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| APPRISE Projects: |
| Market Transformation Research and Evaluation |
Energy Efficiency in Vermont Vermont has a number of energy programs that make important contributions to reductions in electricity usage in all sectors and reductions of fossil fuel usage among low-income households. However, Vermont is missing important opportunities for energy savings because there is a program gap with respect to fossil fuel usage by households that are not low income and fossil fuel usage in the commercial and industrial end use sectors. This 2006 memo presents the status of energy usage in Vermont, describes existing programs, and discusses opportunities for future programs. |
Energy Star Homes Evaluation
EPA initiated Energy Star programs to reduce pollution by accelerating the adoption of new and underutilized energy-efficient technologies. In this evaluation we conducted surveys with home builders and home buyers. We conducted a home builder mail survey with participating Energy Start builders on their satisfaction with services received through the program. The survey also collected information to assess the impact of the program on the behavior of home builders. In the home buyers survey, we collected baseline and follow-up information from a sample of Energy Star home buyers and a comparison sample of other new home buyers. We obtained energy billing data for responding households and developed estimates of energy savings resulting from the Energy Star Homes Program. |
Energy Star HVAC Evaluation
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Green Lights Reporting Assessment As part of the Green Lights program, participants agree to submit reports on lighting upgrades so that EPA can estimate the total impact of the program. There was concern by EPA that not all lighting upgrades were being reported and that the reporting system was a burden to program participants. In this project, we conducted research to determine the satisfaction of program participants with program procedures, determine the level of underreporting, make estimates of unreported program accomplishments, and design an alternative reporting system. This research showed that the recognition received by Green Lights program participants was important for some participants. It also showed that detailed reports were overly burdensome for some partners. We developed a simplified data collection system and statistical models to estimate energy savings from the more limited data. |
Green Lights Workshop Assessment EPA initiated the Green Lights program to reduce pollution by accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient lighting technologies. EPA provided workshops to Green Lights participants to train them on assessing potential energy savings, finding a vendor for the lighting products, and financing the purchases. Interviews with workshop participants provided information on the value of Green Lights services to participating businesses and organizations. |
New Jersey Energy Star Homes Program Evaluation The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities manages a portfolio of energy efficiency programs. These programs include the Residential HVAC, Residential New Construction, Energy Star Products, Commercial and Industrial New Construction, Commercial and Industrial Retrofit, Combined Heat and Power, and Customer On-Site Renewable Energy. As part of a comprehensive evaluation of the portfolio of programs, APPRISE is conducting an evaluation of the Residential New Construction Program, known as the NJ Energy Star Homes Program. Under this program, builders receive incentives to develop homes that are at least 15 percent more energy efficient than a standard home. APPRISE is conducting research to update how estimates of the program's energy savings are made and to estimate actual program energy and demand savings from 2001 through 2006. The research will include a survey with Energy Star homebuyers and non-participating homeowners and analysis of electric and gas energy usage data for these households. |
New Jersey Residential New Construction Baseline Under New Jersey restructuring legislation, all utility DSM programs are implemented through a statewide utility collaborative. The New Jersey RNC Working Group was responsible for designing a statewide RNC program to encourage builders to construct and home buyers to purchase energy-efficient homes. APPRISE staff directed the RNC Baseline Study, including surveys with market actors to assess awareness of and attitudes toward RNC programs, and the development of Residential New Construction statistics and information on the Affordable Housing market. |
NYSERDA Energy Star Labeled Homes Program Research APPRISE is conducting survey research to support NYSERDA’s market characterization research for the Energy Star Labeled Homes Program (ESLH). The ESLH provides technical support and financial assistance to builders to help improve the energy efficiency of new homes in New York. APPRISE’s current survey research will gather information from homeowners who purchased an Energy Star Labeled Home and homeowners who purchased a non-Energy Star Labeled Home to examine their views, experiences, and perceptions on a variety of topics related to program participation. APPRISE will also survey home builders who participate and homebuilders who do not participate in the ESLH to assess their views, experiences, and perceptions on a variety of topics related to program participation. |
NYSERDA Enhanced Commercial Industrial Performance Program Research APPRISE is conducting survey research to support NYSERDA’s process evaluation of their Enhanced Commercial Industrial Performance Program (ECIPP). The ECIPP provides incentives to businesses for energy efficiency projects. APPRISE’s current survey research will assess how clients learned about ECIPP, previous client experience with energy efficiency projects, previous client experience with the ECIPP, and client satisfaction with the ECIPP process. |
NYSERDA Home Performance with Energy Star Program Research APPRISE is conducting survey research to support NYSERDA’s market characterization research for the Home Performance with Energy Star Program (HPwES). The HPwES provides low-cost training to contractors and financial incentives to homeowners to help improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock in New York. APPRISE’S current survey research will gather information from homeowners who received a Comprehensive Home Assessment from a participating BPI certified technician to examine homeowner views, experiences, and perceptions on a variety of topics related to program participation. APPRISE will also survey BPI-certified contractors who perform Comprehensive Home Assessments (CHA) and install measures that receive financing incentives or subsidies from NYSERDA and contractors who are not BPI-certified to perform Comprehensive Home Assessments to examine contractor views, experiences, and perceptions on a variety of topics related to program participation. |
NYSERDA New Construction Program Research APPRISE is conducting survey research to support NYSERDA’s market characterization research for the New Construction Program (NCP). The NCP was established to encourage energy-efficient design and building practices among architects and engineers and to urge them to inform building owners about the long-term advantages of building to higher energy standards. The program is designed to accelerate the incorporation of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources in the design, construction, and operation of commercial, industrial, institutional, and multifamily buildings. APPRISE’s current survey research will gather information from participating and non-participating building owners and participating and non-participating architecture and engineering firms to assess their views, experiences, and perceptions on a variety of topics related to program participation. |
WE Energies Commercial and Industrial Program Research WE Energies has implemented a set of energy efficiency programs that target different segments of the commercial and industrial market (Prescriptive, Custom, RFP, New Construction, and Multi-Family). APPRISE conducted research to determine whether WE Energies can improve program performance by enhancing program marketing or refining program tools and/or incentives. The scope of work consisted of benchmarking research to determine whether WE Energies was under performing in any market segments or energy-saving opportunities, program database analysis to document program statistics, and in-depth client and trade ally interviews to understand how well the program was working and whether there were changes in program design and/or implementation that could improve program performance. |