Resources | Residential Program Guide

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.

Strengthening the Front Lines: Sales Training and Continuing Education for Contractors

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2015

Organizations or Programs

Build It Green

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focuses on how mentoring on sales skills and business management helped one contractor increase sales and become more profitable. The call also covered top tips for supporting contractors, such as helping contractors develop systems to be more efficient in completing projects and creating a service plan with customers for additional improvements in the future.

BetterBuildings for Michigan: Program Finds Community "Readiness" Is the Key to More Retrofits

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2014

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This U.S. Department of Energy Focus Series highlights the BetterBuildings for Michigan program’s community readiness assessment tool.

It's Academic: BetterBuildings for Michigan Partners With University to Reach Employees

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This Focus Series interview discusses the semester-long, employer-assisted partnership between BetterBuildings for Michigan and Grand Valley State University (GVSU). This successful partnership involved an early adopter outreach campaign and served as a model for other program partnerships.

Mastermind Session: Combining Energy Efficiency and Health Services

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

reEnergize

This peer exchange call summary focused on combining energy efficiency and health services.

Strengthening Relationships Between Energy Programs and Housing Programs

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

reEnergize

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

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.

Improving Quality Through Performance Metrics

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This video explains how Better Buildings for Michigan's performance metrics and quality assurance enabled them to encourage high-performing contractors, to help underperforming contractors improve, and ultimately to dismiss some contractors.

Mentoring Benefits Both Program and Contractor

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This video provides an overview of Better Buildings for Michigan's mentoring program for contractors, and the high value that contractors and the program gain from mentoring.

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.

Scaling Energy Efficiency in the Heart of the Residential Market: Increasing Middle America's Access to Capital for Energy Improvements

Author(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Camden POWER - A Better Buildings Initiative,

Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC),

Better Buildings Near Eastside Neighborhood Sweeps Program,

Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL),

Keystone Home Energy Loan Program (HELP),

Midwest Energy,

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

Opportunity Council,

Wyoming Energy Savers

This policy brief describes the energy efficiency financing options programs can use to help financial institutions make energy upgrades affordable and accessible to homeowners.

Spotlight on Michigan: Experiment to Find the Right Mix of Incentives

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This case study discusses BetterBuildings for Michigan's targeted outreach campaigns which applied varying incentives and outreach strategies to neighborhoods with a goal to understand which rebates and strategies work best in the target communities.

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.

Spotlight on Michigan: Sweeping the State for Ultimate Success

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

BetterBuildings for Michigan

This case study describes an innovative program design used by BetterBuildings for Michigan to "sweep" neighborhoods in order to effectively reach its residential audience and achieve an 80% participation rate among those canvassed.