Resources | Residential Program Guide

Build It Green: Bringing Energy Efficiency Knowledge to the Real Estate Market in a BIG Way

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2016

Organizations or Programs

Build It Green

When shopping for a new home, homebuyers look to real estate agents for advice on everything from the best school districts to the name of a good local plumber. Because new owners make many home improvements after purchase, real estate agents have the opportunity to continue as trusted messengers after the closing date. Nonprofit organization Build It Green (BIG) saw an opening: if real estate professionals understand the importance and benefits of energy efficiency, then they can advise clients on how to incorporate efficiency into their home improvements.

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.

Powering the New Energy Future From the Ground Up

Author(s)

Climate Solutions

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,

EnergySmart,

Eugene Water and Electric Board,

Community Energy Challenge,

Hailey's Community Climate Challenge,

Jackson Hole Energy Sustainability Project,

Knoxville,

TN,

Oberlin Project,

Energize New York,

RePower Kitsap,

RePower Bainbridge,

RePower Bremerton,

Burlington Sustainability Action Team,

Gainesville Regional Utilities,

Hillsboro Solar Advantage,

Issaquah,

WA,

MPower Madison Program,

Solarize Pendleton,

Clear the Air Challenge,

Santa Fe,

NM,

West Union,

IA,

Sustainable Williamson,

CharlestonWISE,

City of Aiken,

SC,

City Green Initiative,

Kilowatt Cruncher Challenge,

Smarter Sustainable Dubuque,

Small Cities Climate Action Partnership,

City of Grand Rapids,

MI,

Town of GreenÞeld,

MA,

City of Keene,

NH,

Home Energy Affordability Loan (HEAL),

Clean Local Energy Accessible Now,

RichmondBuild Pre-apprenticeship Construction Skills and Green Jobs Training Academy

This report from Climate Solutions analyzes small- to medium-sized American cities that are using successful methods to further clean energy economic development. Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners that are featured in the report include Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, Washington; Boulder, Colorado; Bedford, New York; Madison, Wisconsin; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The report includes details on the how the featured cities funded their projects, found successful models to reach their goals, and to see which new projects are off to a promising start.

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.

Energy Efficiency Finance: Options and Roles for Utilities

Author(s)

Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

Arizona Public Service (APS),

Enhabit,

Georgia How$mart,

Hawaiian Electric Company,

Kansas How$mart,

How$martKY,

Mass Save,

Public Service of New Hampshire,

Rural Energy Savings Program,

Sempra Energy Utilities,

United Illuminating

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

Behaving Ourselves: How Behavior Change Insights Are Being Applied to Energy Efficiency Programs

Author(s)

Kira Ashby, Consortium for Energy Efficiency,

Monica Nevius, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority,

Bruce Ceniceros, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Publication Date

2010

Organizations or Programs

Pepco Holdings' Home Performance with Energy Audits Program,

Energy Trust of Oregon,

Public Service of New Hampshire,

PSE&G Whole House Energy Efficiency Program,

FortisBC’s 20/20 Challenge Program,

Focus on Energy

This paper describes a wide variety of behavior change insights potentially applicable to the energy efficiency program context, provides examples of efficiency programs that have applied these insights, and explores some untapped opportunities to achieve energy savings through behavior change.