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.

Financing Energy Efficiency Retrofits of Affordable Multifamily Buildings

Author(s)

Community Development Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Publication Date

2014

Organizations or Programs

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad,

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

Watt Watchers,

Neighborhood Energy,

Energy Savers,

Ratepayer Inte-grated On-Bill Payment Program,

I'M HOME initiative,

Multifamily Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability,

Residential Multifamily Housing Program

There are more than 17 million multifamily households nationwide, yet they remain a significant and mostly untapped opportunity for energy efficiency gains. Many cities and states that have embraced energy retrofitting as a job creator and boon to both the environment and economy have yet to address potential savings in multifamily properties, primarily because of obstacles not faced by single family and commercial properties. This paper discusses two barriers -- a lack of information and financing -- that stand in the way of multifamily energy retrofits.

One-On-One Communication Delivers Strong Customer Satisfaction

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2014

Organizations or Programs

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

In this video interview segment, Ludy Biddle with Neighborworks of Western Vermont describes the benefits of one-on-one communications between customers and the Neighborhood H.E.A.T. Squad program's energy advisors.

Vermont Nonprofit Successfully Helps Homeowners Weatherize

Author(s)

National Public Radio

Publication Date

2014

Organizations or Programs

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

This radio interview highlights how the NeighborWorks program in Vermont is raising awareness of home energy efficiency measures among residents through neighbor-to-neighbor outreach.

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.

Avoid Contractor Frustration by Testing Data Collection Tools Before Deployment

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergySmart Colorado

In this video interview segment, Marty Treadway of Energy Smart Colorado discusses how to avoid contractor frustration by testing data collection tools before deployment.

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.

Boulder, Colorado's SmartRegs: Minimum Performance Standards for Residential Rental Housing

Author(s)

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergySmart Colorado

In 2011 the City of Boulder, Colorado enacted its “SmartRegs” ordinances that require all single family and multifamily rental properties to meet a minimum energy efficiency standard by January 2019. The SmartRegs initiative is designed to help the city achieve its ambitious carbon emissions reduction goals and to improve the quality, safety, and marketability of Boulder’s rental housing stock.

LaborWorks@NeighborWorks of Western Vermont Focus Series

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

LaborWorks@NeighborWorks is a nonprofit temporary labor pool developed by NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (NWWVT) to assist professional contractors involved with the NeighborWorks Home Energy Assistance Team (HEAT). In the first of this Focus Series, DOE interviews Melanie Paskevich, HEAT Squad coordinator, to get details on why NeighborWorks set up the temporary labor pool, how workers are recruited, and lessons learned for other programs to consider.

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.

Financing Tool Fits the Bill

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

Enhabit,

EnergySmart Colorado

Clean Energy Works Oregon's (now Enhabit's) experience implementing an on-bill financing program.

Spotlight on Rutland County, Vermont: How Local Ties Lead to Local Wins

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad

Building on its understanding of homeowners in Rutland County, Vermont, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont (NWWVT) enlisted respected local citizens and organizations to spread the word about home energy efficiency upgrade opportunities, an effort that helped drive demand for nearly 200 home upgrades in just six months