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Author: BetterBuildings for Michigan
Publication Date: 2013

These outreach materials from BetterBuildings for Michigan include a photograph and quote from credible members of the Grand Valley State University (GSVU) community that served as early adopters for the program.

Author: The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Publication Date: 2014

The California investor-owned utilities -- Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), referred to collectively as the IOUs or Joint Utilities -- are designing seven energy efficiency financing pilot programs at the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC's) direction. To help inform the pilot design process and subsequent evaluation efforts, this report summarizes a comprehensive review of 15 existing financing programs representing noteworthy program models across the United States and around the globe.

Author: Kristin Hall, Cleveland Mayor's Office of Sustainability; Anand Natarajan, Cleveland Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Publication Date: 2012

Presentation on efforts of Cleveland to create a sustainable business model.

Author: Suzanne Russo, Pecan Street Project Inc.
Publication Date: 2011

Headquartered at The University of Texas at Austin, Pecan Street Inc. is a research and development organization focused on developing and testing advanced technology, business model and customer behavior surrounding advanced energy management systems. Their flagship effort is the Pecan Street Demonstration Project that began in an Austin community. This presentation discusses collecting and using data to assess and improve the Pecan Street Project.

Author: Community Energy Services
Publication Date: 2011

Survey for Minnesota home owners participating in Community Energy Services pilot program about their experience at their home visit.

This is a Tip for Success

Author: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Publication Date: 2015

This series of 19 tip sheets is based on the experience and expertise of EPA’s Climate Showcase Communities. The tip sheets cover a wide range of topics, such as marketing and communications (effective messaging, traditional media strategies, community-based social marketing, and testimonial videos) and working with specific types of stakeholders (institutional partners, contractors, experts, utilities, early adopters, volunteers).

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2016

This summary from a Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call focused on demonstration project strategies, advantages and challenges.

Author: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Publication Date: 2016

In 2014, ACEEE launched a pilot program to test a variety of behavioral strategies to promote energy efficiency among tenants in low- to moderate-income multifamily housing in Takoma Park, Maryland. The program included behavioral messaging, events, educational information, and the distribution of energy saving devices. ACEEE measured energy use in the months before and after the pilot. The white paper includes these results, insights for the development of future behavioral change programs, and recommended engagement strategies for targeted communities.

Author: Steve Culbertson, BKi
Publication Date: 2012

This presentation talks about Energy Upgrade California's Flex Path pilot program which offers a menu of upgrade options for homeowners to select. Its flexible approach has been popular with middle-income homeowners interested in upgrades.

This is a Tip for Success

Author: Central Electric Power Cooperative
Publication Date: 2013

This case study highlights the Help My House Pilot Program conducted in South Carolina by Central Electric Power Cooperative that included on-bill financing.

This is a Tip for Success

Author: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Publication Date: 2010

Policy brief outlining the HUD PowerSaver Pilot Loan Program.

Author: Efficiency Maine
Publication Date: 2012

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.

This is a Tip for Success

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2013

This Focus Series interview discusses the semester-long, employer-assisted partnership between BetterBuildings for Michigan and Grand Valley State University (GVSU). This successful partnership involved an early adopter outreach campaign and served as a model for other program partnerships.

Author: Community Benefits Law Center
Publication Date: 2010

Summary of the standards that support job quality, equitable access and quality assurance in several residential energy efficiency programs from different parts of the country.

Author: U.S. Department of Energy
Publication Date: 2011

This peer exchange call summary focused on creating a dialogue between contractors, trainers and jobseekers about program design/implementation and results of workforce feedback.

Author: National Association of State Energy Officials
Publication Date: 2014

The Multi-State Residential Retrofit Project is a residential energy-efficiency pilot program, funded by a competitive U.S. State Energy Program (SEP) award through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Multi-State Project operates in four states: Alabama, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Washington. During the course of this three-year process evaluation, Cadmus worked closely with NASEO and the four states to collect information about the programs from many perspectives, including: State Energy Office staff, program implementers, homeowners, auditors/contractors, real estate professionals, appraisers, lenders, and utility staff. This report discusses: the project’s context; its goals; the evaluation approach and methods; cross-cutting evaluation results; and results specific to each of the four states.

Author: Research Into Action, Inc.
Publication Date: 2010

This report describes the process evaluation of a pilot project in Portland Oregon that informed the refinement and expansion of the program statewide into Clean Energy Works Oregon (now Enhabit).

Some residential energy efficiency programs seek to raise credibility with their target audience, so they turn to “social modeling” techniques with satisfied customers. Social modeling is the process by which program participants demonstrate or indicate that they personally engage in a desired behavior. Using this approach, successful residential energy efficiency programs have found that encouraging word-of-mouth outreach by satisfied customers can help attract more homeowners to...

Financing allows homeowners to pay for energy improvements over time and invest in higher-cost upgrades than they might be able to afford without it. Some programs offer tiered financing or rebates to encourage upgrades with deeper savings, with terms that grow more favorable as more energy saving measures are pursued. Tiered financing can encourage customers to pursue more ambitious projects.Whatever financing options you offer, it is important to work with local lenders in your community...