Focus on the continuous improvement of your financing activities by tracking and evaluating data, responding to feedback, and modifying strategies when needed.

Determine how your target audience currently funds energy efficiency services, to what extent upfront cost is a barrier, and whether improvements to their financing options would increase the uptake of energy efficiency measures.

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

Launch your financing activities in coordination with other program components.

Establish an evaluation plan that will allow you to determine how your financing activities are impacting the market.

Develop a plan to implement your financing activities, with defined roles for financial institution partners, contractors, customers, and your program.

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

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

Determine if enhancements to existing financing products or the development of new products are necessary to allow you to achieve your goals and objectives.

Ensure that your program’s customers will have access to affordable financing, so they can pay for the services you offer.

Establish goals, objectives, and timeframes for your financing activities.

Develop processes, strategies, and procedures to continuously improve your organization’s operations and position in 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.

Publicize benefits and lessons learned resulting from your organization’s success in the market.

Create your organization’s business plan, which describes how your operational and financial structure will support the delivery of energy efficiency services.

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.

Develop processes to evaluate your organization’s strengths, weaknesses, and market position on a regular basis.

Identify and develop needed resources to position your organization in the market and maintain a viable business model.

Identify and engage organizational partners in your business model design.

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.

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