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Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2017

The Better Buildings Financing Navigator is a web-based tool designed to help private and public sector organizations discover financing solutions for energy efficiency projects that meet their unique needs. Through the Financing Navigator, multi-family building owners, facility and energy managers, and other decision-makers can connect with financiers, including banks and financial institutions, to pursue energy-saving measures.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2017

This toolkit describes how to strengthen residential energy efficiency program outreach and marketing efforts through data-driven, tailored efforts to change behaviors. One of the greatest challenges facing the residential energy efficiency market is motivating people to take steps to save energy. This toolkit provides guidance, resources, and examples for applying community-based social marketing (CBSM) to increase the number of homes that are energy efficient.

Author: Greg Leventis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Bruce Schlein, Citi; Curtis Wynn, Roanoke Electric Cooperative; Karyn Sper, Fannie Mae; Philip Henderson, Natural Resources Defense Council
Publication Date: 2017

This presentation provides an overview energy efficiency financing products and opportunities for consumer protections and program expansion for low and moderate income customers in the single- and multifamily residential market sectors.

Author: Becky Schaaf, Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future; Dick Santangelo, Apollo Engineering Solutions; Stefen Samarripas, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2017

This presentation provides an overview of ACEEE's nationwide study of utility provider incentives for the multifamily buildings sector, as well as a broad overview of other sources of funds for energy and water conservation. This session covered the latest news regarding state energy programs, local green banks, weatherization funds, tax credits, and more.

How to Influence Utilities to Provide Actionable Energy Data to Multifamily Properties
Author: Institute for Market Transformation
Publication Date: 2017
Media

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.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2017

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

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2017

This report reviews the costs and benefits of EmPOWER Maryland through 2015 with a focus on statewide benefits.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2017

This report updates ACEEE's 2013 assessment of multifamily energy efficiency programs in US metropolitan areas with the most multifamily households. Using housing, policy, and utility-sector data from 2014 and 2015, this report documents how these programs have changed in the context of dynamic housing markets and statewide policy environments. The report also offers an analysis of the number, spending, offerings, and targeted participants of current programs and their potential for further expansion.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2017

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call summary focused on leveraging smart tech, health and/or utility data to increase participation in multifamily energy efficiency programs. It featured speakers from The Network for Energy, Water and Health in Affordable Buildings, New Ecology, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition, and Emerald Cities Collaborative.

Author: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Publication Date: 2017

This toolkit is a comprehensive guide to utility benchmarking for the multifamily sector. Benchmarking 101 describes the benefits of tracking utility data and explains how to begin the process. Utility Benchmarking Step-by-Step outlines a six-step approach to utility benchmarking. Policies and Programs summarizes utility benchmarking requirements for HUD programs, opportunities for financial assistance, and HUD programs that support green retrofits.

Author: Elizabeth Merzigian, Peabody Properties; Beth Keel, San Antonio Housing Authority; Rosemary Olsen, Village of Hempstead Housing Authority; Julia Hustwit, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Publication Date: 2017

This presentation features Better Buildings Challenge Multifamily partners across the country sharing what's worked and what hasn't in residential rehabilitation and weatherization of income-eligible, public housing multifamily buildings. Speakers shared case studies about their properties that have undergone upgrades during the past year and the lessons learned.

Author: Diana Duva, State of Connecticut; Benjamin Healey, Connecticut Green Bank; Joe Pereira, State of Colorado; Jennifer Gremmert, Energy Outreach Colorado; Michael DiRamio, U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2017

In this presentation, state and nonprofit leaders in Colorado and Connecticut discuss their policy and program efforts to offer rooftop and community solar and weatherization services and how they are scaling their programs to meet the needs of the underserved income-eligible market.

Author: Terrance Brady, Tampa Housing Authority; Scott Ledford, ICF International; Dan Teague, WegoWise; David Ruggiero, ICF International
Publication Date: 2017

This presentation helps multifamily building owners better understand the how and why of utility benchmarking. Learn about the benefits of utility benchmarking, including various drivers for performing utility benchmarking at multifamily properties, and explore how your organization can start with utility benchmarking with the help of HUD resources.

Author: Scott Ledford, ICF International; Colleen Woodson, BrightPower, Inc.; Julie Klump, Preservation of Affordable Housing"; ICF International
Publication Date: 2017

This presentation helps multifamily building owners better understand the how and why of utility benchmarking. Explore strategies and resources for translating benchmarking results into concrete next steps toward improving property performance.

Author: State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date: 2016

This report focuses on six energy efficiency areas for state and local governments to improve the energy efficiency of existing commercial and multifamily buildings, which include strengthening market demand and expanding public-private partnerships.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on challenges of energy upgrades in affordable and low-income multifamily properties.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2016

Utilities and regulators increasingly rely on behavior change programs as essential parts of their demand side management (DSM) portfolios. This report evaluates the effectiveness of currently available programs, focusing on programs that have been assessed for energy savings. This report focuses on behavior change programs that primarily rely on social-science-based strategies instead of traditional approaches such as incentives, rebates, pricing, or legal and policy strategies. The objective is to help program administrators choose effective behavior change programs for their specific purposes.

Author: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: 2016

This webcast in a multi-part series highlighting efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) to low-income communities.

Author: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: 2016

This is the second webinar in a multi-part series highlighting efforts by state and local agencies, non-profits, and utilities to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy (EE/RE) to low-income communities. This 90-minute webinar explored the specific challenges and opportunities faced by programs that aim to improve energy efficiency in multifamily affordable housing, with an emphasis on achieving multiple benefits through deeper retrofits.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

The Building Energy Data Exchange Specification (BEDES, pronounced "beads" or /bi:ds/) is designed to support analysis of the measured energy performance of commercial, multifamily, and residential buildings, by providing a common data format, definitions, and an exchange protocol for building characteristics, efficiency measures, and energy use.

Author: Institute for Market Transformation
Publication Date: 2016

This report explores how governments and energy efficiency implementers could help stakeholders better analyze and act upon building performance data to unlock savings.

Author: Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies
Publication Date: 2016

This paper presents results from three surveys of homeowners, renters, and contractors, which compared their perceptions and priorities for healthy housing to the principles of indoor air and environmental quality. Survey results indicate that: nearly one quarter of homeowners had some concern about healthy-home problems or risks; homeowners cited indoor air quality issues as their leading concern, followed by water quality, harmful materials and chemicals, and indoor environmental quality (such as noise or light pollution).

Author: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date: 2016

This report is a guide to all customer-facing financing products—products offered by a lender directly to a borrower—used to pay for energy efficiency. Intended for state and local governments that are deciding whether to start a new program, tune up and existing program, or create a Green Bank, it provides information on the full range of financing product options for target participants, the tradeoffs of various products, and potential advantages and disadvantages for different types of customers.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

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.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how home energy upgrades can support electric vehicle adoption.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how to deploy smart home technologies and analyze their data.

Author: Duquesne Light Company
Publication Date: 2016

This presentation outlines Duquesne Light Company's multifamily energy efficiency program, including its multifamily market manager model, program services, implementation strategy, program eligibility components, and a case study on a local housing authority project.

Author: Joel Freehling and Brian Stickles, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2016

This paper describes the current state of energy efficiency financing, highlighting what is and isn’t working, while offering a look at the future of the industry.

Author: E4TheFuture; Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)
Publication Date: 2016

The report, based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and a survey of tens of thousands of businesses across the country, provides detailed breakdowns of clean energy jobs not available previously, and it was developed and released in connection with a major U.S. Department of Energy study of all energy jobs in America.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This case study addresses multifamily energy upgrade experiences by two members of the Better Buildings Residential Network—Elevate Energy and the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST).

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on combining energy and water conservation services.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This case study features New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC), a member that focuses on financing energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades for multifamily buildings in the city and surrounding communities.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on obtaining and using energy efficiency data through tools like the Green Button, smart connected thermostat pilots, and operational ratings of homes to evaluate and/or enhance programs.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on effective strategies to ensure that HVAC contractors do high-quality work and recommend the most appropriate systems for homeowners.

Author: 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.

Author: 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.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

A car is only as efficient as its driver and its mechanic; so, too, for buildings. This presentation covers best practices and reviews case studies on engaging building residents and training facilities managers to keep buildings running efficiently and meeting Better Buildings Challenge goals.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This document features lessons learned shared by Better Buildings Residential Network members during Peer Exchange Calls held during Autumn 2016.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2016

Energy burden is the percentage of household income spent on home energy bills. In this report, ACEEE, along with the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, measures the energy burden of households in 48 of the largest American cities. The report finds that low-income, African-American, Latino, low-income multifamily, and renter households all spend a greater proportion of their income on utilities than the average family. The report also identifies energy efficiency as an underutilized strategy that can help reduce high energy burdens by as much as 30%. Given this potential, the report goes on to describe policies and programs to ramp up energy efficiency investments in low-income and underserved communities.

Author: Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
Publication Date: 2016

This presentation covers the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Multi-family Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability (MEEHA) programs.

Author: Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance; Southwest Energy Efficiency Project; Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource; Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date: 2016

This report was developed to help inform national stakeholders about the strategies that have been used to achieve deep energy savings in the multifamily housing sector through energy efficiency upgrades. These strategies could be used as models in areas where utility program administrators and policymakers seek to achieve deep energy savings in the multifamily building stock for the purposes of reducing energy costs, creating comfortable and healthy homes, meeting regulatory requirements, or reducing the environmental impacts of energy consumption. This report includes a national multifamily market characterization, barriers and opportunities for program and policy efforts, and eight exemplary case studies from across the country.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

The research described in this report holds great potential to significantly improve the process for including energy efficiency in developing and implementing federally funded multifamily rehabilitation projects through the USDA, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Low Income Housing Tax Credit, and other programs.

Author: Todd Nedwick, National Housing Trust
Publication Date: 2016

This presentation covers the features of well-designed energy efficiency programs for multifamily affordable housing.

Author: National Housing Trust
Publication Date: 2016

This presentation highlights the work and resources of the Energy Efficiency For All (EEFA) project and its mission to make multifamily homes healthy and affordable through energy efficiency. The families and individuals most in need of affordable housing are also most affected by high energy costs. Low-income families spend up to 20 percent of their income on energy. Efficiency investments in multifamily affordable housing mean energy savings, lower energy bills, more stable rental payments, reduced pollution, and a better quality of life for residents.

Author: 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.

Author: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date: 2016

Residential air-source heat pumps (ASHP) are a heating and air-conditioning technology that use electricity to provide a combination of space heating and cooling to homes. A new generation of ASHPs has come to market over the past five years. This report evaluates the key market barriers as well as potential opportunities to leverage. Based on an assessment of the regional ASHP market, it is clear that while ASHPs have established a viable and growing market, there remains a significant opportunity to further accelerate adoption of the technology and in the process achieve energy and cost savings to the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

In this project, the U.S. Department of Energy Building America team Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit (PARR) worked with Elevate Energy on three tasks: to conduct pre- and post-retrofit analysis on the income and expense data of 13 Chicago-area multifamily buildings, to compare Chicago income and expense data to two national samples, and to explore the ramifications that energy-efficiency retrofits have on nine Chicago-area neighborhoods.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2016

The multifamily sector can be hard to reach when it comes to energy efficiency programs. Besides being diverse and complex, the sector presents a unique set of challenges to efficiency investments. The result is that multifamily customers are often underserved by energy efficiency programs. Drawing on data requests and interviews with program administrators, this report summarizes the challenges to program participation and identifies best practices that programs can use to reach and retain large numbers of multifamily participants.

REEO Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities Webinar
Author: Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance; Southwest Energy Efficiency Project; Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance; South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource; Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date: 2016
Media

This webinar covers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities for Deep Energy Savings report published in 2016.n

Author: Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
Publication Date: 2016

This report looks into residential lighting savings assumptions found in Technical Reference Manuals (TRMs) throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions to understand what values were being used for key metrics such as hours of use, delta watt, and measure life.  It provides the opportunity to view completed Standardized Methods Forms to compare evaluation methodology and results.

Author: 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.

Author: Peter Ludwig, Elevate Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This presentation covers Elevate Energy's full service comprehensive approach for improving low income multifamily housing.

Author: Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc.
Publication Date: 2016

This report provides information and tools for policymakers, regulators, utilities, shared renewable energy developers, program administrators and others to support the adoption and implementation of shared renewables programs specifically designed to provide tangible benefits to low income and moderate income individuals and households.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy efficiency improvements as well as annual energy savings of 68 percent and cost savings of nearly $300,000 from the redevelopment of The Anne M. Lynch Homes at Old Colony in Boston, MA, which provides deeply affordable housing in extremely energy-efficient buildings.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy efficiency improvements as well as annual energy savings of 36 percent and cost savings of more than $210,000 at the Castle Square Apartments, located in Boston's South End.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy improvements as well as annual energy savings of 20 percent and cost savings of nearly $70,000 at the 223 unit Channel Square Apartments, located in Southwest Washington, D.C. The project focused on efficiency measures such as upgrading the central plant boiler and hot water heater, exterior lighting upgrades, window and sliding door replacement, air sealing and insulation of exterior walls and ceilings.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy improvements as well as annual energy savings of nearly 30 percent and cost savings of $108,500 at the Golda Meir House, Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly in Newton, MA. Some of the energy efficient measures include: high efficiency windows, wall and roof insulation, LED lighting, Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system, advanced building controls to prevent air conditioning use with open windows, boiler and domestic hot water system with high-efficiency boilers and pumps, baseboard hydronic heat and thru-wall air conditioners with air source heat pumps.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy improvements as well as annual energy savings of 34 percent and cost savings of $23,000 at The Landing Apartments located in Chaska, MN. The Landing Apartments is an affordable, multifamily, senior housing development that is organized as its own nonprofit entity that Aeon controls.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy improvements as well as annual energy savings of 20 percent and cost savings of $68,000 at Los Robles Apartments located in Union City, CA. Los Robles was one of the first Low Income Housing Preservation and Residential Homeownership Act (LIHPRHA) projects in the country to leverage Low-income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and private capital to finance comprehensive energy- and water-efficiency retrofits.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This multifamily showcase project profiles the significant energy improvements as well as annual energy savings of 25 percent and cost savings of $25,000 at Orness Plaza in Mankato, MN. Planning for a substantial renovation of the aging and poorly performing 40 year old building began in 2009 with the goals of improving occupant health, building durability, and the energy and water efficiency of the buildings systems.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2015

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on the benefits, business case, challenges, and strategies of multifamily energy upgrades.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2015

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on how to market energy efficiency upgrades in the multifamily housing sector.

Author: Cool Choices, Inc.
Publication Date: 2015

Cool Choices layered an experiment atop four engagement games where they used game mechanics to identify high energy users and encourage those high energy users (along with other game participants) to participate in Focus on Energy residential programs. This research effort, called "Find and Flip," explored whether a gamification strategy could identify high energy users and then drive them to Focus on Energy programs.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2015

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on approaches to generate demand for energy efficiency upgrades at multifamily buildings.

Author: Multifamily Subcommittee of the California Home Energy Retrofit Coordinating Committee
Publication Date: 2015

The MF HERCC Recommendations Report 2015 Update expands the 2011 publication, and delivers explicit and refined recommendations for multifamily energy efficiency program administrators and implementers.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2015

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on marketing techniques for lower income and other underrepresented populations.

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.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on energy modeling in multifamily homes.

Author: State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date: 2014

This report provides an overview of credit enhancements available, such as loan loss reserves, loan guarantees, debt service reserve funds, and subordinated capital. It also discusses key issues related to credit enhancement, examples of how others have successfully implemented credit enhancements as part of their energy efficiency financing programs, and additional information on existing resources that provide further information on credit enhancement design and implementation.

Author: American Journal of Public Health
Publication Date: 2014

This study assesses the benefits of adding health and home performance to a community health worker education program on asthma control in King County, Washington, from October 2009 to September 2010. The study compared group homes receiving community health worker education on health and home performance benefits and interventions with historical comparison group homes receiving only education on asthma control. Over the study period, the percentage of study group children with not-well-controlled or very poorly controlled asthma decreased more than the comparison group.

Author: RePower Bainbridge; Conservation Services Group; U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This guide is designed to serve as a "how-to" reference for island communities (or small, similarly sized, more isolated communities) that want to develop and implement a residential energy-efficiency and conservation program. The purpose of this guide is to help communities chart a course for successful program development based on the lessons learned during implementation and operation of RePower Bainbridge, an energy-efficiency program on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2014

This paper presents obstacles to increasing lender and consumer participation in energy efficiency financing identified by a group of small to mid-size lenders, and offers recommendations to the energy efficiency community to foster growth in the market for energy efficiency financing.

Author: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date: 2014

This report describes and monetizes numerous health and home performance benefits attributable to the weatherization of low-income homes by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This guide assists with developing an implementation plan for a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. It covers key elements of the plan, including the scope and objectives of the program and the policies and procedures that will ensure its success, including co-marketing and brand guidelines (section 1), workforce development and contractor engagement (section 3), assessment and report requirements (section 4), installation specifications and test-out procedures (section 5), and quality assurance (section 6).

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on strategies in building interest in and introducing energy efficiency to affordable housing.

Author: Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Publication Date: 2014

This report is a comprehensive research study of energy efficiency in Northwest residential buildings. It includes a metering study, a single-family report, a manufactured homes report, and a multi-family report. In addition, it includes state-by-state energy use reports, as well as end-use consumption data.

Author: Research Into Action, Inc.
Publication Date: 2014

Energy Trust of Oregon analyzes customer perceptions about energy efficiency.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on ways to reach out to landlords.

PowerSaver Loan
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014
Presentation

This webcast provided an overview to the PowerSaver Loan; described the role of financing in home energy efficiency projects and examples of program's experience; introduced how DOE program sponsors and partners can utilize PowerSaver to offer affordable energy efficiency loans to homeowners; and discussed options, strategies and next steps for interested programs to partner with participating PowerSaver lender(s).

Research and analyze the specific barriers, needs, and opportunities for a residential energy efficiency program in your community.

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.

Author: U.S. Energy Information Administration
Publication Date: 2014

This website provides information on U.S. housing characteristics, including energy consumption data.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2014

Tenant engagement programs encourage the people who live in a multifamily property to change their behavior in order to achieve a goal. These programs are an attractive option for owners or managers who want to improve energy efficiency. This report assesses the key features of existing programs, makes recommendations for improvements that housing providers and advocates can use immediately, and outlines a wish list for the future.

Author: Cynthia Adams, Local Energy Alliance Program; Larry Earegood, Consumers Energy (MI); John Schott, NYSERDA; Gavin Hastings, Arizona Public Service; Emily Salzberg, Washington State University Energy; Adam Buick, Community Power Works (WA); Bob Knight, BKi
Publication Date: 2014

Quick summaries of strategies various programs have used to improve the efficiency of delivering efficiency.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2014

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on introducing and building interest in multi-family energy efficiency.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2013

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on energy benchmarking and building disclosure policies.

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

Author: University of North Carolina Environmental Finance Center
Publication Date: 2013

This database (in development) contains information about existing energy efficiency loan programs in the United States. For each loan program the following data is presented: financing mechanism (e.g., credit enhancement, on-bill financing), market (e.g., city, state), sector (e.g., residential single family, residential multi-family), and program sponsorship (e.g., DOE programs, ARRA, private lenders).

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

Author: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date: 2013

This report develops projections of future spending on, and savings from, energy efficiency programs funded by electric and gas utility customers under three scenarios through 2025.

Author: 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.

Identify and prioritize potential target audiences based on their likely receptivity to your program's services.

Author: Energy Center of Wisconsin (now Seventhwave)
Publication Date: 2013

The study was completed on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Commerce to characterize energy use in the state's multifamily sector and to identify untapped energy efficiency opportunities. Working with Franklin Energy, the field study gathered characteristic data for 120 representative buildings across the state as well as survey data of both building owners and tenants. Using this data as well as a utility billing analysis, the Energy Center of Wisconsin (now Seventhwave) developed an in-depth characterization for a hard-to-reach sector in Minnesota that had not been, up until this point, studied to this degree.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2013

This peer exchange call summary focused on moving from assessments to upgrades in multifamily buildings.

Author: Green For All
Publication Date: 2013

The MPower Toolkit provides templates, resources, and lessons learned to address the barriers faced by the affordable multifamily housing sector when accessing energy efficiency upgrades. The toolkit is also intended for all stakeholders involved in efficiency programs, including efficiency program administrators, state and local leaders, utilities, energy consultants, and financial partners. MPower's core model is useful for all building types. In addition, the toolkit’s chapters are broken out into segments that highlight information and innovations that many efficiency programs are incorporating into their own models. The toolkit is a resource for all practitioners involved in implementing MPower and also serves to assist practitioners of other established efficiency programs. The MPower Toolkit draws from the experience of MPower Oregon, although it differentiates between the core MPower model and how MPower Oregon implemented this model.

Author: Enterprise Community Partners
Publication Date: 2013

The toolkit distills Enterprise's experience retrofitting multifamily affordable housing into the critical steps necessary for success. It is a roadmap for multifamily housing owners, investors, and developers which outlines a comprehensive, cost-effective approach to retrofit.

Author: Green For All
Publication Date: 2013

This report highlights program and policy attributes that enable successful on-bill programs based on analysis of four program case studies.

Author: Rachael P Fredericks, PSE&G
Publication Date: 2013

This presentation provides an overview of PSE&G's Multifamily Housing Program, highlighting drivers, incentive structure, results, and lessons learned.

Author: Richard Faesy and Chris Kramer, Energy Futures Group (Prepared for the Energy Foundation)
Publication Date: 2013

This report explores the approaches and research needs identified in the Building Retrofit Industry and Market (BRIM) Initiative through in-depth discussion with residential energy upgrade experts including a discussion of Marketing & Outreach and the program/contractor interface.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2013

This report provides an assessment of the current landscape of multifamily energy efficiency programs in the 50 metropolitan areas with the largest multifamily housing markets. The authors describe spending on utility customer-funded programs for the primary utilities in each metropolitan area. Additionally, they identify the specific opportunity in each metropolitan area to scale up multifamily programs based on a three-part analysis of: (1) local housing market characteristics; (2) the scope of current utility customer-funded energy efficiency programs; and (3) the statewide policy environment and potential for local partnerships with non-utility-funded energy efficiency programs.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2013

This peer exchange call summary focused on strategies, opportunities and focuses on shared space and technology in multi-family buildings and in-unit upgrades.

Author: Small Town Energy Program
Publication Date: 2013

The Small Town Energy Program (STEP) toolkit gives a complete overview of STEP from planning to implementation. It also includes access to a wide variety of materials developed by the program, including: local asset materials, partner materials, personnel materials, program administrative materials, outreach materials, and surveys. STEP has posted these toolkit documents with the hope that it will assist other small towns and communities in building and running more energy efficiency programs.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2013

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on the challenges and benefits of energy and housing programs working together.

Author: 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.

Author: 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.

Author: California Center for Sustainable Energy; Home Performance Resource Center
Publication Date: 2012

This guide shows HVAC contractors how to get started in the home improvement market. It explains the approach of treating a house like a system and provides step-by-step instructions on setting up a home performance contracting business.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2012

This peer exchange call summary focused on the relationship between contract pricing and customers.

Author: Fannie Mae
Publication Date: 2012

This paper examines the energy efficiency of multifamily rentals in comparison to other housing types and its relationship to household income. It analyzes 2005 and just‐released 2009 data from the U.S. Residential Energy Consumption Survey and finds that multifamily rentals were significantly less energy efficient than other types of housing, both nationwide and in every region of the country.

Author: Institute for Market Transformation
Publication Date: 2012

This report is intended to serve as a guide for policymakers and multifamily stakeholders on benchmarking and disclosure rules and regulations. It provides an introduction to the multifamily housing sector, followed by a thorough review of existing benchmarking and disclosure policies and an assessment of continuing policy challenges and opportunities.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2012

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

Author: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date: 2012

Descriptions of eight county-level and city-level energy efficiency programs in the Southwest.

Author: Mass Save
Publication Date: 2012

A comparative list of lenders participating in the Mass Save HEAT Loan Program and the terms and conditions of the loans that they offer.

Author: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Publication Date: 2012

Homeowner survey created by the utility to inform their whole home upgrade program.

Author: RePower Bainbridge
Publication Date: 2012

The RePower programs in Washington State convened local community leaders, organizations, contractors, and program partners for a planning summit to consider the benefits and challenges of different business models for the post-grant period. Participants considered four models: non-profit organization, utility, county or city government, and private sector.

Author: Environmental Finance Center at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Publication Date: 2012

This market assessment for the Sarasota County (Florida) Energy Efficiency Upgrade Financing Program identifies the customers and potential demand for an energy efficiency upgrade financing program.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2012

This peer exchange call summary focused on strategies and challenges of working with rental property owners and tenants on multifamily upgrades.

Author: The Rockefeller Foundation
Publication Date: 2012

This paper establishes the size of the potential retrofit market in the United States, and examines the emergence of new financing models that offer the promise of overcoming historical barriers to energy efficiency.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2012

This peer exchange call summary focused on leveraging effective partnerships for multi-family and low-income outreach and service delivery.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2012

This peer exchange call summary focused on strategies, challenges and opportunities in working with condominium owners and associations.

Author: Innovation Network for Communities (Prepared for the Rockefeller Foundation)
Publication Date: 2011

This research report and slides provide a detailed segmentation of the building energy upgrade market and summarize market research on each segment. Market segments include single-family homes, multi-family homes, and several types of commercial and institutional buildings.

Author: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: 2011

This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency resource is intended to help state and local governments design finance programs for their jurisdiction. It describes financing program options, key components of these programs, and factors to consider as they make decisions about getting started or updating their programs.

Author: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date: 2011

This report describes different approaches to energy efficiency finance taken by utilities.

Author: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: 2011

These protocols provide recommended minimum specifications and best practices for protection of occupant health associated with home energy upgrades.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

Outlines Philadelphia's EnergyWorks program's use of low-interest loans to incentivize homeowners by tying the interest rate to the number of energy efficiency measures incorporated into the home.

Author: Chris Lohmann, U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

Presentation providing an overview of financing programs, a strategy for continuous improvement, tools for program management, a risk management strategy, and common risks associated with financing programs.

Author: EnergySmart
Publication Date: 2011

Example of an implementation plan developed by EnergySmart Colorado at the beginning of the implementation of its Better Buildings Neighborhood Program.

Author: Dan Curry, BetterBuildings for Greensboro
Publication Date: 2011

This presentation provides an overview of the lending RFP issued by the city of Greensboro's Better Buildings Program, including a description of the roles and responsibilities for the city and its financial partners.

Author: Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Publication Date: 2011

The Residential Retrofit Program Design Guide focuses on the key elements and design characteristics of building and maintaining a successful residential energy upgrade program. The material is presented as a guide for program design and planning from start to finish, laid out in chronological order of program development.

Author: State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network
Publication Date: 2011

This report lays out a national vision for overcoming many of the barriers to comprehensive home energy improvements. The authors review a range of energy efficiency policies and programs, then analyze three funding and policy scenarios to gauge their long-term impacts on the market for home energy upgrades.

Author: Community Power Works
Publication Date: 2011

Example of an implementation plan developed by Seattle's Community Power Works at the beginning of the implementation of its Better Buildings Neighborhood Program.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

This case study discusses strategies that Austin Energy, a municipally owned utility, used to collaborate closely with building contractors to launch a new Best Offer Ever promotion quickly and effectively.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

This case study shares how Seattle's Community Power Works engaged a vast network of partners to build on existing capacity and knowledge, extending the reach of its program in a short period of time.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

This peer exchange call focused on strategies and challenges related to multi-family programs.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

This peer exchange call summary focused on different tenant and resident education programs and how to make them complement larger programs.

Author: Matthew Brown, Harcourt Brown & Carey; John MacLean, Energy Efficiency Finance Corporation
Publication Date: 2010

Tips for recruiting and procuring financial partners and developing and negotiating financial partner agreements.

Author: Consortium for Energy Efficiency
Publication Date: 2010

This guide provides background on the home improvement market in the U.S. and Canada and end users and systems in existing homes, as well as a description of energy efficiency program approaches and strategies.

Finance Planning
Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2010
Presentation, Media, Transcript

This webcast discussed the broad spectrum of needs financing mechanisms must address within integrated energy efficiency programs.

Author: Los Angeles County, California
Publication Date: 2010

This report describes California property owners' specific interest, awareness, and perceptions regarding energy use, energy efficiency, home energy upgrades, and related topics. The study results were used for program design and to design and support marketing and outreach campaigns that encouraged energy upgrades

Author: Alliance to Save Energy
Publication Date: 2009

This brief focuses on loan programs in 30 states that are currently providing low- to no-interest loans to finance energy efficiency improvements--from energy-efficient windows to replacement HVAC systems--in the residential, business, and public sectors.

Author: Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
Publication Date: 2008

This guide helps states and localities develop voluntary or mandatory programs that go well beyond minimum code requirements for new buildings. It addresses energy efficiency materials and resource conservation, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and site development and land use.

Author: Hattaway Communications
Publication Date: 2007

This marketing strategy includes the goals and objectives the Cambridge (Massachusetts) Energy Alliance set out to meet.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

A variety of new feedback initiatives, including real-time web-based or in-home feedback devices and enhanced billing approaches, are making energy resources visible to residential consumers throughout the United States. These initiatives are opening the door to potential energy savings that, on average, have reduced individual household electricity consumption 4 to 12%. In so doing, feedback is proving a critical first step in engaging and empowering consumers to thoughtfully manage their energy use.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on working with multifamily and rental properties on energy efficiency programs. It features speakers from  American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Community Housing Partners, and Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships.

Author: 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.