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Set realistic expectations for launching and scaling up your program

Many program administrators have found that launching and scaling up a program often takes longer than planned for, especially when forming partnerships with contractors and lenders. New energy efficiency programs often need at least 2-3 years to launch and become fully operational. Across programs...
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

Adapt messages to your primary target audience’s needs

Many programs found that market research can help identify, segment, and characterize audiences to understand how to prioritize them. A comprehensive evaluation of over 140 programs across the United States found that programs had greater success when they identified specific target populations...
Tips for Success

Who's Got Game? Interactive Customer Engagement Strategies

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Consumers Energy Smart Energy Challenge,
Focus on Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on key challenges and opportunities to deploy interactive engagement strategies including customer segmentation, loyalty and reward programs, and gamification. It features speakers from Fiveworx, ICF International, and Cool Choices.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Generating Demand for Multifamily Building Upgrades

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Focus on Energy,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Mass Save

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on approaches to generate demand for energy efficiency upgrades at multifamily buildings.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Strategies to Overcome Split Incentive Tenant / Landlord Issues

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Cambridge Energy Alliance

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on challenges and strategies related to split incentives for tenants and landlords.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Program Management and Continuous Improvement for Financing Programs

Author(s)
Chris Lohmann, U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
emPowerSBC,
EnergySmart Colorado

Presentation providing an overview of financing programs, a strategy for continuous improvement, tools for program management, a risk management strategy, and common risks associated with financing programs.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Saving Watts to Save Drops: Inclusion of Water Efficiency in Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2018
Organizations or Programs
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Focus on Energy,
Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO),
Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company,
Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E),
NV Energy

This study provides an overview of practices for quantifying and reporting avoided energy-water costs from demand-side measures. It also summarizes the regulatory guidance for incorporating water savings into cost-effectiveness screening for energy efficiency programs.

Resource - Publications

Behaving Ourselves: How Behavior Change Insights Are Being Applied to Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
Kira Ashby, Consortium for Energy Efficiency,
Monica Nevius, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority,
Bruce Ceniceros, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Pepco Holdings' Home Performance with Energy Audits Program,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Public Service of New Hampshire,
PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program,
FortisBC’s 20/20 Challenge Program,
Focus on Energy

This paper describes a wide variety of behavior change insights potentially applicable to the energy efficiency program context, provides examples of efficiency programs that have applied these insights, and explores some untapped opportunities to achieve energy savings through behavior change.

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

State and Regional Policies that Promote Energy Efficiency Programs Carried out by Electric and Gas Utilities

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2007
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Flex Your Power Program,
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD),
Focus on Energy,
Austin Energy
This report provides comprehensive information on state, federal, local, and utility incentives and policies that are in place to support renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Resource - Publications

Cambridge Energy Alliance's Residential and Small Business Communications and Marketing Strategy

Author(s)
Hattaway Communications
Publication Date
2007
Organizations or Programs
Cambridge Energy Alliance
This marketing strategy includes the goals and objectives the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Energy Alliance set out to meet.
Resource - Publications

Existing Homes Program Guide

Author(s)
Consortium for Energy Efficiency
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Ameren Illinois Utilities,
Avista Utilities,
BC Hydro,
Cape Light Compact,
All-Electric Home Performance Tune-Up,
Efficiency Vermont,
New Jersey Natural Gas,
Northeast Utilities Home Energy Solutions,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program,
Vectren Energy Delivery's Home Energy Savings Program,
Focus on Energy

This guide provides background on the home improvement market in the U.S. and Canada and end users and systems in existing homes, as well as a description of energy efficiency program approaches and strategies.

Resource - Publications

Overview of Marketing Methods for Local Retrofit Programs

Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Cambridge Energy Alliance,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),
Neighborhood Energy Action Partnership,
WeatherizeDC
This report shares strategies for marketing local energy efficiency programs, particularly through focused messaging, leveraging partnerships, and social media.
Resource - Publications

Marketing & Outreach Strategy Research

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Cambridge Energy Alliance,
Energy Impact Illinois,
Enhabit,
Energy Upgrade California

This presentation summarizes the market research that was performed by various Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Building Relationships with Financial Institutions

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

In this video interview segment, Bruce Doeuck of JEA ShopSmart in Jacksonville, Florida, discusses the importance of building relationships with financial institutions.

Resource - Case Studies

Energy Efficiency Finance: New Horizons in the Southeast

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA
Case study highlighting the home performance lending program spearheaded by local utility JEA and JaxMetro Credit Union in Jacksonville, Florida. This program is one of the most successful in the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance's Community Consortium.
Resource - Case Studies

Strategic Financing Partnerships Help Jacksonville Program Take Loans From Buydown to Uptake

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
ShopSmart with JEA
Find out how JEA successfully increased interest in its low-interest loan program beyond a short-term incentive.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (15)
  • Tips for Success (3)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (3)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (6)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (1)
  • Marketing & Outreach (9)
  • Financing (5)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (1)
  • (-) Strategy Development (18)
  • Planning (18)
  • Implementation (20)
  • Evaluation (8)

States or Territories

  • Arizona (2)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (7)
  • Colorado (1)
  • Florida (5)
  • Illinois (1)
  • Massachusetts (4)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Nevada (1)
  • New Hampshire (1)
  • New York (1)
  • Ohio (1)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (1)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • Texas (2)
  • Vermont (1)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (1)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (5)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (43)
  • Austin Energy (28)
  • Energy Upgrade California (23)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (22)
  • Michigan Saves (19)
  • Efficiency Maine (18)
  • RePower Bainbridge (18)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (16)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (15)
  • RePower Bremerton (14)
  • RePower Kitsap (14)
  • Efficiency Vermont (13)
  • EnergyWorks (13)
  • Community Power Works (12)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (12)
  • Elevate Energy (12)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (12)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (11)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (10)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (10)
  • EnergySmart (9)
  • (-) Focus on Energy (7)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (6)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (6)
  • Long Island Green Homes (6)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (6)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (6)
  • Be SMART (5)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (5)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (5)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (5)
  • Mass Save (5)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (5)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (5)
  • (-) ShopSmart with JEA (5)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (4)
  • (-) Cambridge Energy Alliance (4)
  • Energize Phoenix (4)
  • Kansas How$mart (4)
  • NOLA WISE (4)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (4)
  • Build It Green (3)
  • CharlestonWISE (3)
  • Community Energy Challenge (3)
  • EnergyWorks KC (3)
  • Green Works Orlando (3)
  • Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL) (3)
  • Public Service of New Hampshire (3)
  • Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF) (3)
  • SustainableWorks (3)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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