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Evaluation & Data Collection – Communicate Impacts

Communicate pertinent results of evaluations to program staff, partners, and stakeholders.
Handbook

Evaluation & Data Collection – Develop Resources

Identify and implement systems and tools that will support data collection and data quality necessary for effective evaluation.
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Develop Evaluation Plans

Determine processes for collecting and sharing data about key contractor metrics and workforce development activities.
Handbook

Market Position & Business Model – Develop a Business Model

Define your business model, including market position, products and services, type of customers, financial model, governance structure, and the assets and infrastructure your organization needs.
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

Market Position & Business Model – Assess the Market

Survey existing and potential demand for energy efficiency products and services based on an understanding of policies, housing and energy characteristics, demographics, related initiatives and other market actors.
Handbook

Evaluation & Data Collection – Overview

Develop evidence-based insights into your program’s performance through third-party process and impact evaluations. Learn how to develop effective data collection strategies and timely evaluations to identify important program achievements as well as opportunities for making program improvements.
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

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – 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

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

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Overview

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, fostering clear communication, and refining program processes over time, in partnership with your workforce.
Handbook

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

Provide materials and training to ensure data quality, consistency, and accuracy

Many Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that it is important to get buy-in from program staff and contractors on the importance of data integrity to the program mission and then to invest time to develop materials and train everyone who has a role in data collection and analysis...
Tips for Success

Clean Energy Program Funding: EPA Local Climate and Webcast Series

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Green Works Orlando,
Community Energy Challenge,
Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL)

Three-part webinar series. Part I discusses how to design and implement funding programs, line up partners, and gain support for clean energy programs through both conventional and non-conventional methods. Part II discusses how to locate available sources of funding. Part III explains how to leverage existing funds and make clean energy investments more affordable for clean energy program audiences.

Resource - Webcast

Leveraging EPA's Portfolio Manager in Benchmarking and Disclosure Policy

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2011
This webinar highlights the best practices of state and local benchmarking and disclosure policies. It discusses benchmarking and its place in the larger context of energy management planning and explores in detail some of the choices governments face when implementing these policies.
Resource - Webcast

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

EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2014

A calculator that converts greenhouse gas emissions into everyday equivalencies. It can be used to help clearly communicate information about energy savings initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

EPA Power Profiler

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2012

A tool that provides information on the air emissions attributable to the electricity used in a home or business during one year, along with a description of what these numbers mean in everyday terms and information on how to be more energy efficient or buy green power.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Behavioral Perspectives on Home Energy Audits: The Role of Auditors, Labels, Reports, and Audit Tools on Homeowner Decision-Making

Author(s)
Portland State University,
Research Into Action, Inc.,
Earth Advantage Institute
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Seattle City Light

This study focused on homeowner decision-making in response to home energy assessments, combined with the quality of the recommendations, the home energy assessment, and home energy labels. This report analyzes what assessments provide and what homeowners seem to want. It presents the results of a study of an existing home energy audit program pilot offered by Seattle City Light. From mid-2010 to late 2011, approximately 1,350 home energy assessments were completed in Seattle as part of Seattle City Light's program.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Low-Income Communities: a Guide to EPA Programs

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date
2016

This guide is designed to help state and local governments reduce carbon emissions by connecting them with EPA programs that can help them expand or develop their own energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives in ways that benefit low-income communities. The guide can also be used by low-income community leaders and stakeholder groups to better understand how they might participate in and take advantage of EPA initiatives to help their communities save energy.

Resource - Publications

State and Local Guide to U.S. EPA Climate and Energy Program Resources

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

EPA released the updated State and Local Guide to U.S. EPA Climate and Energy Program Resources, a guide designed for state and local government staff that describes EPA programs and resources that can help them develop or expand their own energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives or meet regulatory requirements.

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

Certified Home Performance: Assessing the Market Impacts of Third Party Certification on Residential Properties

Author(s)
Earth Advantage Institute
Publication Date
2009

The report presents an analysis of the market performance of third-party certified sustainable residential properties in the Portland and Seattle metropolitan areas. In each location, a sample of third-party certified homes was selected and comparable homes were found. The author documents that certified homes in the Seattle metro area sold at a price premium of 9.6% when compared to noncertified counterparts.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs: Community-Based Social Marketing

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

This tip sheet was inspired by the experiences and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities (CSCs). It focuses on community-based social marketing and highlights best practices and helpful resources and recommended resources for other communities interested in pursuing similar projects.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs: Effective Messaging

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

This tip sheet from EPA's Climate Showcase Communities provides lessons from programs about strategies for effective messaging as well as recommended resources.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs: Identifying and Working with Experts

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

This tip sheet was inspired by the experiences and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities (CSCs). It focuses on working with experts and highlights best practices and helpful resources and recommended resources for other communities interested in pursuing similar projects.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs: Traditional Media Strategies

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

This tip sheet was inspired by the experiences and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities (CSCs). It focuses on traditional media strategies and highlights best practices and helpful resources and recommended resources for other communities interested in pursuing similar projects.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs: Working with Institutional Partners

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

This tip sheet was inspired by the experiences and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities (CSCs). It focuses on working with institutional partners and highlights best practices and helpful resources and recommended resources for other communities interested in pursuing similar projects.

Resource - Publications

Energy and Environment Guide to Action: State Policies and Best Practices for Advancing Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, and Combined Heat and Power

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

The Guide to Action provides in-depth information about over a dozen policies and programs that states are using to meet their energy, environmental, and economic objectives with energy efficiency, renewable energy, and combined heat and power. Each policy description is based on states’ experiences in designing and implementing policies, as documented in existing literature and shared through peer-exchange opportunities provided to states by EPA’s State Climate and Energy Program.

Resource - Publications

Local Climate and Energy Program Model Design Guide

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

This guide was developed for local climate and clean energy (i.e., energy efficiency, renewable energy, and combined heat and power) program implementers to help create or transition to program designs that are viable over the long term. The guide draws on the experience and examples of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities as they developed innovative models for programs that could be financially viable over the long term and replicated in other communities.

Resource - Publications

Effective Practices for Implementing Local Climate and Energy Programs Tip Sheets

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

This series of 19 tip sheets is based on the experience and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities. The tip sheets cover a wide range of topics, such as marketing and communications (effective messaging, traditional media strategies, community-based social marketing, and testimonial videos) and working with specific types of stakeholders (institutional partners, contractors, experts, utilities, early adopters, volunteers).

Resource - Publications

Local Climate Action Framework: A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide

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

This online guide provides step-by-step guidance and resources for local governments to plan, implement, and evaluate climate, energy, and sustainability projects and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. It captures lessons learned and effective strategies used by local governments, breaks down program implementation into concrete steps, and curates resources to help local governments find the information they need. The framework was developed with extensive input from local government stakeholders, including EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities.

Resource - Publications

Sample Energy Reduction Plan: 1234 Any Street

Author(s)
Efficiency Maine
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine
Sample energy reduction plan that details specific steps to be taken by the ownership and management at 1234 Any Street to achieve estimated energy savings based on an energy assessment.
Resource - Program Materials

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Data Collection Worksheet

Author(s)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

This worksheet was designed to help building owners and managers collect data to benchmark buildings using EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. The information in this worksheet is used to establish a building's profile in Portfolio Manager, which is critical to calculating benchmarks of key metrics such as energy intensity and costs, water use, and carbon emissions.

Resource - Program Materials

Content Type

  • Resource (21)
  • Handbook (11)
  • Tips for Success (2)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (4)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (16)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (11)
  • Marketing & Outreach (5)
  • Financing (1)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (4)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (3)
  • Strategy Development (15)
  • Planning (8)
  • Implementation (14)
  • Evaluation (7)

States or Territories

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

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (2)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (1)
  • Austin Energy (1)
  • Be SMART (1)
  • Build It Green (1)
  • Community Energy Challenge (1)
  • Community Power Works (1)
  • Earth Advantage (1)
  • Efficiency Maine (1)
  • Efficiency Vermot (1)
  • Elevate Energy (1)
  • EnergySmart (1)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (1)
  • Green Works Orlando (1)
  • Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL) (1)
  • Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star (1)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (1)
  • Manitoba Hydro (1)
  • Mass Save (1)
  • Michigan Saves (1)
  • Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (1)
  • Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team —A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO) (1)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (1)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (1)
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company (1)
  • RePower Bainbridge (1)
  • Seattle City Light (1)
  • Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) (1)
  • Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans (1)
Residential Program Guide is a resource of the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office.
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