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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

    Innovations

    Image comprised of Better Buildings terms, each term having a clickable area. The green terms are Communitywide Competition, Carrotmobs, Neighborhood Infrared Home Scans, and Energy Data Dashboards. The dark blue terms are Loans that Stay With the Property, Cash for Carbon, and Fast Financing Approval. The medium blue terms are Community Workforce Agreement, Equipment Loans for Businesses, and Rating Contractor Performance. The orange terms are University Partnership, Energy Advisors, and Neighborhood Sweeps. Clicking on each of these terms takes you to the appropriate explanatory area in the interactive graphic below, and all of the terms in this image are also included as links in the graphic below. cash for carbon energy data dashboards neighborhood sweeps rating contractor performance Fast financing approval Carrotmobs neighborhood infrared home scans community workforce agreement Loans that stay with the property Energy advisors equipment loans for businesses University partnership communitywide competition

     

    Programs Push the Envelope to Deliver Savings

    Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners are thinking outside the box and developing innovative ways to drive demand for energy upgrades, provide attractive financing options, foster a trained energy workforce, and create models for energy efficiency programs across the country. From neighborhood sweeps and "carrotmobs" to energy advisors and on-bill loan payment, these forward-thinking programs are figuring out what works best in their communities to transform the market for more energy-efficient buildings.

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    BetterBuildings for Michigan is using a political campaign-style "sweep" tactic to target homes in each neighborhood block-by-block. Trusted community partners "canvass" door-to-door to educate homeowners about the benefits of energy efficiency, upgrade options available, and the best ways to finance upgrades. Contractors follow up with homeowners to encourage more upgrades after the sweep has ended.

    Learn More About BetterBuildings for Michigan

    To help homeowners make sense of the energy evaluation and financing options offered through its program, Clean Energy Works Oregon provides energy advisors to assist them throughout the process. The energy advisor provides education, objective advice, and quality control during the home energy assessment; answers questions about work scope, costs and cost effectiveness, loan terms, and incentives before the upgrade begins; and conducts a quality control inspection once the upgrade is complete.

    Learn More About Clean Energy Works Oregon (Portland)

    EnergyFit Nevada is working with local universities to help drive demand, secure financing, and grow its energy efficiency workforce. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas conducted focus groups to gauge homeowner interest in the program. The University of Nevada-Reno is working with banks to offer low-interest loans to homeowners, and Truckee Meadows Community College is creating a job training program for local contractors.

    Learn More About EnergyFit Nevada (Nevada - SEP)

    Multiple partners provide their customers with a "certificate of completion" that can be framed and hung on the wall with pride once an upgrade is done. Energize New York provides a different color medallion based on the level of energy savings achieved (0-10%, 11-20%, 21-30%, 31-40%). The Milwaukee Energy Efficiency certificate congratulates the homeowner and includes information about the work that was performed. Energy Impact Illinois and Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR include energy savings and expected annual cost savings on the certificate.

    Learn More About Energize New York (Northern Westchester County, New York)
    Learn More About Milwaukee Energy Efficiency
    Learn More About Energy Impact Illinois (Chicago, Illinois)

    Partners are using "carrotmobs" to get local businesses to sign up for upgrades. A carrotmob is a contest among businesses to see which one will make the biggest commitment to a social cause (in this case, reducing energy use). Customers are then encouraged to support the business that wins the contest over a period of time. This "buycott," as opposed to a "boycott," uses a "carrot" rather than stick approach. SEEA WISE Program partner, Carrboro, North Carolina, recently orchestrated a carrotmob campaign for Earth Day. In Colorado, Carrotmob Boulder was started by students at the University of Colorado, Boulder and CoPIRG Energy Service Corp. Carrotmob Boulder creates local buzz, and EnergySmart provides energy advising services to local businesses.

    Learn More About the Southeast Community Consortium
    Learn More About EnergySmart (Boulder County, Colorado)

    The Massachusetts State Energy Program equipped a hybrid SUV with a thermal imaging system and sent it on a journey to document evidence of wasted energy in homes. The thermal images show where air leaks and drafts are occurring in homes or buildings. Homeowners are given access to a secure website that stores the thermal images, which make it easy to identify areas where opportunities exist to improve energy efficiency.

    Learn More About MassSave (Massachusetts SEP)

    In New York, the Bedford 2020 Energize Community Challenge is a unique way to get non-profit groups in the area to champion energy efficiency upgrades among their members. Organizations earn points by hosting home energy workshops and getting members to complete energy evaluations or upgrades. Those with the most points earn funding for their green projects. In nearby Connecticut, the Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge uses online leader boards to track communities' progress completing upgrades and spur friendly competition.

    Learn More About Energize New York (Northern Westchester County, New York)
    Learn more about the Neighbor to Neighbor Challenge (Connecticut)

    To help residents understand the impact of their energy use, RePower Bainbridge developed innovative Island Energy Dashboards that display real-time energy use at kiosks around Bainbridge Island, Washington and online. These dashboards are also featured in local businesses and on the island's commuter ferries to and from Seattle.

    Learn More About RePower Bainbridge (Washington)

    Through the Boulder County, Colorado, EnergySmart program, students are learning about energy saving behaviors through characters such as Kilowatt Kid, Count Plugula, and Dr. Drafty. The Kilowatt Kidz EnergySmart Challenge helps families learn to reduce their energy use by 5% at home.

    Learn More About EnergySmart (Boulder County, Colorado)

    Charlottesville's Local Energy Alliance Program uses tablets and online tools to show homeowners how their typical energy use compares to their neighbors.

    Learn more about the Southeast Community Consortium

    Partners are using creative yard signs to advertise their programs and pique homeowners' interest about neighbors who are saving money and energy in their homes. For example, the California Center for Sustainable Energy uses signs to promote demonstration home tours where homeowners can view installed energy efficiency upgrades, and residents who upgraded their home through Nashville Energy Works use yard signs to encourage others to "go green" and save energy. In University Park, Maryland, homeowners participating in STEP-UP show off their energy savings by displaying yard signs when they complete a home energy assessment and once they have installed upgrades.

    Learn More About Energy Upgrade California
    Learn More About the Southeast Community Consortium (Nashville Energy Works)
    Learn More About STEP-UP

    Community Power Works (CPW) established a Carbon Reduction Incentive Fund in Seattle, Washington, to create incentives for home and business owners to choose energy efficiency upgrades that result in carbon reductions. CPW assigns a dollar value to the carbon emission reductions achieved by the energy efficiency upgrades and gives this amount back to the building owner to reduce the cost of the upgrades.

    Learn More About Community Power Works (Seattle, Washington)

    In partnership with the Green Madison program, Summit Credit Union is developing an online application with "auto-decisioning" features that let a customer know immediately if they are qualified for a loan. The program then follows up by checking income levels and other safeguards.

    Learn More About Green Madison (Wisconsin)

    Efficiency Maine established a revolving loan fund, called PACE, that allows owners to pay back loans of $6,500 to $15,000 at a 4.99 % fixed rate over 15 years. The loans are "junior" to first mortgages. If the property is sold, the homeowner can choose either to pay off the remaining balance or transfer the loan to the next owner.

    Learn More About Efficiency Maine

    Energy Impact Illinois established a managed energy services agreement with Transcend Equity Development Corporation. Under this arrangement, Transcend invests in a building's energy efficiency upgrades and uses the energy savings to recoup its investment. Transcend assumes the energy costs of the building for up to 10 years, and the building owner pays Transcend its historical energy costs.

    Learn More About Energy Impact Illinois (Chicago)

    Partners offer more attractive financing options and larger incentives to customers who pursue greater energy efficiency savings. EnergyWorks in Philadelphia offers loans with interest rates tied to energy efficiency—4.99% for basic upgrades and as low as 0.99% for more comprehensive upgrades. Seattle's Community Power Works assigns a dollar value to carbon emissions reductions from commercial upgrades and returns this money to the building owner. For upgrades that result in 20% energy savings, Michigan Saves offers commercial loans with interest rates as low as 1.99%—compared to 5% for all other upgrades.

    Learn More About EnergyWorks (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
    Learn More About Community Power Works (Seattle, Washington)
    Learn More About Michigan Saves

    Fayette County, Pennsylvania is partnering with the Private Industry Council (PIC) of Westmoreland/Fayette to train contractors on building performance inspections, sales, and business development to augment their technical skills. PIC is also providing grants and low-interest loans to help contractors purchase computer software and energy evaluation equipment.

    Learn More About Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative (Pennsylvania)

    Seattle's Community Power Works (CPW) program facilitated negotiations to establish a Community High-Road Workforce Agreement that companies must meet to participate in the CPW program. The agreement guides workforce standards, wages, hiring requirements, and quality standards for workers involved in this energy efficiency upgrade program.

    Learn More About Community Power Works (Seattle, Washington)

    To help homeowners make informed decisions when selecting an energy improvement professional, Energize New York developed a rating system for contractors involved in the program. The index combines three weighted performance rating indicators—the results from an Energize New York homeowner survey, the number of jobs the professional has completed in Westchester since January 1, 2010, and the number of residential energy efficiency Building Performance Institute (BPI) certifications—into a single numeric rating for each professional.

    Learn More About Energize New York (Northern Westchester County, New York)

    In Kansas City, Missouri, the EnergyWorks KC program is creating a "business incubator" building that will showcase energy efficiency projects to the community and help fledgling businesses get involved in building upgrades. This building, which will receive energy efficiency upgrades itself, will house 10 offices devoted to fostering growth for green start-ups.

    Learn More About EnergyWorks KC (Kansas City, Missouri)

    Energy Impact Illinois is creating a workforce liaison who will connect trainers with contractors and match trained job seekers to businesses looking for certified workers. The liaison will coordinate training, resources, and information dissemination to contractors to ensure a seamless training and education process.

    Learn More About Energy Impact Illinois (Chicago)

    Because contractors are often hesitant to hire new workers to meet fluctuating demand for energy efficiency upgrades, the NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad in Rutland, Vermont, is taking the heat for them. By hiring trained and experienced—but underemployed—installers, the program makes the professionals available on a paid temporary basis to contractors that are part of the H.E.A.T. Squad program, helping to keep workers employed and meet customer demand.

    Learn More About NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (Rutland, Vermont)

    Partners offer tools and resources to contractors, helping them build and maintain thriving, effective and sustainable businesses. NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad in Western Vermont provides contractors with co-marketing opportunities through door hangers, advertisements, and events. Clean Energy Works Oregon supports contractor growth and development through peer mentoring and training in business management, finance, and sales. Efficiency Maine offers contractors sales training to enhance their communications skills, helping them clearly explain the benefits for energy upgrades, which has boosted sales.

    Learn More About NeighborWorks H.E.A.T. Squad (Rutland, Vermont)
    Learn More About Clean Energy Works Oregon
    Learn More About Efficiency Maine