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.

Verifying Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Current Practices and Recommendations

Author(s)

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Publication Date

2015

Organizations or Programs

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

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA),

Energy Right Solutions for Buisness,

Energy Right Solutions for Industry,

Efficiency Nova Scotia,

National Grid Energy Efficiency Program,

Energy Trust of Oregon,

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs,

Enhabit,

District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility,

BC Hydro,

Ontario Power Authority Industrial Accelerator Program,

Elevate Energy

Among the many benefits ascribed to energy efficiency is the fact that it can help create jobs. Although this is often used to motivate investments in efficiency programs, verifying job creation benefits is more complicated than it might seem at first. This paper identifies some of the issues that contribute to a lack of consistency in attempts to verify efficiency-related job creation. It then proposes an analytically rigorous and tractable framework for program evaluators to use in future assessments.

Strategies for Improving Efficiency in Delivering Efficiency

Author(s)

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

Organizations or Programs

Arizona Public Service (APS),

Community Power Works,

Energy Upgrade California,

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),

Michigan Home Performance with ENERGY STAR,

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

RePower Kitsap

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

Home Energy Makeover Contests: Who Are the Winners and Losers in Motivating Existing Homeowners to Make "Whole House" Energy Saving Improvements

Author(s)

UtilityExchange.org,

Building Performance Institute

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

Atlanta SHINE,

DecaturWISE,

CharlestonWISE,

Enhabit,

Energy Upgrade California,

Help My House,

FirstEnergy,

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),

NOLA WISE

This paper first details industry best practices for contest administration, including tips for developing an overall contest plan and timeline, product sponsor recruitment, building a dynamic informational website, maximizing customer participation, selecting the winning home, seamless installation management, capturing and documenting project results, conducting a high profile media open house and facilitating customer workshops that educate homeowners and strengthen trade ally relationships. This paper then presents results and key lessons learned from more than 20 contests supported with funds from local community sustainability programs, utility energy efficiency programs, and U.S. Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds between 2008 and 2012.

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.

Better Buildings Pro Forma: Local Energy Alliance Program--Virginia

Author(s)

Local Energy Alliance Program

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

This presentation explains the pro forma spreadsheet used by Virginia's Local Energy Alliance Program to evaluate program impact.

Insight from Maine Incentives

Author(s)

Efficiency Maine

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Efficiency Maine

This presentation from Efficiency Maine shows early adopters and higher income residents tend to take advantage of large incentives, but smaller incentives may be a way to engage a broader range of income levels.

Shared Value in Utility and Efficiency Partnerships - Local Energy Alliance Program

Author(s)

Cynthia Adams, Local Energy Alliance Program

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP)

Presentation that focuses on grantee program-utility partnership models from the programs perspective.

Shared Value in Utility and Efficiency Partnerships - Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

Author(s)

Nikki Kuhn, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Energize Phoenix,

Connecticut Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge,

Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP),

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA),

Efficiency Vermont

Presentation that focuses on grantee program-utility partnership models.