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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

Market Position & Business Model – Identify Partners

Identify and engage organizational partners in your business model design.
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 – Identify Partners

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

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

Recognize customers who make improvements

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

Tap into secondary market investors to provide lending capital

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

Speak about financing in ways that resonate with homeowners

Many programs struggle with communicating the value of financing to homeowners. Financing can be a complicated topic, and ensuring that homeowners understand how their loans work and the benefits they will realize is important for converting interest into action. Many Better Buildings Neighborhood...
Tips for Success

Help contractors understand the program’s financing options and benefits, so they can communicate to homeowners

Homeowners do not benefit from access to financing if they don’t know about or understand options available to them. Contractors are often the primary transaction point for selling upgrades, and many programs have found that ongoing collaboration with contractors through sales training, regular...
Tips for Success

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

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

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

Resource - Webcast

Capturing Energy Efficiency in Residential Real Estate Transactions Webcast

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

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

Resource - Webcast

The Value of Energy Efficiency in the Real Estate Market

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

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

Resource - Webcast

Emerging Trends in Public-Private Financing Programs: Lessons Learned for PACE, On-Bill and Credit Enhancements

Author(s)
Kevin Moyer, Toledo Port Authority,
Ben Taube, Ygrene Energy Fund,
Greg Leventis,,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio

This presentation covers lesson learned for PACE from the Toledo Port Authority, innovative real estate finance solutions from the Ygrene Energy Fund, and financing energy improvements on utility bills.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Sold! Engaging the Real Estate Industry in Home Performance

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on working with the real estate sector, including NAR Green designation for realtors. Speakers include Sustainable Real Estate Consulting Services, Renewablue, and National Association of REALTORS.

Resource - Topical Presentations

On the Horizon: Making Home Energy Data Meaningful Beyond the MLS

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

Energy efficiency data can inform real estate transactions – including underwriting and appraisal, but each sector relies on its own sets of tools, data and specifications. The Home Energy Information Accelerator addresses how reliable energy information can get into the hands of decision-makers, and what types of policy, technical, and other changes are needed to make energy information useful in the real estate transaction.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Making Home Energy Data Accessible in the Real Estate Market – Better Buildings Accelerator

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

The Better Buildings Home Energy Information Accelerator aims to make energy data more accessible to home buyers, realtors and others. This presentation covers how Colorado launched a statewide residential labeling initiative that made home energy data available at point of sale, and how partnerships in the Northeast are incorporating energy efficiency into the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), with Vermont pioneering the regional effort.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Advances in Integrating Energy Efficiency into the Real Estate Market (301)

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how home energy upgrade programs can interact and connect with the real estate market.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Trends in Real Estate and Energy Efficiency

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2015
Organizations or Programs
Elevate Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how energy efficiency initiatives relate to real estate marketing.

Resource - Topical Presentations

The High Performance Value Chain & Chicago’s Residential Energy Disclosure Requirements

Author(s)
CNT Energy,
National Home Performance Council
Publication Date
2015

This presentation provides an overview of the CNT Energy and National Home Performance Council white paper "Unlocking the Value of an Energy Efficient Home: A Blueprint to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements Visible in the Real Estate Market." It covers making information about energy efficiency improvements visible to home buyers and others involved in a home sale transaction.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Mastermind Session: Connecting the Dots Between the Real Estate Market and Residential Energy Efficiency

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

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on integrating residential energy efficiency programs with the real estate market.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Working with Real Estate Home Inspectors, Exterminators, and Other Nontraditional Partners

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
EnergySmart Colorado

This peer exchange call summary focused on leveraging home inspectors and others in the real estate transaction processes.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Trends in Real Estate and Energy Efficiency - Update on Program Experience

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy,
Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2)

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on working with the real estate sector to promote and drive demand for energy efficiency.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Business Models and Case Examples for Working with the Real Estate Sector

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

This peer exchange call summary focused on raising awareness and integrating the value of energy efficiency into transactions with the real estate sector.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Working with the Real Estate Sector

Author(s)
U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Energy Impact Illinois,
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

This peer exchange call summary focused on the strategies, challenges and key interaction points with the real estate sector.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Capturing Energy Upgrades in the Real Estate Transaction - Appraisal Institute

Author(s)
Bill Garber, Appraisal Institute
Publication Date
2012

This presentation discusses how appraisers assess green building elements in their real estate estimates.

Resource - Topical Presentations

Building Performance Database

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

The Building Performance Database (BPD) is the nation's largest dataset of information about the energy-related characteristics of commercial and residential buildings. The BPD combines, cleanses and anonymizes data collected by Federal, State and local governments, utilities, energy efficiency programs, building owners and private companies, and makes it available to the public. The web site allows users to explore the data across real estate sectors and regions, and compare various physical and operational characteristics to gain a better understanding of market conditions and trends in energy performance.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Valuation of Green and High Performance Property: One to Four-Unit Residential

Author(s)
The Appraisal Foundation
Publication Date
2016

This advisory addresses the most prominent appraisal issues associated with residential properties exhibiting green features and uses the terms "green" and "high performance" loosely. The structure of this document generally follows the real estate appraisal process and workflow.

Resource - Tools & Calculators

Energy Efficiency for Real Estate Professionals

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

This presentation is a customizable tool for energy efficiency programs to convey the value of energy information to real estate professionals, and information on resources real estate professionals can use for further learning.

Resource - Templates & Forms

Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum

Author(s)
Appraisal Institute
Publication Date
2013
Form for appraisers intended to help analyze values of energy efficient home features.
Resource - Templates & Forms

2012 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Valuing Energy Efficiency in the Real Estate Community

Author(s)
Local Energy Alliance Program
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)
The lack of documented value of retrofit measures is a barrier to many homeowners doing upgrades - as most appraisals do not include energy improvements in their comparables, and the homeÕs future sale can prevent the homeowner from earning a return on their investment via lower energy costs. Once the industry develops a process for valuing the energy improvements, it can unlock the significant potential for retrofit work through market pricing signals (energy efficient homes are worth more) and enhanced access to capital for those purchasing a more efficient home (energy efficient homes improve borrowersÕ cashflow because they cost less to operate).
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

Valuing Home Performance Improvements in Real Estate Markets

Author(s)
Elevate Energy
Publication Date
2014

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

Unlocking the Value of an Energy Efficient Home: A Blueprint to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements Visible in the Real Estate Market

Author(s)
CNT Energy,
National Home Performance Council
Publication Date
2015
This white paper provides energy efficiency program sponsors and other stakeholders in the home performance industry with methods to document efficiency improvements and incorporate them into the real estate value chain. Making information about energy efficiency improvements visible to home buyers and others involved in a home sale transaction will play a crucial role in ensuring that improvements are fairly valued at the time an existing home is sold.
Resource - Publications

Innovations in Home Energy Use: A Sourcebook for Behavior Change

Author(s)
RTI International
Publication Date
2016

This publication explores the behavioral factors behind individual homeowners' use of energy, and what might change those behaviors. The chapters cover: (1) Leverage Points for Achieving Sustainable Consumption in Homeowner Energy Use; (2) Evaluating the Theoretical Justification for Tailored Energy Interventions; (3) Quantifying the Value of Home Energy Improvements; (4) Considering the Effect of Incorporating Home Energy Performance Ratings Into Real Estate Listings; (5) Energy Efficiency 101: Improving Energy Knowledge in Neighborhoods; (6) Enhancing Home Energy Efficiency Through Natural Hazard Risk Reduction: Linking Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation in the Home; (7) Leveraging the Employer-Employee Relationship to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions at the Residential Level; and (8) Increasing the Effectiveness of Residential Energy Efficiency Programs.

Resource - Publications

Home Energy Information Guide: Taking Verified Data Through The MLS To The Consumer

Author(s)
Council of Multiple Listing Services
Publication Date
2017

This guide helps real estate professionals understand how to provide home energy information to consumers and helps facilitate multiple listing services in delivering verified energy data.

Resource - Publications

REALTORS® and Sustainability 2017 Report

Author(s)
National Association of REALTORS®
Publication Date
2017

The report summarizes a survey of realtors about sustainability issues facing the real estate industry nationally and regionally.

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

Capturing Energy Efficiency in Residential Real Estate Transactions: Steps That Energy Efficiency Programs Can Take

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

Real estate professionals are increasingly aware that today’s homebuyers consider heating and cooling costs, efficient appliances, and efficient lighting to be important factors in home purchase decisions. Residential energy efficiency and real estate stakeholders, however, agree that the home resale process frequently fails to account for the value of high-performance home features. If investments in energy efficiency were more accurately reflected in home resale prices, homeowners could have greater confidence that these investments would be recouped at resale, and they might make more investments in efficiency.

Resource - Publications

2012 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings: Valuing Energy Efficiency in the Real Estate Community

Author(s)
Local Energy Alliance Program
Publication Date
2012
Organizations or Programs
Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

The lack of documented value of retrofit measures is a barrier to many homeowners doing upgrades - as most appraisals do not include energy improvements in their comparables, and the home’s future sale can prevent the homeowner from earning a return on their investment via lower energy costs. Once the industry develops a process for valuing the energy improvements, it can unlock the significant potential for retrofit work through market pricing signals (energy efficient homes are worth more) and enhanced access to capital for those purchasing a more efficient home (energy efficient homes improve borrowers’ cashflow because they cost less to operate).

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

Is Energy Efficiency Capitalized into Home Prices? Evidence from Three US Cities

Author(s)
Resources for the Future
Publication Date
2013
Organizations or Programs
Austin Energy

This study looks at evidence of capitalization of energy efficiency features in home prices using data from real estate multiple listing services (MLS) in three metropolitan areas: the Research Triangle region of North Carolina; Austin, Texas; and Portland, Oregon. These home listings include information on Energy Star certification and, in Portland and Austin, local green certifications. Our results suggest that Energy Star certification increases the sales prices of homes built between 1995 and 2006 but has no statistically significant effect on sales prices for newer homes.

Resource - Publications

Unlocking the Value of an Energy Efficient Home: A Blueprint to Make Energy Efficiency Improvements Visible in the Real Estate Market

Author(s)
CNT Energy,
National Home Performance Council
Publication Date
2013

This white paper provides energy efficiency program sponsors and other stakeholders in the home performance industry with methods to document efficiency improvements and incorporate them into the real estate value chain. Making information about energy efficiency improvements visible to home buyers and others involved in a home sale transaction will play a crucial role in ensuring that improvements are fairly valued at the time an existing home is sold.

Resource - Publications

An Early Look at Energy Efficiency and Contributory Value: Case Studies of Residential Properties in the Greater Denver Metro Area

Author(s)
Colorado Energy Office
Publication Date
2015

This study was conducted on behalf of the Colorado Energy Office to provide an analysis of the impact of energy efficiency on the home buying process. It highlights the appraisers’ dependence on Realtor‐supplied data and clearly illustrates the need for appraisers to be competent on items related to energy efficiency; in as far as these items are relevant to the appraiser’s specific assignment, scope of work and market area.

Resource - Publications

Multi-State Residential Retrofit Project: Process Evaluation Final

Author(s)
National Association of State Energy Officials
Publication Date
2014
Organizations or Programs
National Association of State Energy Officials

The Multi-State Residential Retrofit Project is a residential energy-efficiency pilot program, funded by a competitive U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) award through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Multi-State Project operates in four states: Alabama, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington. During the course of this three-year process evaluation, Cadmus worked closely with NASEO and the four states to collect information about the programs from many perspectives, including: State Energy Office staff, program implementers, homeowners, auditors/contractors, real estate professionals, appraisers, lenders, and utility staff. This report discusses: the project’s context; its goals; the evaluation approach and methods; cross-cutting evaluation results; and results specific to each of the four states.

Resource - Program Presentations & Reports

Build It Green: Bringing Energy Efficiency Knowledge to the Real Estate Market in a BIG Way

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

When shopping for a new home, homebuyers look to real estate agents for advice on everything from the best school districts to the name of a good local plumber. Because new owners make many home improvements after purchase, real estate agents have the opportunity to continue as trusted messengers after the closing date. Nonprofit organization Build It Green (BIG) saw an opening: if real estate professionals understand the importance and benefits of energy efficiency, then they can advise clients on how to incorporate efficiency into their home improvements.

Resource - Case Studies

Content Type

  • Resource (36)
  • Handbook (8)
  • Tips for Success (4)

Resource Type

Program Components

  • Market Position & Business Model (16)
  • Program Design & Customer Experience (23)
  • Evaluation & Data Collection (5)
  • Marketing & Outreach (6)
  • Financing (5)
  • Contractor Engagement & Workforce Development (2)

Program Design Phases

  • Overview (1)
  • Strategy Development (28)
  • Planning (22)
  • Implementation (25)
  • Evaluation (8)

States or Territories

  • Alabama (2)
  • Alaska (1)
  • Arizona (1)
  • Arkansas (1)
  • California (4)
  • Colorado (6)
  • Connecticut (1)
  • Delaware (1)
  • Florida (3)
  • Georgia (2)
  • Hawaii (1)
  • Illinois (7)
  • Kansas (1)
  • Kentucky (1)
  • Manitoba (1)
  • Maryland (1)
  • Massachusetts (3)
  • Michigan (1)
  • Minnesota (1)
  • Missouri (1)
  • Montana (1)
  • New Hampshire (2)
  • New Jersey (1)
  • New York (1)
  • North Carolina (1)
  • Ohio (2)
  • Oklahoma (1)
  • Oregon (5)
  • Pennsylvania (4)
  • Rhode Island (1)
  • South Dakota (1)
  • Texas (4)
  • Utah (1)
  • Vermont (1)
  • Virginia (5)
  • Washington (2)
  • Washington DC (1)
  • Wisconsin (2)

Organizations or Programs

  • Elevate Energy (6)
  • Austin Energy (4)
  • Enhabit (4)
  • Build It Green (3)
  • Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) (3)
  • Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) (3)
  • Energy Impact Illinois (2)
  • EnergySmart (2)
  • Arizona Public Service (APS) (1)
  • BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio (1)
  • Earth Advantage (1)
  • Efficiency Vermot (1)
  • EnergySmart Colorado (1)
  • Energy Upgrade California (1)
  • EnergyWorks (1)
  • Eversource (1)
  • Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA) (1)
  • Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star (1)
  • Manitoba Hydro (1)
  • Mass Save (1)
  • Michigan Saves (1)
  • Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (1)
  • Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2) (1)
  • National Association of State Energy Officials (1)
  • NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (1)
  • New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) (1)
  • Pacific Gas and Electric Company (1)
  • ShopSmart with JEA (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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