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Adapt your business model to fit your external environment

To develop a successful business model, Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found it critical to have a strong understanding of the external environment within which they operated. This included who their customers were, who their competitors and partners were, what key policies governed...
Tips for Success

Have clear rules and systems for identifying and remedying contractor problems

Even with the best contractor partners, a program may sometimes encounter difficulties that require remediation. Consistent with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program principles, many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners discovered that they could address these difficulties by...
Tips for Success

Contractors are your sales team – educate and empower them with the skills to sell home energy upgrades

Many home performance programs have confronted the challenge of how to reach out to more customers and to improve conversion rates of customer interest into completed upgrades. Realizing that the contractor is a primary face-to-face link between customers and the program, some Better Buildings...
Tips for Success

Develop routine reports or dashboards to help monitor the collected data

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that program dashboards—regularly updated, easily accessed, summary reports of key metrics—helped them identify problems and monitor program progress toward their goals. Depending on the program’s goals and needs, dashboards included metrics...
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

Follow through with customers

Following up on leads that result from your marketing and outreach efforts quickly and consistently will help your program convert them from interested parties to satisfied customers. Many programs found a sizable drop-off in action if they or their contractors were not able to follow up within a...
Tips for Success

Diversifying Funding Sources and Building New Revenue Streams (201)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Energize Connecticut

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how organizations can diversify and grow new revenue streams and types of financing approaches used to make resources stretch further and help homeowners finance upgrades. Speakers include Connecticut Green Bank, Sealed, and Craft3.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Do You Hear Me Now? Communicating the Value of Non-Energy Benefits (101)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on communicating non-energy benefits that homeowners and building owners are most interested in. Speakers include Elevate Energy, Green & Healthy Homes Initiative, and Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Keys to Successful Quality Assurance and Quality Control Programs (101)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Energize Connecticut,
Michigan Saves

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on quality assurance of energy efficiency services.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Cost-Effectiveness Tests and Measuring Like a Utility

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on evaluating and demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of energy upgrades to programs.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Program Course Corrections Based on Evaluation Results

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge

This peer exchange call summary focused on effective program evaluation and incorporating changes into programs based off evaluation insight.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED): A New Source of Energy Efficiency Data and Resources

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2011

REED serves as a dashboard for the consistent reporting of electric and natural gas energy efficiency program energy and demand savings and associated costs, avoided emissions and job impacts across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. REED is a project of NEEP's Regional Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Forum (EM&V Forum) and is based on the EM&V Forum's Common Statewide Energy Efficiency Reporting Guidelines.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Connecticut Workshop Survey

Author(s)
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Short survey for Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge workshop participants. The workshop allowed the program to share its energy efficiency offerings with homeowners.
Resource - Templates & Forms

Behavior Change Programs: Status and Impact

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Vermont Home Energy Challenge,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
Narragansett EnergyWise,
Cool California Challenge,
San Diego Energy Challenge,
Narragansett Residential New Construction Program

Utilities and regulators increasingly rely on behavior change programs as essential parts of their demand side management (DSM) portfolios. This report evaluates the effectiveness of currently available programs, focusing on programs that have been assessed for energy savings. This report focuses on behavior change programs that primarily rely on social-science-based strategies instead of traditional approaches such as incentives, rebates, pricing, or legal and policy strategies. The objective is to help program administrators choose effective behavior change programs for their specific purposes.

Resource - Publications

A Changing Landscape: The Regional Roundup of Energy Efficiency Policy in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States

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

This report represents NEEP’s annual assessment of the major policy developments of 2014, as well as its look into the immediate future, where NEEP gauge states’ progress toward capturing cost-effective energy efficiency as a first-order resource. While looking at the region as a whole, NEEP also provides summary and analysis of some of the biggest building energy efficiency successes and setbacks from Maine to Maryland — including significant energy efficiency legislation and regulations and changes in funding levels for energy efficiency programs.

Resource - Publications

Scoping Study to Evaluate Feasibility of National Databases for EM&V Documents and Measure Savings

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2011

This report presents the results of a scoping study to assess the need for national databases that can support best practices in energy efficiency program evaluation, measurement, and verification (EM&V).

Resource - Publications

Connecticut Multifamily Initiative Process Evaluation

Author(s)
NMR Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Eversource,
United Illuminating,
Connecticut Home Energy Solutions (HES),
Energize Connecticut

This report is the process evaluation of the Connecticut Multifamily (MF) Initiative, which leveraged the state's Home Energy Solutions (HES) and Home Energy Solutions-Income Eligible (HES-IE) programs. The objective of this process evaluation is to provide actionable recommendations about how to improve the design, delivery, and administration of the MF Initiative.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Observations & Recommendations from Connecticut Residential Program Database Interviews

Author(s)
NMR Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2016

This report for the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board documents the difficulties that evaluators and programs in Connecticut faced in conducting evaluation studies and makes recommendations for improving data quality and consistency.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Review of Impact Evaluation Best Practices Final Report

Author(s)
NMR Group, Inc.,
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2017

This report for the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Board provides a review of best practices in impact evaluation, recommendations for calculating oil and propane savings, and discusses the impact evaluation findings for the Home Energy Services (HES) and Home Energy Services-Income Eligible (HES-IE) Programs. This best practices review provides an overview of key evaluation protocol and guideline documents.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Connecticut Residential New Construction Program - Process Evaluation

Author(s)
NMR Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2017

This report includes a billing analysis, process evaluation, and baseline study for the Connecticut Residential New Construction (RNC) program. It also includes the results of the process evaluation.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Eversource Behavior Program Persistence Evaluation

Author(s)
NMR Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2017

This report is an update of findings from three prior evaluations of Eversource's Home Energy Reports (HERs) Pilot Program. The HERs pilot program began in January 2011. The pilot program randomly selected residential customers to whom it sent reports rating their energy use, comparing it to that of their neighbors, and suggested ways for the households to save energy.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Connecticut Program Savings Document

Author(s)
UIL Holdings Corporation,
Eversource Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Eversource,
United Illuminating,
Connecticut Home Energy Solutions (HES),
Energize Connecticut

This technical reference manual provides detailed, comprehensive documentation of resource and non-resource savings corresponding to the Energy Efficiency Fund program and individual Conservation and Load Management (C&LM) program technologies.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Process Evaluation - Phase 1

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the phase 1 process evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Process Evaluation-Phase 2

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the phase 2 process evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Southeast Consortium Impact Evaluation

Author(s)
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This report presents the impact evaluation conducted of the 13 programs in the Southeast Consortium Better Buildings Neighborhood Program (BBNP).

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Listening to Consumer Behavior

Author(s)
Kat Donnelly, Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2010
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
This presentation outlines the steps Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge program took to obtain and sort useful feedback from surveys and volunteer observations.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Connecticut - Analyzing Outreach Effectiveness to Improve Program Design

Author(s)
Kerry O'Neill, Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge

This presentation shares how the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge collected and evaluated data and used the results to improve its program.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge: Small Changes. Big Results.

Author(s)
Clean Water Fund
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
This presentation describes Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge program and lessons learned on community engagement as a driver of demand.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Get Helpful Tips for Collecting Utility Data

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
A list of tips from Connecticut's Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge for working with utilities to access energy usage data.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Smart-E Loan Data Release Form

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

Data release form that allows the Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority (CEFIA) to obtain customer utility account and actual energy usage data, energy costs, underwriting and loan repayment records, and data on energy savings measures installed.

Resource - Program Materials

Content Type

  • Resource (24)
  • Tips for Success (6)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (3)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (3)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (20)
  • Marketing & Outreach (8)
  • Financing (2)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (3)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (5)
  • Strategy Development (38)
  • Planning (44)
  • Implementation (45)
  • (-) Evaluation (30)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (7)
  • Alberta (1)
  • Arizona (9)
  • Arkansas (3)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (40)
  • Colorado (19)
  • (-) Connecticut (26)
  • Delaware (2)
  • District of Columbia (1)
  • Florida (11)
  • Georgia (3)
  • Illinois (13)
  • Indiana (3)
  • Iowa (1)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kentucky (1)
  • Louisiana (6)
  • Maine (13)
  • Maryland (10)
  • Massachusetts (12)
  • Michigan (11)
  • Minnesota (6)
  • Missouri (3)
  • (-) Nebraska (1)
  • New Hampshire (8)
  • New Jersey (4)
  • New York (21)
  • North Carolina (5)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
  • Ohio (12)
  • Ontario (1)
  • Oregon (25)
  • Pennsylvania (8)
  • Rhode Island (9)
  • South Carolina (6)
  • Tennessee (5)
  • Texas (12)
  • (-) U.S. Virgin Islands (3)
  • Utah (2)
  • Vermont (11)
  • Virginia (10)
  • Washington (27)
  • Washington D.C. (1)
  • Washington DC (2)
  • Wisconsin (6)

Organizations or Programs

  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (12)
  • Energize Connecticut (5)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (3)
  • Connecticut Home Energy Solutions (HES) (2)
  • Efficiency Maine (2)
  • Eversource (2)
  • Michigan Saves (2)
  • United Illuminating (2)
  • Chapel Hill WISE (1)
  • Cool California Challenge (1)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (1)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (1)
  • Elevate Energy (1)
  • EnergySmart (1)
  • Energy Upgrade California (1)
  • Enhabit (1)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (1)
  • Massachusetts Department Of Energy Resources (1)
  • Narragansett EnergyWise (1)
  • Narragansett Residential New Construction Program (1)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (1)
  • New Hampshire Better Buildings (1)
  • reEnergize (1)
  • San Diego Energy Challenge (1)
  • Vermont Home Energy Challenge (1)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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