Resources | Residential Program Guide

Best Practices for Fostering and Using Contractor Networks (101)

Author(s)

Chris Lohmann, U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2016

Organizations or Programs

Build It Green,

Efficiency Vermont,

Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on ensuring contractor networks work for both energy efficiency programs and participating contractors.

Reaching More Residents: Opportunities for Increasing Participation in Multifamily Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Publication Date

2016

Organizations or Programs

Focus on Energy,

National Grid Rhode Island,

DC Sustainable Energy Utility Low-Income Multifamily Initiative,

Bay Area Regional Energy Network Multifamily Building Enhancements,

Con Edison Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program,

Con Edison Multifamily Low Income Program,

Puget Sound Energy,

Xcel Energy,

Elevate Energy,

Energy Trust of Oregon,

Public Service Electric and Gas Multifamily Program,

Pacific Gas & Electric Company,

Arizona Public Service (APS) Company,

Austin Energy,

Efficiency Vermont,

CenterPoint Energy,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

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.

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.

Reactions to the Residential Retrofit Roundtable Recommendations

Author(s)

Richard Faesy and Chris Kramer, Energy Futures Group (Prepared for the Energy Foundation)

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

Enhabit,

Michigan Saves,

BetterBuildings for Michigan,

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,

Energy Works,

Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),

Efficiency Maine,

Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA)

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.

Better Buildings Neighborhood Program Grantee Incentives

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Atlanta SHINE,

Be SMART,

Beacon Communities Project,

BetterBuildings for Michigan,

BetterBuildings for Greensboro,

BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade,

Camden POWER - A Better Buildings Initiative,

CarrboroWISE,

City of Indianapolis Better Buildings Program,

Chapel Hill WISE,

CharlestonWISE,

Enhabit,

Community Alliance for Energy Efficiency (Cafe2),

Community Power Works,

Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,

DecaturWISE,

Efficiency Maine,

emPowerSBC,

Energize Phoenix,

EnergyFit Nevada,

Energy Impact Illinois,

EnergySmart,

Energy Upgrade California,

EnergyWorks,

Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative,

Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),

Huntsville WISE,

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),

Michigan Saves,

Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO),

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),

reEnergize,

RePower Kitsap,

RePower Bainbridge,

RePower Bremerton,

Richmond Regional Energy Alliance (RREA),

ShopSmart with JEA,

Solar and Energy Loan Fund (SELF),

Small Town Energy Program (STEP),

Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC),

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

This publication summarizes some of the incentives offered by Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Five Steps to a Profitable Contractor Base

Author(s)

Courtney Moriarta, SRA International, Inc.,

Emily Levin, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation,

Tiger Adolf, Building Performance Institute,

Brad Geyer, Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative,

Sammy Chu, Suffolk County Department of Labor,

Sam Flanery, Building Science Academy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Efficiency Vermont,

Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

Presentation on five steps to building a profitable contractor base. The steps include sensible program design and administration, certification and credentialing, communicating with contractors, contractor requirements (business vs. trade), and training and sales support.

Promising Approaches to Accelerate Workforce Development for Building Energy Upgrades

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Austin Energy,

BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade,

BetterBuildings for Michigan,

Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,

Efficiency Maine,

EnergySmart Colorado,

Energy Upgrade California,

EnergyWorks,

EnergyWorks KC,

Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative,

Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

This fact sheet provides promising approaches for Better Buildings programs seeking to accelerate workforce development to support building energy upgrades. These approaches are organized by estimated level of effort and include rough estimates of cost ranges for implementation.

Better Buildings Program: Brands & Websites

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan,

CharlestonWISE,

Enhabit,

Community Power Works,

Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,

Efficiency Maine,

emPowerSBC,

Energize Bedford,

Energize Phoenix,

EnergySmart Colorado,

Energy Upgrade California,

EnergyWorks,

Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance (GCEA),

Green Madison,

BetterBuildings Lowell Energy Upgrade,

Milwaukee Energy Efficiency (Me2),

Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team - A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO),

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,

New Hampshire BetterBuildings,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),

reEnergize,

RePower Kitsap,

RePower Bainbridge,

RePower Bremerton

This presentation includes the brands, website addresses, and images for most of the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Driving Demand for Home Energy Improvements

Author(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

2010

Organizations or Programs

City of Houston's Residential Energy Efficiency Program,

Energy Smackdown,

Hood River Conservation Project,

City of Houston's Residential Energy Efficiency Program,

Jasper Energy Efficiency Project,

Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),

Long Island Green Homes,

Marshfield Energy Challenge,

New London Resource Project,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA),

Take Charge Challenge,

Twin Cities One Stop Program,

Efficiency Vermont,

WeatherizeDC

This guide provides an assessment of various approaches to Marketing & Outreach for home energy efficiency improvements.

Review of Selected Home Energy Auditing Tools

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2010

Organizations or Programs

Florida Weatherization Assistance Program,

New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)

This report presents a review of selected home energy auditing tools. The energy audit tools reviewed in this study include REM/Rate, BEACON Home Energy Advisor, EnergyInsights, Home Energy Tune-uP, EnergyGauge, TREAT, the National Energy Audit Tool (NEAT), Home Energy Saver Professional (HESPro), and RealHomeAnalyzer.