Skip to main content
Energy.gov Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Residential Program Guide
  • About
  • Common Topics

Secondary

  • Explore Residential Guide
    • Handbook Index
    • Program Components
    • Program Design Phases
  • Resources
    • Quick Answers
    • Proven Practices
    • Energy Data Facts
    • Tips For Success
    • Resource Library
    • Glossary
  • Tech Solutions
    • About Tech Solutions
    • HVAC
    • Heat Pump Water Heater

Breadcrumbs

EERE » Residential Program Guide » Common Search Topics » Search by Topic

Page title

Search by Topic

Showing results 1 - 100 of 573

Financing – Develop Resources

Develop the procurement, outreach, and loan support resources required to perform your financing activities.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Develop Implementation Plans

Develop a detailed plan for launching and operating your program that integrates all program components into a process that is customer-friendly and efficient for contractors and other partners.
Handbook

Financing – Communicate Impacts

Communicate the results of your financing activities to internal and external partners.
Handbook

Financing – Assess & Improve Processes

Focus on the continuous improvement of your financing activities by tracking and evaluating data, responding to feedback, and modifying strategies when needed.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Make Design Decisions

Solidify your program strategy and decide which customers you will focus on; what products, services, and support you will provide; and how you will partner with contractors and others to deliver services to your customers.
Handbook

Financing – Deliver Program

Launch your financing activities in coordination with other program components.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Identify Partners

Establish relationships with organizations that can help deliver your program by enhancing your knowledge, resources, capabilities and access to customers and contractors.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Set Goals & Objectives

Establish program goals and objectives to clarify what you want your program to achieve and to guide program design and implementation over time.
Handbook

Financing – Develop Evaluation Plans

Establish an evaluation plan that will allow you to determine how your financing activities are impacting the market.
Handbook

Financing – Make Design Decisions

Determine if enhancements to existing financing products or the development of new products are necessary to allow you to achieve your goals and objectives.
Handbook

Financing – Develop Implementation Plans

Develop a plan to implement your financing activities, with defined roles for financial institution partners, contractors, customers, and your program.
Handbook

Financing – Identify Partners

Identify and partner with financial institutions that can provide capital, underwriting, and other functions to enable your customers to access financing.
Handbook

Financing – Set Goals & Objectives

Establish goals, objectives, and timeframes for your financing activities.
Handbook

Financing – Assess the Market

Determine how your target audience currently funds energy efficiency services, to what extent upfront cost is a barrier, and whether improvements to their financing options would increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Overview

Design a residential energy efficiency program that integrates marketing and outreach, contractor coordination, incentives, financing, and program evaluation to provide customers with the products and services they want through a customer-centric process.
Handbook

Financing – Overview

Ensure that your program’s customers will have access to affordable financing, so they can pay for the services you offer.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Assess & Improve Processes

Improve your program’s efficiency and effectiveness through regular information collection, assessment, decision-making, adaptation, and communication.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Develop Resources

Develop the necessary materials, tools, and staff capacity to effectively deliver and manage your program.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Communicate Impacts

Develop a strategy for communicating program impacts and benefits to key audiences to create and sustain support and engagement.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Deliver Program

Ensure a positive customer experience with your program from launch through implementation over time.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Develop Evaluation Plans

Establish metrics and measurement strategies for understanding whether you are effectively achieving your program goals and meeting your customers’ needs, while identifying areas that can be improved.
Handbook

Program Design & Customer Experience – Assess the Market

Research and analyze the specific barriers, needs, and opportunities for a residential energy efficiency program in your community.
Handbook

Directly install measures during the assessment

Programs that enabled contractors to install energy saving measures during the home energy assessment were more successful than those that did not. Based on a comprehensive analysis of over 140 programs across the United States, programs that provided direct installation of some low-cost measures...
Tips for Success

Offer customers a range of upgrade paths, including single measures and staging upgrades over time

Programs that offered several paths for customers to upgrade their homes—for example through a choice of single or bundled measures, staged upgrades over time, or a comprehensive whole home upgrade—were found to motivate greater homeowner participation and generate higher energy savings, according...
Tips for Success

Offer homeowners multiple types of assessments

Several successful residential energy efficiency programs offered multiple types of home energy assessments to appeal to a wider spectrum of homeowner interests and needs. These ranged from online home assessments to brief walk-throughs to full diagnostic testing. A comprehensive evaluation of over...
Tips for Success

When partnering with lenders through a request for proposal (RFP), establish a clear process and remain flexible

Establishing strong, collaborative partnerships with one or more lending partners is critical for successful delivery of affordable home energy lending. These partnerships are typically created through a request for proposal (RFP) process which can encourage market competition and help to attract...
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

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

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

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

Provide adequate time for data system development and testing

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that setting up their information technology (IT) systems early in the program design stage ensured that data terms and data entry procedures were consistently applied by all system users. Reaching agreement with stakeholders (e.g...
Tips for Success

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

Aim for early wins that give the program experience and showcase upgrades as a way to attract customers

Several residential energy efficiency programs have successfully launched their efforts by focusing on completing early upgrades that build visibility for their program, create momentum, and allow programs to learn how to reach homeowners effectively. This early success provides results that the...
Tips for Success

Develop partnerships based on an alignment of goals, strong collaboration, and consistent communication

Programs that have developed strong and lasting partnerships have done so by identifying shared goals and seeking ways in which programs and partners can mutually benefit by advancing each other's missions. Even if partners don’t have the same goals as your program, you can still try to find ways to...
Tips for Success

Incentivize the action you want your customer to take

Successful programs know that it is not enough to get customers interested in their services. They know that homeowners that receive assessments but don’t undertake upgrades don’t receive the benefits of energy efficiency—and programs don’t get credit for energy savings. Instead of emphasizing...
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

Recognize customers who make improvements

Some programs provide customers with a “certificate of completion” to recognize and reward homeowners’ accomplishment in completing an upgrade. Visible awards or affirmation, such as yard signs, window stickers, or favorable comparisons to neighbors can motivate homeowners to undertake upgrades...
Tips for Success

Design your financing activities to enable long-term sustainability

In order to overcome lenders’ concerns over the risk associated with energy efficiency loans, many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners offered credit enhancements to lenders (e.g., loan loss reserve funds) to attract lender participation and to mitigate lender losses in the event of loan...
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

Make upgrade options clear and concise for customers

Programs in many regions of the U.S. find that the concept of home performance is new to homeowners. Homeowners may not know how energy efficiency measures compare (e.g., energy savings benefits of insulation versus new windows) or have not heard about some effective measures, such as air sealing...
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

Tap into secondary market investors to provide lending capital

Historically, energy efficiency financing have required two sources of funding: credit enhancement funds to mitigate risk and support attractive financing, and senior capital to fund the majority of the loan principal. Some residential energy efficiency programs have successfully assembled loan...
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

Hire staff with financing skills and knowledge

Financing can be a complicated topic for programs, and having staff with financing knowledge and expertise can be very valuable. Financing program administration involves working with lenders and understanding how they operate as well as understanding financial regulatory issues and loan product...
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

Leverage financial sector marketing channels

Lenders can be a valuable partner for programs in marketing loan products and driving demand for home energy upgrades. They are often a trusted source of information in a community, and they have access to potential customers and partners such as existing customers, loan aggregators, and large...
Tips for Success

Promote existing loan products when possible before developing new ones

Developing new energy efficiency loan products requires financial expertise and resources that not every program has available or that might not even be necessary. Finding and promoting existing energy efficiency loan products, such as loans that may be offered by a local credit union, your state...
Tips for Success

Engage with potential lending partners early, and make a clear business case for their involvement

Some lenders perceive home energy lending to be too risky or not profitable enough for them to get involved. Programs have found that engaging potential lending partners early in the program design process, especially in face-to-face meetings, helped them understand both lender needs and the risks...
Tips for Success

Promote financing as part of energy efficiency sales transactions

Low-cost financing for home energy upgrades does not increase customer demand for upgrades on its own. A comprehensive evaluation of over 140 programs across the United States found that homeowners must be sold on the benefits of home energy upgrades before financing can become valuable to them...
Tips for Success

Streamline the financing process with easy loan applications and quick approvals

Complicated loan and program application processes have deterred many potential customers from following through with an upgrade. Delays and overly burdensome requirements raise barriers to participation. Many programs have successfully employed strategies to reduce the number of requirements that...
Tips for Success

The New Wave of Customer Engagement: How Innovative Digital Platforms Drive Customer Participation and Satisfaction

Author(s)
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2017

This presentation covers how digital platforms drive residential and commercial customer participation and satisfaction by providing a unique value.

Resource - Webcast

Peer Exchange Call: Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and Home Energy Score Integration

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Focus on Energy,
Energize Connecticut,
Columbia Water & Light

Focus on Energy, Columbia Water & Light, and utilities from the Energize Connecticut program share how they integrate and implement the Home Energy Score and Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs.

Resource - Webcast

DOE Zero Energy Ready Homes Orientation Webinar

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016

The DOE Zero Energy Ready Home represents a whole new level of home performance, with rigorous requirements that ensure outstanding levels of energy savings, comfort, health, and durability. This presentation provides an overview of the Zero Energy Ready Home program including the business case and how to be recognized by DOE as an industry leader. Builders and energy raters will also learn how to quickly become DOE Zero Energy Ready Home Partners and begin qualifying homes.

Resource - Webcast

REEO Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities Webinar

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project,
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,
South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource,
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Michigan Saves,
ConEdison’s Brooklyn Queens Demand Management Program,
Florida's Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program,
Set the PACE St. Louis,
City of Chicago,
Energy Outreach Colorado,
Massachusetts Low-Income Multifamily Energy Retrofit Program

This webinar covers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities for Deep Energy Savings report published in 2016.n

Resource - Webcast

Valuing Energy Efficiency: Considering Energy Performance in Real Estate Appraisals and Valuation

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016

This webinar focused on energy efficiency and sustainability in the appraisal and valuation industries. Colliers International explained how they have adapted their processes to ensure that they realize the full value of energy efficiency and sustainability upgrades. Inspyrod discussed various techniques and data challenges that might be encountered during the valuation process. Sustainable Values provided an introduction and overview to the recently launched Energy Matters! training course that teaches appraisers how to incorporate energy and sustainability metrics into their property valuation.

Resource - Webcast

Better Together: Linking and Leveraging Energy Programs for Low-Income Households

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2015

This presentation includes a series of case studies to highlight effective efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) to low-income households. It explores the topic of linking and leveraging EE/RE programs for limited-income households, including the need to coordinate with other energy assistance programs.

Resource - Webcast

Lessons Learned and the Better Buildings Residential Program Solution Center

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016

Take you on a tour of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Residential Program Solution Center content and functionality and explore how you can use the Solution Center to help design, implement, and evaluate residential energy efficiency programs. Program examples focus on contractor engagement and workforce development. Learn how to support and partner with the workforce who will deliver your program’s energy efficiency services by understanding their capacity, recruiting contractor partners, enabling technical training and business development support, and refining program processes over time.

Resource - Webcast

Bringing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to Low-Income Households

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2015

This webcast highlights effective efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy to low-income households. It explores the topic of linking and leveraging energy efficiency and renewable energy programs for limited-income households, including the need to coordinate with other energy assistance programs. It also presents case studies of organizations that have successfully advanced connections among available programs and funding sources.

Resource - Webcast

Capturing Energy Efficiency in Residential Real Estate Transactions Webcast

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015

This webcast covers DOE's new white paper, Capturing Energy Efficiency in Residential Real Estate Transactions, which highlights how residential energy efficiency programs can help make homes' energy efficiency visible to appraisers, real estate agents, mortgage lenders, homebuyers and sellers. The webcast provides examples of programs around the U.S. that are successfully engaging the real estate community and overcoming barriers to valuing energy efficiency in the home resale process.

Resource - Webcast

Briefing on the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Evaluation

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015

This presentation describes the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program evaluation findings, including goal and objective attainment, energy and CO2e impacts, program implementation lessons learned, market effects findings, and recommendations.

Resource - Webcast

The Value of Energy Efficiency in the Real Estate Market

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2015

This webcast discusses the value of energy efficiency in the real estate market.

Resource - Webcast

Analyzing and Managing Bill Impacts on Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2013

This webcast reviews the SEE Action report which provides policymakers with principles and recommendations to understand and manage concerns about bill and rate impacts resulting from requiring utilities to provide efficiency programs.

Resource - Webcast

Using Integrated Resource Planning to Encourage Investment in Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency Measures

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2013

This webcast reviews the SEE Action report that describes how utility planning processes that allow demand-side resources to compete with supply-side resources can promote cost-effective energy efficiency.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency Cost-Effectiveness Testing Forecasting

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast provides an introduction to cost-effectiveness testing for energy efficiency programs, key drivers in the cost-effectiveness results, and cost effectiveness tool developed for the U.S. Department of Energy.

Resource - Webcast

State, Regional and National Energy Efficiency Forecasting

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2013

This webcast provides approaches for projecting, analyzing and representing end-use energy efficiency potential and its impacts on state, regional and national energy use.

Resource - Webcast

A Field Guide to Utility-Run Behavior Programs: Making Sense of Variety

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Vermont

This webcast covers a report that is a comparative analysis of utility-run behavior programs, which lays the groundwork for further program development by developing a classification scheme, or taxonomy, that sorts programs into discrete categories.

Resource - Webcast

Behavior-Based Energy Efficiency: Behavioral Persistence

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast explores residential behavior-based energy efficiency programs and provides data to support issues and recommendations.

Resource - Webcast

Overview and Preliminary Results of ARRA-Funded SGIG Consumer Behavior Studies

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast discusses the background for U.S. Department of Energy’s Smart Grid Investment Grant (SGIG) consumer behavior study effort; the various utilities who are participating and what they each plan to include their respective studies; the quantitative results and qualitative lessons learned thus far from these studies; and the types of research will be undertaken by LBNL over the next several years.

Resource - Webcast

The Role of Behavioral Programs in Portfolios

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast discusses policy and planning considerations for incorporating behavior programs into efficiency portfolios.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency Financing Programs: Financing Energy Improvements on Utility Bills

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast provides a market update and key program design considerations for on-bill financing programs.

Resource - Webcast

Long-Run Savings and Cost-Effectiveness of Home Energy Reports

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2014

This webcast discusses the savings and cost-effectiveness of home energy reports programs.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar Series: #5 On-Bill Financing

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014

This webinar is the fifth (in a series of six) hosted by USDA Rural Utility Service (RUS) and focusing on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). This webinar focuses on financing energy improvements on utility bills and features case studies about Roanoke Electric Cooperative's Upgrade to Save program and North Arkansas Electric Cooperative. It also provides information for programs seeking on-bill financing project assistance.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar Series: #6 Solar

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015

This webinar is the sixth (in a series of six) hosted by USDA Rural Utility Service (RUS) and focusing on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). This webinar provides an overview of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Opportunities and the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program. It features the New Hampshire Electric Co-op's Solar PV Program and SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership (SolarOPs). SolarOPs is a U.S. Department of Energy program designed to increase the use and integration of solar energy in communities across the US.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar Series: #3 Residential Energy Efficiency Deep Dive, Part One

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014

This webinar is the third (in a series of six) hosted by USDA Rural Utility Service (RUS) and focusing on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). The first in a two-part series, this webinar shares best practices from the more than 40 competitively selected state and local governments who participated in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program, including market position and business model, program design and customer experience, evaluation and data collection, marketing and outreach, financing, and contractor engagement and workforce development.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar Series: #4 Residential Energy Efficiency Deep Dive, Part Two

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014

This webinar is the fourth (in a series of six) hosted by USDA Rural Utility Service (RUS) and focusing on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). The second in a two-part series, this webinar shares best practices from the more than 40 competitively selected state and local governments who participated in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program. This webinar focuses on data collection and continuous improvement, partnering with financial institutions, community-based outreach, and quality assurance of contractor work. It also features a case study from Jackson Electric Member Corporation about their audit tools, rebates and loans, tracking and reporting, and marketing and advertising strategies.

Resource - Webcast

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program Webinar Series: #1 Overview and Cost Effectiveness

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Agriculture,
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014

This webinar is the first (in a series of six) hosted by USDA Rural Utility Service (RUS) and focusing on the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program (EECLP). This webinar provides an overview of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program. It covers the requirements and benefits of the program and also discusses steps you can take to evaluate the cost effectiveness of energy program options.

Resource - Webcast

Financing Energy Improvements on Utility Bills: Case Studies from the Field

Author(s)
Eleni Pelican, U.S. Department of Energy,
Mark Zimring, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Greg Leventis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Merrian Borgeson, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Charles Goldman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Peter Thompson, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Ian Hoffman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Power Smart,
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)

This webcast provided an overview of on-bill financing programs, and presented three case studies: Manitoba Hydro, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and Pacific Gas & Electric (California).

Resource - Webcast

PowerSaver Loan

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
This webcast provided an overview to the PowerSaver Loan; described the role of financing in home energy efficiency projects and examples of program's experience; introduced how DOE program sponsors and partners can utilize PowerSaver to offer affordable energy efficiency loans to homeowners; and discussed options, strategies and next steps for interested programs to partner with participating PowerSaver lender(s).
Resource - Webcast

Loan Loss Reserves: Lessons from the Field

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2010

This webcast highlights lessons learned from programs that have used loan loss reserve funds.

Resource - Webcast

Revolving Loan Funds: An Introduction

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2009
This webcast provides an introduction to revolving loans funds, highlighting basics and best practices.
Resource - Webcast

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

Tools for Designing & Implementing Better Finance Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Rather than selecting from two or three fixed models, a successful clean energy finance program will require a sponsor to make a number of design decisions, based on resources available and the needs of the community served. This webinar outlines these key areas for consideration (including potential program sponsors, institutional structure, and potential sources of program revenue) and examples of how organizations across the country have blended design decisions into successful programs.
Resource - Webcast

Financing Programs: RFP & Contract Terms and Conditions

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
SustainableWorks,
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton,
Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2),
City of San Diego Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Program

This webcast discusses financing program RFPs and contract terms and conditions.

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

Exploring Opportunities for Energy Efficiency as a Revenue Stream in the Forward Capacity Markets

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
This webcast provides information for energy efficiency programs on the opportunities and challenges associated with participating in forward capacity markets and reliability pricing models as potential revenue streams.
Resource - Webcast

Collaboration and Consensus Building in States to Support Energy Efficiency as a Resource

Author(s)
Wally Nixon and Eddy Moore, Arkansas Public Service Commission
Publication Date
2011
This webinar presented the story of the successful stakeholder process in Arkansas which led to the state's 2007 "Quick Start" utility-administered energy efficiency programs, the expansion of Quick Start programs to comprehensive programs in 2009, and the adoption in 2010 of increasing annual energy efficiency goals for 2011-2013. General principles of a successful collaborative process by utilities, utility regulators, customers and customer groups, state agencies, energy efficiency and consumer advocates, and others was discussed.
Resource - Webcast

Furthering Your Local Governments' Energy Efficiency Goals: Part 1 - Getting Support From Local Leaders

Author(s)
Chuck Clinton, National Association of State Energy Officials,
Jay Fisette, Arlington County, Virginia,
Michael Yambrach, Washington, D.C.,
Kaci Radcliffe, Skagit County, Washington,
Jennifer Clymer, ICF International
Publication Date
2011

This webcast shares useful and effective strategies for getting local leaders to support local government's energy efficiency goals.

Resource - Webcast

Marketing & Outreach: Working with and Learning from Contractors

Author(s)
Karen Villeneuve, NYSERDA,
Peter Krajsa, AFC First Financial Corporation,
Michael Rogers, GreenHomes America,
Matt Golden, Recurve
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Connecticut Solar Lease,
Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund,
Kentucky Home Performance,
AFC First's EnergyLoan Program

This webcast highlights programs that actively engage the contractor community in program design and implementation. Several contractors share their views on best practices for Marketing & Outreach.

Resource - Webcast

Workforce Development and Sales Training for Energy Efficiency Contractors

Author(s)
Elizabeth Stuart, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine,
Efficiency Vermont
This webcast reports on the energy efficiency services sector workforce size, expectations for growth, and training needs and features a case studies from Efficiency Vermont and Efficiency Maine.
Resource - Webcast

Financial Program Management for Continuous Improvement

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado,
emPowerSBC
This webcast discussed financial program management.
Resource - Webcast

Leveraging Partnerships with Faith-Based Organizations

Author(s)
Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith,
Paul C. Raver, Jr., Green Market Solutions,
Alexis Chase, Georgia Interfaith Power & Light
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Georgia Interfaith Power & Light's Power Wise,
GreenFaith,
Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
New Jersey Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program
This webcast explores how faith-based organizations and their partners have used energy efficiency as an organizing motivator to upgrade the institutional building and then members' homes.
Resource - Webcast

Finance Planning

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Michigan Saves
This webcast discussed the broad spectrum of needs financing mechanisms must address within integrated energy efficiency programs.
Resource - Webcast

Quality Assurance for Residential Retrofit Programs

Author(s)
Jim Grevatt, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Publication Date
2010

This DOE Technical Assistance Program webcast covers why quality assurance is important for residential upgrade programs, how to define realistic goals, and the key elements of a QA program.

Resource - Webcast

Residential Retrofit Program Design Guide Overview

Author(s)
Richard Faesy, Energy Futures Group,
Andy Meyer, Efficiency Maine,
Nikki Kuhn, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine

Webcast on the DOE Residential Retrofit Program Design Guide, which focuses on the key elements and design characteristics of building and maintaining a successful residential upgrade program.

Resource - Webcast

Tips and Tools for Promoting Your Energy Efficiency Project

Author(s)
Jim Arwood, National Association of State Energy Officials,
Nancy Raca, ICF International
Publication Date
2010

This webcast provides information on why outreach is important for program success and how programs can promote their efforts.

Resource - Webcast

How to Design a Community Energy Alliance

Author(s)
Ben Taube and Jolyn Newton, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance,
Eric Mackres, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
City of Decatur Kilowatt Crackdown,
Community Energy Challenge,
Go Green Nashville,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)
Webcast on how to design a community energy alliance.
Resource - Webcast

How to Design and Market Energy Efficiency Programs to Specific Neighborhoods

Author(s)
Michelle Leigh, County of Volusia, Florida,
Andrea Petzel, City of Seattle, Washington,
Lilah Glick, Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Community Power Works,
Volusia County,
FL,
Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)

This webcast offers information on successful marketing strategies, as well as design considerations and market research insights for creating and marketing successful projects in specific neighborhoods.

Resource - Webcast

Partnering with Utilities Part 1 -- Successful Partnerships and Lessons from the Field

Author(s)
Jennifer Clymer, ICF International,
Philip LaMay, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania,
Christian Williss, Denver, Colorado,
Sharon Procopio, Denver, Colorado
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge
This webcast served as a roundtable for communities to describe successful partnerships between local governments and utilities that enabled the local governments to implement new clean energy programs or enhance existing ones.
Resource - Webcast

Partnering with Utilities Part 2-Topics for Local Governments-Creating Successful Partnerships with Utilities to Deliver Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
Jennifer Clymer, ICF International,
Neal De Snoo, Berkeley, California,
Dan Schoenholz, Fremont, California,
Catherine Squire and Gina Blus, Pacific Gas and Electric Company,
Jon Ippel, Orlando, Florida,
Cameron Saulsby, Orlando Utilities Commission
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
East Bay Partnership,
Green Works Orlando

This webcast focused on advanced topics for local government-utility partnerships, with presentations from local governments and their partnering utilities that have well-developed, multi-year relationships and programs.

Resource - Webcast

Pagination

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • ›› Next page
  • Last » Last page

Content Type

  • Resource (522)
  • Tips for Success (29)
  • Handbook (22)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (236)
  • (-) Program Design & Customer Experience (413)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (257)
  • Marketing & Outreach (378)
  • (-) Financing (211)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (125)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (15)
  • Strategy Development (383)
  • Planning (349)
  • Implementation (334)
  • Evaluation (126)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (9)
  • Alaska (3)
  • Arizona (21)
  • Arkansas (17)
  • British Columbia (2)
  • California (87)
  • Colorado (55)
  • Connecticut (32)
  • DC (1)
  • Delaware (5)
  • District of Columbia (1)
  • Florida (20)
  • Georgia (19)
  • Hawaii (9)
  • Idaho (8)
  • Illinois (47)
  • Indiana (9)
  • Iowa (6)
  • Kansas (10)
  • Kentucky (9)
  • Louisiana (8)
  • Maine (23)
  • Manitoba (1)
  • Maryland (32)
  • Massachusetts (46)
  • Michigan (32)
  • Minnesota (23)
  • Mississippi (6)
  • Missouri (17)
  • Montana (7)
  • Nebraska (4)
  • Nevada (13)
  • New Hampshire (19)
  • New Jersey (22)
  • New Mexico (4)
  • New York (60)
  • North Carolina (14)
  • North Dakota (1)
  • Ohio (22)
  • Oklahoma (6)
  • Oregon (63)
  • Pennsylvania (34)
  • Rhode Island (18)
  • South Carolina (9)
  • South Dakota (2)
  • Tennessee (7)
  • Texas (37)
  • Utah (13)
  • Vermont (39)
  • Virginia (22)
  • Washington (56)
  • Washington D.C. (2)
  • Washington DC (11)
  • West Virginia (2)
  • Wisconsin (18)
  • Wyoming (3)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (36)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (24)
  • Austin Energy (18)
  • Michigan Saves (16)
  • Elevate Energy (15)
  • Efficiency Maine (14)
  • Energy Upgrade California (14)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (14)
  • EnergySmart (13)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (13)
  • Efficiency Vermont (12)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (12)
  • RePower Bainbridge (12)
  • RePower Kitsap (12)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (10)
  • RePower Bremerton (10)
  • Community Power Works (9)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (9)
  • EnergyWorks (8)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (8)
  • Texas LoanSTAR (7)
  • BetterBuildings for Greensboro (6)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (6)
  • Energy Outreach Colorado (6)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (6)
  • Focus on Energy (5)
  • Mass Save (5)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (4)
  • Be SMART (4)
  • Energize Connecticut (4)
  • Energize Phoenix (4)
  • Kansas How$mart (4)
  • Montana Alternative Energy Revolving Loan Program (4)
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) (4)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (4)
  • Beacon Communities Project (3)
  • BetterBuildings for Michigan (3)
  • Colorado ENERGY STAR Homes (3)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (3)
  • EmPOWER Maryland (3)
  • emPowerSBC (3)
  • Energize New York (3)
  • Long Island Green Homes (3)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (3)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (3)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (3)
  • PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program (3)
  • Public Service of New Hampshire (3)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (3)
  • MPower Oregon (2)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
Contact | Building Technologies Office

OFFICE of
ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Forrestal Building
1000 Independence Ave. SW
Washington DC 20585

Link to Facebook Link to Twitter Link to Youtube Link to Linkedin

An office of

Energy.Gov

About EERE

Careers and Internships

EERE Home

Publications Library

Contact EERE

Energy.gov Resources

Budget & Performance

Directives, Delegations & Requirements

FOIA

Inspector General

Privacy Program

Small Business

Staff & Contractor Resources

Federal Government

The White House

USA.gov

  • Web Policies
  • Privacy
  • No Fear Act
  • Whistleblower Protection
  • Information Quality
  • Open Gov
  • Accessibility
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Program