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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

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

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

Communicating Success: Measuring Improvements, Sharing Results

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
This webcast teaches attendees how to leverage program results to promote energy efficiency campaigns.
Resource - Webcast

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Integrating Health Benefits Into Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call emphasizes the health benefits of upgrades to make your program relevant to potential partners and audiences. Speakers include the City of Fort Collins, Colorado and  Green & Healthy Homes Initiative Greater Syracuse, Home Headquarters.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Making an Impact: Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2017
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on unique challenges for energy efficiency and weatherization programs serving lower income residents in single-family and multifamily housing. Speakers include American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Elevate Energy, and Energy Outreach Colorado.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Boom Chika Boom: Demand Response and Behavior Change (301)

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
Narragansett EnergyWise Program,
AEP Ohio

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on changing homeowner behaviors to reduce energy demands. It featured speakers from City of Fort Collins Utilities,  American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

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

America's Got Multifamily Talent (201)

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on getting multifamily property owners on board with energy efficiency upgrades.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Driving Accountability for Program Performance Using Measured Energy Savings (201)

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on evaluation, measurement, and verification of predicted/modeled savings from home energy upgrades.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Loan Performance Data and Communication

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine,
Indianapolis Better Buildings Program,
Enhabit

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on gathering and communicating loan performance data.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Information Technology Tools for Multifamily Building Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Energy Upgrade California,
EnergySmart Colorado

This peer exchange call summary focused on multifamily information technology tools for project information, marketing, assessment, tracking and evaluation.

Resource - Topical Presentations

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

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

2014 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Valuing Home Performance Improvements in Real Estate Markets

Author(s)
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This paper describes existing barriers to integrating energy efficiency data into real estate markets, and illustrates recent efforts to address them. National cross-industry collaborations have resulted in standard data collection and transfer tools that allow home performance data to be shared across industries. Real estate markets in some regions have begun including these data into multiple listing services (MLS), making them visible during real estate transactions.

Resource - Publications

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

The Energy Advisor Model: Lessons Learned

Author(s)
Dave Hatchimonji, EnergySmart
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

Overview of lessons learned from EnergySmart Colorado's energy advisor model.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

EnergySmart Program Progress Review

Author(s)
Navigant, Inc. (Prepared for Boulder County)
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

This progress report provides community members and others interested in EnergySmart with a clear snapshot of its progress. The report also provides a timeline of energy efficiency policies and programs in Boulder County.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Turning Around Your Residential Program: Lessons Learned - City and County of Denver

Author(s)
Elizabeth Babcock, City and County of Denver, Colorado
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Denver Energy Challenge
This presentation highlights key plan elements that helped a Denver energy efficiency program reorient toward success.
Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Using Data to Monitor Market Transformation

Author(s)
Melissa Glickman, Boulder County, Colorado (now EnergySmart)
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

EnergySmart Colorado uses surveys and a customer database to get feedback from homeowners that helps fine-tune program services and operations.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Content Type

  • Resource (19)
  • Tips for Success (6)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (2)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (9)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (11)
  • Marketing & Outreach (9)
  • Financing (3)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (9)
  • Strategy Development (56)
  • Planning (61)
  • Implementation (60)
  • (-) Evaluation (25)

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

  • EnergySmart (6)
  • Enhabit (6)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (4)
  • Denver Energy Challenge (3)
  • Elevate Energy (3)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (3)
  • Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge (2)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (2)
  • AEP Ohio (1)
  • Bend Energy Challenge (1)
  • Cool California Challenge (1)
  • Efficiency Maine (1)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (1)
  • Energy Upgrade California (1)
  • Focus on Energy (1)
  • Indianapolis Better Buildings Program (1)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (1)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (1)
  • Mass Save (1)
  • Michigan Saves (1)
  • Narragansett EnergyWise (1)
  • Narragansett EnergyWise Program (1)
  • Narragansett Residential New Construction Program (1)
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (1)
  • RePower Bainbridge (1)
  • RePower Kitsap (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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