Resources | Residential Program Guide

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.

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.

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.

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.