buildings Project: Market Assessment

Author(s)
Environmental Finance Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
This market assessment for the City of Greensboro, North Carolina identifies the customers and potential demand for an energy efficiency upgrade financing program.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Expanding North Carolina Energy Efficiency and Renewable Lending Programs: Market Snapshot

Author(s)
Environmental Finance Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro,
Charlotte NC,
CarrboroWISE,
Chapel Hill WISE,
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA),
Raleigh NC,
Asheville NC

This market assessment evaluates lending options for funding energy efficiency upgrades in North Carolina.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

City of Greensboro Request for Proposal: Business Process Management Information Technology Tool

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Example Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide The City of Greensboro with an estimate for the work required to create a Business Process Management Information Technology Tool (BPM IT Tool) for a municipal energy efficiency project.
Resource - Program Materials

Sample RFP: Greensboro Energy Efficiency Loan Products

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro

A sample RFP from Greensboro, North Carolina, for energy efficiency loan products.

Resource - Program Materials

Program Design Flowchart for Greensboro, North Carolina

Author(s)
BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings for Greensboro

Example of a program design flowchart showing key steps and relationships for the energy efficiency program in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Resource - Program Materials

Content Type

  • Resource (11)
  • Tips for Success (5)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Program Design & Customer Experience (7)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (4)
  • Marketing & Outreach (6)
  • Financing (7)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (1)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (4)
  • Strategy Development (8)
  • Planning (10)
  • Implementation (12)
  • Evaluation (5)

States or Territories

  • (-) Alabama (2)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (4)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • California (5)
  • Colorado (14)
  • Connecticut (2)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (2)
  • Georgia (2)
  • Hawaii (1)
  • Illinois (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kentucky (1)
  • Louisiana (1)
  • Manitoba (1)
  • Maryland (2)
  • Massachusetts (2)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • Montana (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New Jersey (1)
  • New York (2)
  • (-) North Carolina (6)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • (-) Oregon (9)
  • Pennsylvania (3)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • South Dakota (1)
  • Texas (1)
  • Utah (1)
  • Vermont (2)
  • Virginia (3)
  • Washington (3)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (2)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (52)
  • Austin Energy (11)
  • (-) EnergySmart (10)
  • (-) BetterBuildings for Greensboro (8)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (8)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (7)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (7)
  • Michigan Saves (7)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (7)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (7)
  • Efficiency Maine (6)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (6)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (6)
  • Community Power Works (5)
  • Be SMART (4)
  • Efficiency Vermont (4)
  • Elevate Energy (4)
  • EnergyWorks (4)
  • Focus on Energy (4)
  • RePower Bainbridge (4)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (3)
  • Chapel Hill WISE (3)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (3)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (3)
  • reEnergize (3)
  • RePower Kitsap (3)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (2)
  • Beacon Communities Project (2)
  • Bend Energy Challenge (2)
  • Bridging the Gap (2)
  • Build It Green (2)
  • CarrboroWISE (2)
  • Clean Energy Durham (2)
  • Community Alliance for Energy Efficiency (Cafe2) (2)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (2)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (2)
  • emPowerSBC (2)
  • EnergyFit Nevada (2)
  • Energy Upgrade California (2)
  • EnergyWorks KC (2)
  • Knoxville Extreme Energy Makeover (2)
  • Long Island Green Homes (2)
  • Mass Save (2)
  • Nexus Energy Center (2)
  • RePower Bremerton (2)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (2)
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) (2)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (2)
  • Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC) (2)
  • Kansas Energy Efficiency Program (1)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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