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 - 95 of 95

Financing – Develop Resources

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

Evaluation & Data Collection – Communicate Impacts

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

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Deliver Program

Implement contractor coordination and workforce recruitment and training in concert with other program components
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Develop Resources

Develop workforce and contractor engagement procedures, forms, and materials
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Communicate Impacts

Communicate program results to contractor partners and workforce development 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

Financing – Communicate Impacts

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

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

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

Marketing & Outreach – Communicate Impacts

Communicate marketing and outreach results internally and to partners.
Handbook

Marketing & Outreach – Develop Resources

Create your program's branding guidelines and materials to elevate program visibility and support your marketing and outreach efforts.
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

Marketing & Outreach – Develop Implementation Plans

Develop a marketing and outreach plan that details your strategies and tactics, workflows and timelines, staff roles and responsibilities, and budget.
Handbook

Marketing & Outreach – Make Design Decisions

Decide on priority target audience segments, messages, and incentives that will motivate customers.
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

Marketing & Outreach – Identify Partners

Establish relationships with organizations that will assist with program marketing and outreach.
Handbook

Market Position & Business Model – Set Goals & Objectives

Establish or update your organizational mission, vision, and goals to encompass energy efficiency programs.
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Assess the Market

Learn about the capabilities and services of existing contractors and training providers working in your market.
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

Marketing & Outreach – Set Goals & Objectives

Establish specific marketing and outreach goals, objectives, targets, and timeframes.
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

Market Position & Business Model – Overview

Identify your organization's preferred market position by assessing existing market actors, gaps, competitors, and potential partners. Develop a business model that will allow you to deliver energy efficiency services.
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

Marketing & Outreach – Overview

Spur consumer demand for your program's services by understanding your target audience and motivating them to act using effective messaging, marketing and outreach tactics, and attractive program offers.
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Develop Implementation Plans

Develop contractor engagement, quality assurance, and workforce development plans that include strategies, workflow, timelines, and staff and partner roles and responsibilities.
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 – Communicate Impacts

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

Evaluation & Data Collection – Develop Evaluation Plans

Identify the right questions to ask, appropriate metrics to collect, and the processes needed to initiate third-party impact and process evaluations.
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

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Identify Partners

Establish relationships with contractors who will deliver program products and services, and with organizations that train and certify workers.
Handbook

Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development – Set Goals & Objectives

Establish objectives, targets, and timeframes for your program to support local contractors and the type and quality of service they provide to help meet your program’s goals.
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

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

Leverage the many complementary benefits of energy efficiency programs to broaden your organization’s reach and partnership opportunities

Home energy assessments and upgrades can offer more than just energy savings benefits. They can make homes safer, enhance home value, and reduce health risks for residents. Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that emphasizing the full range of benefits that upgrades offered helped...
Tips for Success

Ask customers about their program experience and for feedback on how your program can improve—and listen to their responses

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners found that conducting surveys of program participants that focus on tangible, easy-to-answer questions, such as the timeliness of service and the quality of work, resulted in better feedback. By including open-ended questions and questions about non...
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

Communicate with audiences at least three times; once is not enough

All residential energy efficiency programs have found that outreach needs to be repeated to connect with and remind potential participants about program offerings. As marketing gurus note, the majority of people need to be exposed to a product message at least three times (on separate occasions) to...
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

Adapt messages to your primary target audience’s needs

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

Language matters – use words that resonate with your target audience

Words have power, so many programs decided to use language with positive associations. For example, the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program encouraged use of the term "assessment" instead of "audit" to avoid the negative connotation of a tax audit. "Home energy upgrade" sounds more positive than...
Tips for Success

How to Influence Utilities to Provide Actionable Energy Data to Multifamily Properties

Author(s)
Institute for Market Transformation
Publication Date
2017

This webinar covers best practices for providing whole-building data, as well as options building owners and landlords have to influence this process. Multifamily property stakeholders need better information about their energy usage. Arming them with this information enables better benchmarking and energy management practices, and more reliable utility allowance models for affordable housing. Actionable energy usage information allows building owners to make improvements to not only save energy, but also reduce expenses, increase comfort, and lower vacancies.

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

Connecting Occupant Health Benefits and Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
Julie Michals, E4TheFuture
Publication Date
2017

This presentation discusses E4TheFuture's report, Occupant Health Benefits of Residential Energy Efficiency, which reviews existing research on residential EE measures and associated health impacts, discusses ways that programs can monetize occupant health co-benefits, highlights innovative programs that combine energy efficiency and health-focused home repairs, and identifies research gaps and strategies to help advance and leverage funding across such integrated efforts.

Resource - Topical Presentations

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

Comfort and Safety: Family-Oriented Marketing

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on using tailored messaging and approaches to meet the unique needs of families. Building Doctors is the featured speaker.

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

Low-Income Non-Energy Impacts of Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
Low-Income Energy Affordability Network
Publication Date
2016

This presentation describes non-energy benefits from energy efficiency upgrades in low-income households, draws from research on health and related benefits of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and tailors insights to Massachusetts.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Non-Energy Benefits from Residential Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
APPRISE Inc.
Publication Date
2016

This presentation explains non-energy benefits from residential energy efficiency programs, including those associated with households, ratepayer or taxpayers, and societal benefits. Also presented is a framework for measurement and monetization of health benefits, economic benefits, and environmental benefits (e.g. avoided emissions) and a case study of New Jersey's Clean Energy Program.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Driving Efficiency with Non-Energy Benefits

Author(s)
Erin Malone, Synapse Energy Economics Inc.
Publication Date
2014

This presentation summarizes the non-energy benefits of energy efficiency, and how they can be used to drive uptake of energy efficiency measures. State examples are included.

Resource - Topical Presentations

The Return of Residential PACE – The Sequel

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

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs provide affordable and accessible financing for home energy efficiency upgrades that improve value, comfort and durability, and create jobs. PACE is a scalable financing mechanism with over 50,000 projects and $1 billion invested in California, and multifamily housing projects in New York and other states. This session discussed successful PACE programs, designs, and FHA's guidance.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Multiple, Non-Energy Benefits of Residential Energy Upgrades

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2016
Organizations or Programs
NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

The benefits of energy efficiency upgrades beyond money and energy savings include non-energy benefits that are often not communicated well. Multiple non-energy benefits include lower home maintenance costs, improved air quality and less sick days for adults and children, greater resiliency, and lower emissions. This presentation covers examples of how your program can fully realize the potential from all of these multiple non-energy benefits.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Human Factors: Green Jobs & Resident Health

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

Energy retrofits can harm or help resident health. Beyond preventing harm, this presentation covers how to use energy retrofits as an opportunity to improve the lives of your building residents and the surrounding community. It focuses on different ways that organizations are using energy efficiency to improve their communities through positive health outcomes and job creation.

Resource - Topical Presentations

NEEP Regional Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Forum

Author(s)
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date
2017

The Regional Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Forum (EM&V Forum) works to support use and transparency of current best practices in evaluation, measurement, verification, and reporting of energy and demand savings, costs, avoided emissions and other impacts of energy efficiency, while also advancing the development of strategies and tools to meet evolving policy needs for efficiency.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

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

AVoided Emissions and geneRation Tool (AVERT)

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

This tool lets non-experts evaluate county-level emissions displaced at electric power plants by energy efficiency and renewable energy policies and programs.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

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

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

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

Resource - Publications

Using Intelligent Efficiency to Collect and Analyze Nonenergy Benefits Information

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2017

This report discusses how information technologies (IT) and communication networks are enabling new ways of tracking and analyzing the benefits of saving energy. Automated data collection and processing, enabled by inexpensive sensors, WiFi networks, and cloud computing, are reducing the time and expense required to determine the value of nonenergy benefits. This report explores new techniques for data gathering and analysis, what they could mean for energy efficiency programs, and how they might impact state and utility policies.

Resource - Publications

The Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Handbook - A Guide on How to Incorporate Energy Efficiency into Affordable Housing: New Construction and Rehabilitation Projects

Author(s)
Affordable Housing Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date
2014
The intent of the Handbook is to: Encourage energy efficiency design in new construction as well as in acquisition/rehab projects; Showcase the funding sources, programs, incentives, and assistance available to further lower investments in energy efficiency; Overcome owner-developers perception that achieving large energy savings is usually too expensive, time consuming or difficult; Demonstrate design concepts, processes, and practices that will help to minimize the costs of high performance buildings; Highlight the non-energy benefits associated with high performance buildings; Dispel the myth that cheaply built homes are affordable to operate in terms of utility costs; Emphasize that energy efficiency lowers utility bills, thereby enhancing home affordability; Stress that a home that just complies with Title 24 is the least efficient home you can legally build in California.
Resource - Publications

Making Multifamily Homes Healthy and Affordable through Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
Energy Efficiency For All (EEFA)
Publication Date
2015
This factsheet highlights the benefits of increasing the energy efficiency of multifamily housing, which saves energy, improves residents' health and comfort. and maintains reasonable rents. This helps families, communities, and affordable building owners.
Resource - Publications

The Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Multifamily Affordable Housing

Author(s)
Deutsche Bank
Publication Date
2012
This publication outlines the various benefits of supporting investments in energy efficiency in multifamily affordable housing. Multifamily home energy retrofits ensure the long-term viability of existing affordable housing, support job creation with broad economic impacts, unlock a range of benefits for building residents, and can lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Resource - Publications

Non-Energy Benefits / Non-Energy Impacts (NEBs/NEIs) and Their Role & Values in Cost-effectiveness Tests: State of Maryland

Author(s)
Natural Resources Defense Council
Publication Date
2014
This study is a review of non-energy benefits related to residential weatherization programs. The study estimates the value, in dollar and percentage terms, of non-energy benefits from weatherization programs, and summarizes the ranges and typical values for non-energy benefits. Recommendations for a non-energy benefits strategy for Maryland are provided.
Resource - Publications

Recognizing the Value of Energy Efficiency's Multiple Benefits

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2015
The benefits of energy efficiency extend beyond energy savings. Homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities gain comfort, health, and safety benefits from energy efficiency programs. Additional benefits for businesses include savings on maintenance, materials, and the costs of regulatory compliance. On the supply side, electric utilities enjoy reduced system costs. Focusing on the residential, business, and utility sectors, this report examines each of these multiple benefits, their role in program marketing, and current best practices for including them in cost-effectiveness testing.
Resource - Publications

Verifying Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Current Practices and Recommendations

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2015
Among the many benefits ascribed to energy efficiency is the fact that it can help create jobs. Although this is often used to motivate investments in efficiency programs, verifying job creation benefits is more complicated than it might seem at first. This paper identifies some of the issues that contribute to a lack of consistency in attempts to verify efficiency-related job creation. It then proposes an analytically rigorous and tractable framework for program evaluators to use in future assessments.
Resource - Publications

Preserving Affordable Multifamily Housing
through Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
2014
Multifamily housing retrofits provide a rich opportunity to reap energy efficiency (EE) savings. Despite this opportunity, the multifamily market has not captured investment needed to realize the energy savings, and the affordable housing sector faces additional investment barriers. This paper makes the case for the implementation of energy retrofits in affordable multifamily buildings by presenting the non-energy benefits (NEBs) associated with such upgrades.
Resource - Publications

Valuing the Financial Benefits of Energy Efficiency in the Multifamily Sector

Author(s)
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
2014

This paper focuses on how efficiency upgrades affect the financial performance of multifamily buildings. Increasing the energy efficiency of multifamily buildings not only helps owners improve building operation, but also provides a lending opportunity for financial institutions. Energy efficiency program implementers and policy makers who aid in shaping utility Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards also benefit from understanding the full range of positive effects associated with multifamily energy efficiency improvements. These non-energy benefits (NEBs) can range from improved health to job creation and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency: Savings Opportunities and Benefits

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

State and local governments across the U.S. are focused on how clean energy can help them meet a variety of energy, economic development, and environmental goals. An early step for most energy efficiency planning involves identifying and quantifying energy savings opportunities, followed by understanding how to access this efficiency potential.  This website includes national and state-level energy efficiency potential studies for the residential, commercial, and industrial sector.  It introduces presentations on how building energy codes, city-led efforts, energy savings performance contracting (ESPC), industrial, and ratepayer-funded efforts can support state energy planning. 

Resource - Publications

Massachusetts Special and Cross-Cutting Research Area: Low-Income Single-Family Health- and Safety-Related Non-Energy Impacts (NEIs) Study

Author(s)
Three3, Inc.,
NMR Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2016

This study assesses and monetizes a sub-set of non-energy benefits experienced by recipients of energy efficiency services residing in income-eligible households in MA, including: reduced asthma; reduced cold-related thermal stress; reduced heat-related thermal stress; reduced missed days at work; reduced use of short-term, high interest loans; increased home productivity due to improvements in sleep; reduced carbon monoxide poisoning; and reduced home fires.

Resource - Publications

Non-Energy Benefits of Energy Efficiency and Weatherization Programs in Multifamily Housing: The Clean Power Plan and Policy Implications

Author(s)
Green & Healthy Homes Initiative
Publication Date
2016

This literature review explores how residential energy efficiency and health interventions can confer positive economic, health, and environmental non-energy benefits at the individual and community level, thereby leading to significant savings while improving the quality of life and resiliency of low income households. The paper closes with policy recommendations to unlock the savings of non-energy benefits from smart energy efficient investments.

Resource - Publications

What Really Sells Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Author(s)
Efficiency First California
Publication Date
2016

This article highlights the importance of communicating to homeowners about the non-energy benefits of energy efficiency improvements such as better comfort, improved indoor air quality, reduced allergies, and a safer, healthy home. It also discussed that non-energy benefits are an undervalued and often overlooked component of energy efficiency upgrades and need to be a part of energy efficiency program's and contractors' sales strategies.

Resource - Publications

Exploring Potential Impacts of Weatherization and Healthy Homes Interventions on Asthma-related Medicaid Claims and Costs in a Small Cohort in Washington State

Author(s)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date
2015

This report presents results from an analysis of asthma-related health benefits of health and home performance interventions using data collected from 49 households in Northwestern Washington State from 2006 to 2013.

Resource - Publications

Indoor Environmental Quality Benefits of Apartment Energy Retrofits

Author(s)
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2013

This paper describes the changes in indoor environmental quality (IEQ) conditions (air quality and thermal comfort conditions) from health and home performance improvements in 16 apartments serving low-income populations within three buildings in different California climates and seasons.

Resource - Publications

Non-Energy Benefits / Non-Energy Impacts (NEBs/NEIs) and Their Role & Values in Cost-effectiveness Tests: State of Maryland

Author(s)
Natural Resources Defense Council
Publication Date
2014

This study is a review of non-energy benefits related to residential weatherization programs. The study estimates the value, in dollar and percentage terms, of non-energy benefits from weatherization programs, and summarizes the ranges and typical values for non-energy benefits. Recommendations for a non-energy benefits strategy for Maryland are provided.

Resource - Publications

Development and Application of Select Non-Energy Benefits for the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)
EmPOWER Maryland
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
EmPOWER Maryland

This report analyzes and develops estimates of non-energy impacts that could be included in cost effectiveness analyses for the EmPOWER Maryland energy efficiency programs. Four non-energy benefits are included in this analysis: air emissions, comfort, commercial operations and maintenance (O&M), and utility bill arrearages. In all four cases, a recommended value and methods for including them in future EMPOWER costs effectiveness analyses are provided.

Resource - Publications

Occupant Health Benefits of Residential Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
E4TheFuture

To help inform and prompt discussion across a range of audiences on the health co-benefits from residential EE investments, this paper reviews research studies of residential EE and related ventilation upgrades, discusses ways that programs have monetized occupant health co-benefits, and highlights innovative programs that combine EE and health-focused home repairs. The paper concludes with identifying research gaps and strategies to help advance such work.

Resource - Publications

Home RX: The Health Benefits of Home Performance

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

This literature review describes what is currently known about the occupant health benefits resulting from residential energy efficiency or work that is consistent with home performance upgrades. Of particular interest are the occupant health impacts associated with work typically conducted by the home performance industry, such as: air sealing and insulation; properly-sized, selected, matched, and installed energy efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems; identification and correction of moisture problems; proper whole house and room ventilation; lighting; and additional services including the replacement of appliances; measurement and installation of whole house and room air filtration systems (e.g., air purifiers); and basic pest exclusion. The intent of this literature review is to examine research that assessed work that would not be expected to harm residents or the workers.

Resource - Publications

Recognizing the Value of Energy Efficiency's Multiple Benefits

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,
Mass Save

The benefits of energy efficiency extend beyond energy savings. Homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities gain comfort, health, and safety benefits from energy efficiency programs. Additional benefits for businesses include savings on maintenance, materials, and the costs of regulatory compliance. On the supply side, electric utilities enjoy reduced system costs. Focusing on the residential, business, and utility sectors, this report examines each of these multiple benefits, their role in program marketing, and current best practices for including them in cost-effectiveness testing.

Resource - Publications

Verifying Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Current Practices and Recommendations

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),
Energy Right Solutions for Buisness,
Energy Right Solutions for Industry,
Efficiency Nova Scotia,
National Grid Energy Efficiency Program,
Energy Trust of Oregon,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs,
Enhabit,
District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility,
BC Hydro,
Ontario Power Authority Industrial Accelerator Program,
Elevate Energy

Among the many benefits ascribed to energy efficiency is the fact that it can help create jobs. Although this is often used to motivate investments in efficiency programs, verifying job creation benefits is more complicated than it might seem at first. This paper identifies some of the issues that contribute to a lack of consistency in attempts to verify efficiency-related job creation. It then proposes an analytically rigorous and tractable framework for program evaluators to use in future assessments.

Resource - Publications

Benchmarking & Transparency Policy and Program Impact Evaluation Handbook

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

This handbook provides both a strategic planning framework and standard methodologies to determine the energy and non-energy benefits of benchmarking and transparency (B&T) policies and programs that have recently begun to proliferate in jurisdictions across the United States. The intent of this handbook is to provide a simple “how-to-guide” with very clear steps and data requirements for the primary analysis methods recommended for use by local jurisdictions wishing or needing to assess the impacts of their B&T policies.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Real World Experiences

Author(s)
American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date
2012
This report illustrates concrete ways in which energy efficiency has, in recent years, stimulated the creation of direct, indirect, and induced jobs. This report provides examples of job creation that have resulted from energy efficiency by profiling programs, policies, investments, partnerships, and business models that have catalyzed regional increases in employment.
Resource - Publications

Powering the New Energy Future from the Ground Up: Profiles in City-Led Clean Energy Innovation

Author(s)
Climate Solutions
Publication Date
2012

This report profiles the early results of a diverse range of small- to medium-sized American cities with different economic and energy profiles that are pioneering the clean energy economy. Many communities used federal grants to jumpstart long-term strategies to test and refine various clean energy and energy efficiency solutions. Others developed innovative financing strategies in the absence of grant money. These city-led efforts to catalyze local clean energy economic development are important to watch as federal grants sunset, especially in the absence of a comprehensive national energy or climate policy.

Resource - Publications

Powering the New Energy Future From the Ground Up

Author(s)
Climate Solutions
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,
EnergySmart,
Eugene Water and Electric Board,
Community Energy Challenge,
Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,
Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project,
Knoxville,
TN,
Oberlin Project,
Energize New York,
RePower Kitsap,
RePower Bainbridge,
RePower Bremerton,
Burlington Sustainability Action Team,
Gainesville Regional Utilities,
Hillsboro Solar Advantage,
Issaquah,
WA,
MPower Madison Program,
Solarize Pendleton,
Clear the Air Challenge,
Santa Fe,
NM,
West Union,
IA,
Sustainable Williamson,
CharlestonWISE,
City of Aiken,
SC,
City Green Initiative,
Kilowatt Cruncher Challenge,
Smarter Sustainable Dubuque,
Small Cities Climate Action Partnership,
City of Grand Rapids,
MI,
Town of GreenÞeld,
MA,
City of Keene,
NH,
Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL),
Clean Local Energy Accessible Now,
RichmondBuild Pre-apprenticeship Construction Skills and Green Jobs Training Academy

This report from Climate Solutions analyzes small- to medium-sized American cities that are using successful methods to further clean energy economic development. Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners that are featured in the report include Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, Washington; Boulder, Colorado; Bedford, New York; Madison, Wisconsin; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The report includes details on the how the featured cities funded their projects, found successful models to reach their goals, and to see which new projects are off to a promising start.

Resource - Publications

$20 Billion Bonanza: Best Practice Utility Energy Efficiency Programs and Their Benefits for the Southwest

Author(s)
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date
2012

This report explores the best practices that utilities should undertake in the development and implementation of energy efficiency programs. The report calculates the impact that investing in energy efficiency will have on jobs, household income, and state and regional economies, along with the other public health benefits such as reducing pollution.

Resource - Publications

Energy Efficiency Program Impact Evaluation Guide

Author(s)
State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)
This guide provides an introduction to the key issues, practices, and steps for calculating energy savings, avoided emissions, and other non-energy impacts associated with energy efficiency programs.
Resource - Publications

NJ Comfort Partners Energy Saving Protocols and Engineering Estimates

Author(s)
APPRISE Inc.
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
New Jersey Clean Energy Program

This memo provides a review of the New Jersey Comfort Partners Energy Saving Protocols, recommends changes to the calculations and additional calculation protocols for measures not included, and calculates engineering estimates for those proposed energy savings formulas.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Pacific Power Washington Low-Income Weatherization Program Evaluation March 2009 – February 2011

Author(s)
The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Publication Date
2012

Pacific Power contracted with The Cadmus Group, Inc., to conduct impact and process evaluations of its Washington low-income weatherization program for the program period extending from March 2009 through February 2011. The impact evaluation assessed energy savings and cost-effectiveness associated with the program, and in doing so quantified select non-energy benefits. The process evaluation assessed program delivery and efficacy, potential bottlenecks, opportunities for improvements, and participants’ experiences and satisfaction with the program.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Energy Pro3: Benchmarking Job Creation in the Southeast

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

This report provides an independent analysis of the job creation impact of DOE's investment in energy efficiency programs, from 2010 to 2013. The analysis calculates the job creation results that would have occurred in the Southeast, based on the prevailing economic conditions from 2010 to 2013, had DOE invested in sectors other than energy efficiency.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

High Road Outcomes in Portland's Energy Efficiency Upgrade Pilot

Author(s)
Stacy Ho and Jeremy Hays, Green For All
Publication Date
2011
Organizations or Programs
Enhabit

This report highlights the impact of investment for Portland, Oregon in terms of high-quality job creation, equitable hiring, inclusive business opportunities, standardized training, and energy conservation.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Energy Office Loan Loss Reserve Guidelines - 2014

Author(s)
Arkansas Economic Development Commission
Publication Date
2014

Presents the loan loss reserve guidelines for the Arkansas Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Loss Reserve Program.

Resource - Program Materials

Steve's Story: River Forest Homeowner Saves Big

Author(s)
Energy Impact Illinois
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Energy Impact Illinois
This video highlights Steve G. of River Forest, IL sharing his experience of how Energy Impact Illinois helped him improve the comfort and value of his 107 year-old home.
Resource - Program Materials

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Contractor Stories

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Organizations or Programs
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

These case studies highlight examples of participating contractors who have employed Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to help homeowners improve their home's comfort and lower their utility bills.

Resource - Case Studies

20-Unit Windham Apartment Building Gains Energy Savings and Comfort

Author(s)
Efficiency Maine
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Efficiency Maine
This case study highlights a 20-unit apartment building that gained energy savings and comfort through Efficiency Maine.
Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (51)
  • Handbook (36)
  • Tips for Success (8)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (13)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (29)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (20)
  • Marketing & Outreach (19)
  • Financing (9)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (15)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (9)
  • Strategy Development (46)
  • Planning (25)
  • Implementation (25)
  • Evaluation (22)

States or Territories

  • Arizona (1)
  • Arkansas (3)
  • British Columbia (1)
  • California (10)
  • Colorado (5)
  • Connecticut (4)
  • Delaware (2)
  • Florida (1)
  • Illinois (4)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Louisiana (1)
  • Maine (2)
  • Maryland (6)
  • Massachusetts (7)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • Nevada (1)
  • New Hampshire (2)
  • New Jersey (2)
  • New York (9)
  • Nova Scotia (1)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Ontario (1)
  • Oregon (7)
  • Pennsylvania (5)
  • Rhode Island (3)
  • South Carolina (1)
  • Utah (1)
  • Vermont (5)
  • Virginia (1)
  • Washington (6)
  • Washington DC (3)
  • Wisconsin (1)

Organizations or Programs

  • Enhabit (6)
  • EnergySmart (3)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (3)
  • RePower Bainbridge (3)
  • Elevate Energy (2)
  • Energy Trust of Oregon (2)
  • EnergyWorks (2)
  • RePower Bremerton (2)
  • BC Hydro (1)
  • Burlington Sustainability Action Team (1)
  • CharlestonWISE (1)
  • Clear the Air Challenge (1)
  • Community Energy Challenge (1)
  • Community Power Works (1)
  • Efficiency Maine (1)
  • Efficiency Nova Scotia (1)
  • Energize New York (1)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (1)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (1)
  • EnergyWorks KC (1)
  • Eugene Water and Electric Board (1)
  • Focus on Energy (1)
  • Gainesville Regional Utilities (1)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (1)
  • Hailey's Community Climate Challenge (1)
  • Hillsboro Solar Advantage (1)
  • Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL) (1)
  • Issaquah (1)
  • Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project (1)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (1)
  • Knoxville (1)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (1)
  • Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (1)
  • Mass Save (1)
  • Michigan Saves (1)
  • MPower Madison Program (1)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (1)
  • New Jersey Clean Energy Program (1)
  • NH (1)
  • NOLA WISE (1)
  • Oberlin Project (1)
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) (1)
  • RePower Kitsap (1)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (1)
  • Solarize Pendleton (1)
  • Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) (1)
  • Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) (1)
  • Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO) (1)
  • TN (1)
  • WA (1)
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