Resources | Residential Program Guide

Peer Diffusion: A Promising Way for Service Providers to Unlock Investments in Home Energy Upgrades

Author(s)

Rocky Mountain Institute,

Building Performance Institute

Publication Date

2016

Organizations or Programs

Energy Impact Illinois,

Renovate America’s HERO program

This report, informed by leading research and real-world examples, highlights practical online and in-person tactics that contractors can use to promote social interaction and social comparison among homeowners to make energy upgrades a "must-have" in U.S. homes.

10 New Year's Resolutions to Keep the Customers Coming

Author(s)

Home Energy Magazine

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

Energy Impact Illinois

This article provides 10 tips home energy contractors can use to update their marketing outreach and improve their customer service.

Focus Series: Energy Impact Illinois Learns That Parties Sell Upgrades

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

Energy Impact Illinois

This case study discusses Energy Impact Illinois' marketing evolution from a broad outreach campaign to a Òhouse partyÓ approach that brought Chicago homeowners, neighbors, and friends together to learn about energy efficiency opportunities, while increasing demand for home energy assessments and upgrades.

In the City of Brotherly Love, Sharing Know-How Leads to Sustainability

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

Philadelphia EnergyWorks helped sustain future programs by sharing marketing insights and program data with a local utility partner.

Testing Program Messages

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2013

Organizations or Programs

Energy Impact Illinois

Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) conducted 1,600 phone surveys of mid- to high-income households. Its aim was to test program messaging and gauge attitudes toward home improvements and energy efficiency upgrades. The surveys provided a number of insights on the target audience's decision process.

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.

EnergyWorks Grabs Attention in Calm and Stormy Weather with Intuitive Ads

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

EnergyWorks' phased marketing campaign appeals to Philadelphia homeowners based on the current weather conditions.

Incorporating Workforce Development Principles into Projects

Author(s)

Chicago Jobs Council

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

Energy Impact Illinois

This document provides an overview for incorporating workforce development principles into projects.

Marketing and Outreach Partnerships

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

In this video interview segment, Liz Robinson with EnergyWorks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, talks about the faith-based partnerships EnergyWorks developed to help promote the program.

Partnering to Offer Comprehensive Training

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

This video describes the partnerships that EnergyWorks in Philadelphia established to offer classroom, lab, and in-field training to technicians to help them enter the home performance market.

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.

Training a Workforce to Meet Local Needs

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2012

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

This video provides an overview of training a local workforce to meet program needs, including meeting the needs of local contractors for new hires.

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.

Low-Interest Rates Entice Philadelphians to Reach for the Stars

Author(s)

U.S. Department of Energy

Publication Date

2011

Organizations or Programs

EnergyWorks

Outlines Philadelphia's EnergyWorks program's use of low-interest loans to incentivize homeowners by tying the interest rate to the number of energy efficiency measures incorporated into the home.