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Partnerships for
Horn
fficiency
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CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Current and Future Energy Use
in American Homes
Overcoming Barriers to
More Efficient Homes
Partnerships for
Home Energy Efficiency
Key Milestones for Partnerships
for Home Energy Efficiency ...
Benefits of Partnerships
for Home Energy Efficiency ....
Overview of Coordinated
Agency Work Plan
Schematics
References
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Partnerships for
Home Energy Efficiency
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
If, through greater energy efficiency, American households saved
10% on their home energy bills in the next 10 years, that would
total almost $20 billion a year in savings,
>• increase the affordability and comfort of homes,
>• reduce demand for natural gas by more than 1 quad,
>• avoid the need for more than 40 power plants, and
>• prevent the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from
more than 25 million vehicles.
Introduction
Americans spend more than $160 billion a year to heat, cool, light, and live in our
homes. This energy represents about 21 percent of the national total and includes
significant demands for electricity and natural gas. Without additional efforts to
improve the efficiency of home energy use, our national home energy bill is
expected to rise to $200 billion by 2015 and expend more of our natural resources.
The energy used in our homes also contributes about 17 percent of U.S. emissions
of greenhouse gases. The President has committed to a national goal of improving
the greenhouse gas intensity of the country by 18 percent by 2012. And he has
called on all companies to voluntarily take action to help reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases.
With these challenges in mind, three Agencies of the federal government are
coordinating the Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency to make U.S. homes
more energy efficient and help households cost-effectively save 10 percent or
more on their energy bills over the next decade. This cross-agency initiative
will build on existing policies and programs that involve partnerships with
manufacturers, retailers, home contractors and remodelers, utilities, states,
financial organizations, and educational institutions, among others, to leverage
the power and creativity of the marketplace. The initiative also will build new
coalitions and undertake new programs.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are convinced
that together with our partners we can significantly improve the efficiency of
America's housing stock in the coming decade by bringing better information and
cost-effective services, technologies, products, and practices to all sectors of the
housing market. The Agencies and their partners will promote adoption of the
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY I 1|
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many available, but as yet under utilized, options for
improving home energy efficiency and educate
households about the benefits of an energy-efficient
home. Helping families improve the efficiency of
their homes is one way for all Americans to be part
of the solution.
The Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency
primarily focuses on existing homes—both owned
and rented. The initiative provides support to
homeowners who have a personal incentive to invest
in energy efficiency, as well as to rental property
owners wishing to make improvements in their
properties. The initiative addresses market rate,
private sector housing as well as federally assisted
or financed housing.
Progress in improving the efficiency of U.S. housing
has, in fact, been made in the past 30 years through
policies such as building codes and appliance efficiency
standards and through improvements in building
materials, designs, technologies, and construction
practices. New refrigerators, for example, require just
one-third the electricity they did 30 years ago. However,
great opportunities remain to improve efficiency even
further by expanding on these accomplishments and
leveraging the power of the market.
Advances in energy efficiency will play an
important role in our energy future. Greater
efficiency is a key element of our National Energy
Policy and national efforts to reduce the risks of
global climate change. By helping to make U.S.
housing more efficient, the Partnerships for Home
Energy Efficiency will contribute to these efforts. At
the national level, increased energy efficiency
addresses energy security, environmental concerns,
and energy supply issues. At the personal level,
increased energy efficiency can lower Americans'
home energy bills, reduce the cost of housing, and
help improve the quality of our lives.
The Opportunities
Many households could save 20 to 30 percent on
their household energy bills through cost-effective
household improvements such as:
Selecting products distinguished by the ENERGY
STAR label, the government-backed symbol for
energy efficiency, when in the market to purchase
products such as refrigerators, clothes washers,
dishwashers, and home electronics, among others,
Paying special attention to using ENERGY STAR
qualified light fixtures and bulbs in the most
frequently used areas of the home,
^- Improving the home's "envelope" by applying
appropriate amounts of insulation combined with
home air sealing and choosing high-efficiency
windows when looking for replacements,
Improving the efficiency of heating and
cooling systems through better maintenance of
equipment, sealing the ducts carrying the
conditioned air, installing modern thermostats,
and hiring a qualified expert to ensure the
replacement unit is properly sized and installed
to deliver the rated efficiency, and
Remodeling with an eye on energy efficiency
when household improvements or renovations
are underway.
Many low income and subsidized housing
households could see similar savings with assistance
from the appropriate weatherization and public
housing energy programs. Households, as well as
housing agencies, that take these measures would
see sufficient savings within the first several years of
a purchase or home improvement project to offset
any additional initial investment.
The three Agencies involved in the initiative understand
that a number of economic, institutional, and practical
obstacles can inhibit families and individuals from
pursuing these energy efficiency opportunities on a
large scale. Market barriers, such as lack of information
and split incentives, limit expenditures on what are, in
fact, attractive investments when examined with full
information. The initiative will work to overcome
these barriers.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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Partnerships for Home
Energy Efficiency
DOE, HUD, and EPA already are partnering with leading
organizations across the country to overcome market
barriers to achieving greater home energy efficiency.
Together, they are bringing information and cost-effective,
energy-efficient services, technologies, products, and
practices to our homes.
Through the initiative, the federal government is extending
existing partnerships and building new ones that will
increasingly promote cost-effective, efficient products,
develop and promote a new suite of energy efficiency
services built on industry best practices that offer additional
home energy savings, promote energy efficiency to low
income and subsidized housing markets, and continue to
integrate the results of innovative research into residential
construction and remodeling practices.
The Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency will
Provide greater public education on the value and
availability of energy-efficient products and services,
>• Give clear, credible information on efficient products to
consumers through the Energy Guide label and the
ENERGY STAR program,
>• Develop training in energy-efficient remodeling
techniques for home remodelers,
Establish new credentialing programs and quality
assurance/quality control (QA/QC) mechanisms for
home contractors and home improvement professionals,
*• Create a new energy efficiency service for the
installation and verification of cooling equipment, which
will be available to credentialed contractors who agree to
employ industry best practices and have their work
verified,
Expand the new standardized home improvement
service—Home Performance with ENERGY STAR—to
be offered by credentialed home professionals who
agree to follow industry best practices for efficient home
retrofits and have their work quality controlled,
>• Create educational materials on energy-efficient building
science for career professionals and contractors,
^ Provide access to financing, where possible, to different
segments of the housing market,
>• Extend energy efficiency products and services into the
low income and affordable housing market through
Weatherization Assistance Programs, HUD's Energy
Action Plan, and partnerships with affordable housing
providers and intermediaries, and
>• Invest in research on innovative building science
technologies, practices, and policies and disseminate
the research results to benefit residential equipment
manufacturers, builders and remodelers, homeowners,
and others in the home energy transaction chain.
CURRENT AND EXPANDING FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
CURRENT WORK
MANUFACTURERS More than 1,400 product manufacturers across
some 40 product categories for the home
currently distinguish their products that are
energy efficient and cost-effective with the
ENERGY STAR label.
RETAILERS Working with national, regional, and specialty
retailers to provide consumers with clear,
credible information on cost-effective energy-
efficient solutions when they are making
purchasing decisions.
FUTURE WORK
Expand the ENERGY STAR program to qualify
more home products, to increase consumer
awareness of the ENERGY STAR, and to
increase understanding of the cost savings
available to homeowners through their
product choices.
Expand partnerships with national, regional,
and specialty retailers to bring a broader set
of energy efficiency solutions to more
consumers.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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CURRENT AND EXPANDING FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS:
CURRENT WORK
FUTURE WORK
UTILITIES AND OTHER
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
PROGRAM SPONSORS
Many utilities, state and local governments,
and other organizations administer residential
energy efficiency programs as a cost-effective
way to slow the growth in energy demand and
avoid the need for new power plants, among
other objectives.
Continue to partner with these organizations
and help them deliver clear, credible information
on cost-effective, energy-efficient products
and services.
HOME BUILDERS
By the end of 2004, almost 10 percent of
housing starts earned the ENERGY STAR
label. These homes are significantly more
efficient than those built to code, are less
costly to own and maintain, and are more
comfortable.
Help more home builders integrate building
science technologies and practices into new
homes, while seeking to reduce energy use by
close to 50 percent through DOE's Building
America Program. Continue to assist current
partners, and help new partners, in promoting
their ENERGY STAR qualified homes to build
consumer interest in and demand for energy-
efficient homes.
HOME CONTRACTORS,
HOME IMPROVEMENT
PROFESSIONALS, AND
REMODELERS
Working with states, local governments,
energy efficiency program sponsors, and
trade industries to offer services that help
homeowners obtain properly sized and
installed heating and cooling equipment, as
well as home improvement services that apply
industry best practices to whole home retrofit
projects.
Help establish new training and credentialing
programs for home contractors, home
improvement professionals, and remodelers.
Develop the requirements for two new energy
efficiency services that can be offered by
credentialed contractors. Provide "Best
Practices" guidelines to assist the more than
200,000 home remodeling firms in the United
States in incorporating cost-effective, energy-
efficient features into their projects.
FINANCIAL
ORGANIZATIONS
A key incentive to improving energy efficiency
is financing. Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the
Federal Housing Administration (FHA),the
USDA, and other organizations offer energy-
efficient mortgages with partner lenders,
which help owners finance cost-effective,
energy efficiency improvements in their
homes.
Work with these financial organizations as
well as local lenders to promote these
mortgage products. Facilitate the use of
attractive, easy-access loan packages for
remodeling existing homes.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
PROVIDERS
An extensive set of partnerships exists among
local public housing authorities, community
action programs, state housing financing
offices. Habitat for Humanity, and the federal
government.
Work to improve the energy efficiency of the
nation's affordable housing stock, hoping to
reduce HUD's estimated annual utility bill of
$4 billion for the approximately 5 million units
of affordable housing throughout the country.
Continue to offer weatherization services to
thousands of low income households through
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program.
Work with Congress, Building America, and
Habitiat for Humanity to design and build
affordable energy-efficient houses.
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS
The Agencies and their partners have
developed a program plan for educational
outreach for building professionals.
Develop partnerships with the land grant
universities and community colleges to
transfer federal research and development
results to career professionals and contractors
interested in advanced building science practices.
Li.
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NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY
RECOMMENDATIONS
The Partnerships for Home Energy
Efficiency helps fulfill three
recommendations of the
National Energy Policy.
^ Extend the ENERGY STAR®
labeling program to additional
products, appliances, and services.
^ Strengthen public education
programs relating to energy
efficiency.
^ Implement a strategy to increase
public awareness of the sizable
savings that energy efficiency
offers to homeowners across the
country. Typical homeowners can
save about 30 percent (about $400)
a year on their home energy bill by
using Energy Star-labeled
products.
From the National Energy Policy, 2001
CURRENT AND FUTURE ENERGY
USE IN AMERICAN HOMES
Introduction
Energy efficiency is the ability to use less energy to produce the same amount of
lighting, heating, and other energy services. For individuals and families, using
less energy means lower energy bills, lower housing costs, and a better quality of
life. For the country as a whole, greater energy efficiency helps us make the most
of U.S. energy resources, reduces energy shortages, decreases the need for new
power plants, lowers our reliance on energy imports, mitigates the impact of high
energy prices, and reduces pollution and emissions of greenhouse gases. Energy
efficiency is an important element of a sound energy policy and our national
efforts to reduce the risks of global climate change.
Improved energy efficiency in our homes is the result of many individual
decisions, including those of consumers, manufacturers of appliances and other
products, home builders and remodelers, and officials in state, federal, and local
government agencies. The federal government, through the Partnerships for
Home Energy Efficiency, can help facilitate more decisions to pursue energy
efficiency by improving the dissemination of timely and accurate information
regarding the energy use of consumers' purchases, by setting standards for more
energy-efficient products, and by encouraging industry to develop more efficient
products and homes. The federal government can promote energy efficiency
through programs such as ENERGY STAR®, Weatherization Assistance, and
public housing, as well as through research into and demonstration of innovative
technologies and practices for improving home energy efficiency.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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Progress has been made over the past 30 years to
improve the efficiency of U.S. housing. However,
great opportunities remain to improve home energy
efficiency even further by leveraging the power
and creativity of the market to build on the
nation's progress.
The Partnerships for Home Energy Efficiency
is a coordinated effort of the U.S. Department of
Energy (DOE), Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD), and Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) in partnership with
leading organizations across the country to improve
the energy efficiency of U.S. homes significantly
over the next decade. The three Agencies, together
with manufacturers, retailers, utilities, state and
local governments, home contractors and
remodelers, financial organizations, and educational
institutions, among others, will leverage the power
of the marketplace to improve owners' and renters'
access to energy efficiency information and cost-
effective services, technologies, products, and
practices. This initiative fulfills recommendations of
the National Energy Policy and allows us all to be
part of the national effort to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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Energy Use in American Homes
We Americans spend more than $160 billion a
year to heat, cool, light, and live in our homes. Our
110 million homes currently use 22 quads of energy
(21 percent of the national total). These homes
account for 17 percent of total U.S. electricity use
and a significant amount of natural gas. Natural gas
is used directly by households for heating and
cooking and at the generating plant to make peak
electrical power for services such as air-conditioning.
Generating the energy used in our homes also
contributes about 17 percent of U.S. emissions of
greenhouse gases (Figure 1).
The cost of energy is a sizable household expense;
the average household pays approximately $1,500 a
year. Single family homeowners pay an average of
more than $1,600 per year, and the approximately
33 million households eligible for federal assistance
pay about $1270, on average, per year.2
Our monthly energy bills pay for the following
common home energy end-uses:
Space heating,
Space cooling,
Water heating,
>• Lighting,
>• Refrigerators,
Large appliances (clothes washers and dryers,
cooking equipment, freezers, and dishwashers),
and
Small appliances (televisions, other home
electronics, and home office equipment,
among others).
OTHER GASES
CO2 FROM
OTHER
CO2 FROM
TRANSPORTATION
25%
Source: U.S. EPA 2003
C02 FROM
INDUSTRIAL
ENERGY
C02 FROM
COMMERCIAL
ENERGY
C02 FROM
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY
17%
FIGURE 1. U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
LIGHTING
11.7%
SMALL APPLIANCES
19.2%
LARGE APPLIANCES
9.6%
SPACE HEATING
30.2%
SPACE COOLING
10.9%
REFRIGERATORS
6.4% WATER HEATING
12.0%
Source: U.S. DOE 2005
FIGURE 2. MAJOR HOME ENERGY END-USES
I OTHER
APPLIANCES
AND LIGHTING
REFRIGERATORS
I WATER HEATING
SPACE COOLING
SPACE HEATING
HIGH HEATING
DEMAND CLIMATE
HIGH COOLING
DEMAND CLIMATE
Source: U.S. DOE, EIA 2001
FIGURE 3. HOME ENERGY BILLS IN DIFFERENT CLIMATES
1 U.S. DOE, EIA 2001, Table CEl-4e.
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Our homes consume 21% of our national energy use
and contribute 17% of U.S. greenhouse gas emssions.
Nationally, space heating represents about
30 percent of home energy use, the single largest
category, followed by small appliances as a
group and then water heating and home lighting
(Figure 2). While the amount of energy for heating
and cooling varies with climate conditions across
the country, most homes have either a significant
bill for heating, for cooling, or for a combination of
the two, which averages about 40 percent of the
total energy bill nationally (Figure 3).
Much progress has been made over the past
30 years to improve the energy efficiency of U.S.
housing. Energy use per person has remained fairly
constant since the 1970s even though house size has
increased, and the number of energy-consuming
appliances within our homes has gone up.2 This
stability in energy use per person is due primarily
to market and government responses to rising
energy prices over the years. Americans have
adopted conservation measures at home, while
Congress has demanded increased energy efficiency
standards for products and appliances, and states
have included energy efficiency in building codes.
Manufacturers are supplying more energy-efficient
products, and builders are applying better building
practices in new home construction.
Future Home Energy Use
Between now and 2020, if no significant additional
efforts are made to improve home energy efficiency,
energy use in U.S. homes is expected to increase as
the number of homes grows by one-fifth to more
than 130 million. This growth is expected to spur
demand for electricity and natural gas, resulting in
more emissions of greenhouse gases.
TABLE 1. ENERGY USE IN AMERICAN HOMES
2000
2010
2015
2020
NUMBER OF HOMES
(MILLIONS)
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
(QUADS)
NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION
(QUADS)
CARBON EMISSIONS
(MMTCE)
ELECTRICITY SALES
(Billion kWh)
TOTAL ENERGY BILLS
(BILLION 2003 $)
105
20.4
5.1
317
162
122
23.5
5.7
369
1471
182
199
216
Source: U.S. DOE 2005
2 U.S. DOE, ElA 2004
3 Electricity sales for 2001
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The increase in home energy demand will occur even
though the energy required for particular end-uses will
decrease. Below are several major trends through 2020 for
key home energy end-uses:
D Heating and cooling will continue as a significant
part of the home energy bill, representing about
40 percent of annual energy use in the average home;
Electricity use for smaller home appliances and other
products (televisions, other home electronics, and home
office equipment, among others) will grow by more than
70 percent, representing about 27 percent of home
energy use;
! Electricity use for home lighting will grow by
30 percent;
^- Energy use for larger home appliances will grow by
about 10 percent; and
Electricity use for home refrigeration will decrease by
more than 20 percent.
Although overall energy use per square foot has decreased
by 30 percent since 1970, this decrease has not been
sufficient to overcome the increase in residential energy
use due to the higher number and larger size of homes.
Increased energy use is expected to continue through the
next two decades unless there is a much greater emphasis
on cost-effective, energy-efficient products and services in
new and existing homes.
Opportunities for Greater Savings
from Energy Efficiency
Many opportunities exist for improving home energy
efficiency. The federal government estimates that many
households could save 20 to 30 percent cost-effectively on
their energy bills, by taking the following steps:
Selecting high-efficiency products when shopping for
refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers, and home
electronics, among others,
Using high-efficiency light fixtures and bulbs,
Improving the envelope of the home by applying
appropriate amounts of insulation, sealing air leaks in
the home, and choosing high-efficiency windows when
looking for replacements, and
^- Improving the energy efficiency of heating and cooling
systems through improved maintenance of equipment,
sealing and insulating the ducts carrying the
conditioned air, installing modern thermostats, and
hiring a qualified expert to ensure the replacement unit
is properly sized and installed to deliver the rated
efficiency.
These energy efficiency measures pay for themselves,
meaning that households can see sufficient savings within
the first several years of a purchase, which offset any
additional initial investment. These steps can reduce the
40 percent share of residential energy bills that goes
toward heating and cooling, and they offer additional
savings as homeowners purchase energy-efficient
appliances or undertake major home renovations. The
steps also address the rising energy bill associated with
small household products. If more Americans took
advantage of these cost-effective, energy-efficient
solutions, they could reap significant home energy savings,
contribute to natural gas and electricity savings, reduce the
number of new power plants needed, improve their quality
of life, and help reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
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OVERCOMING
BARRIERS TO
MORE EFFICIENT
HOMES
To understand how the marketplace can improve the energy efficiency
in the existing housing stock, as well as new homes, it is helpful to consider the
range of barriers or impediments to achieving the goal and to identify steps for
mitigating or eliminating those barriers. The current marketplace includes many
product and system choices that have the potential to reduce home energy use
and save households significant amounts of money. However, a number of
economic, institutional, and practical obstacles inhibit their larger scale use.
Common market barriers include:
HIGHER INITIAL COSTS. Energy-efficient products often cost more than
their less efficient counterparts, and some people do not have the extra dollars
available when they make an expensive purchase, such as a major appliance. So,
even if a better appliance would pay for itself fairly quickly through lower energy
bills, buyers tend to purchase the lower priced product without determining the
savings the product may soon provide.
UNCERTAIN BENEFITS. Consumers may be unsure about the credibility of
the energy-savings and cost-effectiveness claims of individual manufacturers,
sales staff, or remodeling designers. Unless consumers are assured of the potential
savings, they may be reluctant to pay the additional costs. Businesses that adopt
labeling programs that spell out energy savings may be more successful in selling
more efficient, yet initially more expensive, products.
INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION. Monthly energy bills generally report the
total electricity or natural gas used, leaving families unsure about the expense of
individual energy-using equipment or products and which investments could
best help them reduce their costs. This incomplete information is a market
imperfection that hinders purchases of cost-effective, energy-efficient products
and investments in cost-effective, energy-efficient services.
LACK OF INCENTIVE. Decisions about the energy efficiency of new homes
and rental properties are not usually made by the consumer who will ultimately
pay the energy bills. To keep costs down, builders and landlords are more likely
to install the least expensive and generally least efficient products that are heavily
stocked and discounted by suppliers as part of volume ordering. The builder or
landlord does not have an incentive to choose the designs, equipment, or
materials that would be judged most cost-effective by homeowners or tenants if
they were making the decision themselves.
QO:
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Approaches exist for overcoming many of the market
barriers limiting greater energy efficiency in our homes
LACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT FINANCING.
People without the extra dollars to purchase an energy-
efficient major appliance, buy an efficient home, or
undertake a home improvement project often are unaware
of the mortgage instruments and other loan options that
could help them afford the efficient choice. In addition,
they may not realize that they can afford the efficient
choice because savings from their lower energy bills will
more than offset the initial cost within a few years.
LACK OF AVAILABILITY. Frequently, the most
energy-efficient products are less widely available,
especially in smaller communities.
LACK OF AUTOMATION. People often walk out of
their homes with the lights on and the air conditioner
running. Turning off all unused appliances, electronics,
and lights can be inconvenient and time consuming. Lack
of automation (e.g., occupancy sensors) means that
conservation mostly depends on people consciously
choosing to turn switches off. Moreover, some appliances
and electronics, such as stereos, video tape players, and
televisions, continue to use electricity even after they are
turned off.
TABLE 2. MARKET BARRIERS TO IMPROVING HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND APPROACHES FOR ADDRESSING THEM
BARRIERS
Lack of awareness about cost saving options and
links between energy efficiency and comfort, value,
and quality of homes
Poor or conflicting information on product and home
energy performance ^
Lack of performance standards that identify quality
contractors A
Limited quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)
programs to safeguard against poor workmanship. ^
Lack of standardized home energy performance
services offered by the contractor trade ^
Lack of knowledge about energy efficiency financing
Lack of information in the affordable housing sector
and a process to make energy efficiency improvements
Need for continued technological advances to
improve energy efficiency in new and existing homes _J
Lack of financial incentives for adoption of energy
efficiency in homes A
APPROACHES
Public education to establish the connection
between energy efficiency and its benefits
Clear, credible information on cost-effective, energy-
efficient products and home energy performance
Contractor training and credentialing programs
QA/QC mechanisms to be used by contractors
Whole home energy performance services offered
by qualified professionals
^ Dissemination of information about energy
efficiency financing tools
Implementation/expansion of HUD's Energy Action
Plan to reach the 5 million units under HUD's programs
Continuation of innovative research linked with real
world practitioners
^ Exploration of financial incentives
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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These market barriers leave homeowners with
many questions, such as:
l> Which products (or homes) will deliver the
claimed energy savings?
I* Which products of those that initially cost more
offer a reasonable return on the additional cost?
l» Which products offer the desired features or
performance in addition to greater energy
efficiency (i.e., is a sacrifice required)?
I* What design and installation issues are important
to obtaining the claimed energy performance of a
product?
l» How does one find a heating and cooling
contractor or home improvement professional
who is well versed in the best practices for home
energy efficiency?
l» Is there money available to help cover the higher
initial cost that can be paid back once the savings
are in hand?
In addition, many manufacturers, retailers, home
contractors, and others find it difficult to sell
energy-efficient products and services due to the
market barriers mentioned previously. The lack of
consumer information and consumer skepticism
about claims for future savings make it difficult to
sell higher priced products and services.
Approaches do exist for overcoming many of these
market barriers and helping the marketplace offer
and deliver energy-efficient products and services
to households across the country. These approaches,
which build on existing energy efficiency policies,
codes, and standards as well as other programs,
include:
> Educating the public on energy use in the home
and on the potential savings and other benefits
from energy-efficient products and home
improvement projects,
l» Clearly and credibly defining which products are
cost-effectively energy efficient and offer
attractive reductions in energy bills,
l» Establishing training and credentialing programs
for professionals who can offer quality services
for heating and cooling installations and whole
home improvement projects,
^ Offering greater access to financing for energy
efficiency improvements where needed,
l» Providing energy efficiency measures to low
income households and through public housing
programs,
l» Continuing to undertake research to further
develop lower cost technologies and practices for
cost-effectively improving home energy efficiency
and continuing to disseminate these results to
manufacrurerer, builders, remodelers,
homeowners, and others in the home energy
transaction chain, and
l» Continuing to conduct reseach to improve our
understanding of market barriers and the
solutions to them.
The common barriers to improving home energy
efficiency and the broad approaches available for
overcoming these barriers are summarized in
Table 2.
The next section outlines how the three federal
Agencies involved in the Partnerships for Home
Energy Efficiency are working in a coordinated
manner and collaborating with leading
organizations across the country to overcome
market barriers and pursue these approaches.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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L
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Improved energy efficiency is the result of many individual decisions, including
those of consumers; manufacturers; home builders and remodelers; and state,
federal, and local government officials. The Partnerships for Home Energy
Efficiency is a coordinated effort of the federal government to build on existing energy
efficiency policies and programs and to work in partnership with leading organizations
to affect many of these decisions and leverage the power of the marketplace. The
initiative is designed to improve the access households have to energy efficiency
information and cost-effective services, technologies, and practices with the goal of
significantly improving the efficiency of U.S. homes over the next decade.
To overcome the market barriers to greater home energy efficiency, the
federal government is extending existing partnerships and building new
partnerships that
^- Provide more public education on the value and availability of energy-efficient
products and services,
>• Give clear and credible information on cost-effective, energy-efficient products
to consumers by building on the Energy Guide label and the ENERGY STAR
program,
^- Develop training in cost-effective, energy-efficient remodeling techniques and
provide sets of best practices and technical protocols to home remodelers,
Establish new credentialing programs and quality assurance/quality control
(QA/QC) mechanisms for home contractors and other home professionals,
^- Develop new energy efficiency services for the installation and verification of
cooling equipment, which will be available to credentialed contractors who
agree to employ industry best practices and have their work verified,
^- Expand the new standardized home energy efficiency service, called Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR, to be offered by credentialed home
professionals who agree to follow industry best practices for efficient home
retrofits and have their work quality controlled,
>• Create educational materials on energy-efficient building science for career
professionals and contractors,
^- Facilitate access to financing, where possible, to different segments of the
housing market,
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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^- Provide tools and information to the affordable
housing market through HUD's Energy Action
Plan and assist low income households with
home weatherization, and
Continue to invest in innovative research in
building science technologies, practices, and
policies and in the dissemination of results to
manufacturers, builders, remodelers, and
homeowners.
The next section illustrates how the three federal
Agencies are partnering with thousands of leading
organizations to implement the ambitious projects
in this initiative.
TABLE 3. NATIONAL RETAILERS BRINGING ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTIONS TO CUSTOMERS
LOWE'S Lowe's is broadly educating its customers about energy-saving products and practices through in-store
promotions, broadcast advertising, and Web outreach under its branded environmental education
message, "Together, We're Saving More Than Money." This fall, Lowe's will feature the benefits of
energy-efficient lighting as part of the "ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World" campaign and
plans to launch a special fall promotion of all ENERGY STAR qualified products and practices to help
customers prepare their homes for winter.
THE HOME The Home Depot has stepped up its efforts to bring the benefits of energy efficiency to its customers
DEPOT by making a 28-page ENERGY STAR educational brochure available at all of its stores. It is a strong supporter
of the national campaigns on appliances, "Spring Into a World of Savings"; cooling products, "Cool Your
World with ENERGY STAR"; and lighting "ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World" all of which
include special displays and in-store signage. And, The Home Depot is planning a high-profile push on
ENERGY STAR home sealing to help its customers improve the comfort and efficiency of their homes.
SEARS Sears sells more ENERGY STAR qualified appliances than any other retailer in addition to integrating
ENERGY STAR into its Home Services for HVAC and windows. By expanding its line of ENERGY STAR
qualified Kenmore products and conducting ENERGY STAR targeted promotions such as 12-month,
0% financing. Sears is helping bring energy efficiency to all income levels. Sears' appliance departments
also include a broad array of ENERGY STAR promotional materials to educate customers on the benefits
of ENERGY STAR, including signs and informative collateral.
ACE HARDWARE
ACE Hardware stores are helping bring ENERGY STAR to American homes by displaying ENERGY STAR
educational materials, providing sales associate training, and clearly identifying and promoting the
ENERGY STAR qualified products they offer. Hardware stores in the ACE family allow ENERGY STAR to
reach customers in large cities and small towns across the country so everyone can benefit from lower
utility bills and cleaner air.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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Selecting more energy-efficient products when making
choices for the home is an important opportunity for
consumers to reduce their home energy bills. Cost-
effective, energy-efficient choices exist for many of the
products we use daily at home, including heating and
cooling systems, major appliances, home electronics and
office equipment, and lighting products. Many of the
smaller products offer energy savings with no additional
initial cost; for the larger products, the reduced energy bills
can quickly offset any higher initial cost. The Partnerships
for Home Energy Efficiency will provide households with
more information on and access to cost-effective,
energy-efficient products in cooperation with retailers,
manufacturers, states, energy efficiency program sponsors,
and many others.
The federal government partners
with more than 1,400 product manufacturers across more
than 40 product categories for the home to clearly
distinguish those products that are energy efficient with
the ENERGY STAR label—the government-backed symbol
for energy efficiency. This label is now recognized by more
than 60 percent of the public, and one in three people
report using the label as part of a purchase decision in the
last year. Products earning the ENERGY STAR are 10 to 90
percent more efficient than standard models, and the
energy bill of a home fully equipped with ENERGY STAR
qualifying products can be 20 to 30 percent lower, which
adds up to $450 in savings each year for a typical
homeowner. EPA and DOE will expand this program to
additional energy-using products in the home, work to
increase consumer awareness of the ENERGY STAR, and
help increase consumer understanding of the potential cost
savings available to them.
RETAILERS. The three federal Agencies will build on
their partnerships with national, regional, and specialty
retailers so that stores across the country provide
consumers with clear, credible information on cost-
effective, energy-efficient solutions for the home. It is in
stores where many people gather the information they
need to make purchase decisions. Among other efforts, the
federal government will coordinate national outreach
campaigns on key products during the seasons in which
many people make these purchases.
The campaigns will highlight the savings from
l» energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment,
l» energy-efficient appliances,
> energy-efficient lighting, both bulbs and fixtures, and
I* energy-efficient home electronics.
The federal government will further assist interested
retailers as they seek to expand their efforts to provide
broader cost-effective home energy efficiency solutions to
their customers. The efforts that certain national retailers
are undertaking as part of this partnership to provide
energy-efficient solutions to their customers are
highlighted in Table 3.
UTILITIES
IS, Many utilities, states, and
other organizations across the country administer
residential energy efficiency programs as a cost-effective
means for slowing the growth in energy demand and
avoiding the need for new power plants, among other
objectives. The three federal Agencies will continue to
form partnerships with these organizations so that they
can bring clear, credible energy efficiency information and
services to their residential program participants and
spread their energy efficiency dollars further.
Energy-efficient homes are more
comfortable and more affordable over the long term. The
federal government will expand its partnerships with
home builders to help them distinguish and sell homes
that are verified to be significantly more efficient than
homes built to code as ENERGY STAR qualifying homes.
In 2004, almost 10 percent of new homes were ENERGY
STAR qualified, and in certain markets ENERGY STAR
homes represent 20 or 30 percent of new housing starts.
In other regions of the country, however, only a few such
homes exist. The federal government will continue to build
consumer interest in energy-efficient homes through
current partners and expand efforts into more areas of the
country. The federal government will also expand its work
with home builders to help them integrate cost-effective
building science technologies and practices into new
homes, while seeking to reduce energy use by close to
50 percent through DOE's Building America Program.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
1 5
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Air leaking into the house
Air leaking out of the house
AFFORDABLE HOUSING NETWORKS.
HUD has formulated a 21-point Action Plan with
the following goal: Every building assisted,
financed, or insured by HUD will be a model of
cost-effective energy efficiency, either by qualifying
for the ENERGY STAR label for new construction
or substantial rehabilitation, by encouraging the
purchase of ENERGY STAR qualified products and
appliances, or by adopting energy-efficient
maintenance and management practices. HUD will
pursue this goal in partnership with state, local, and
federal public housing authorities, state housing
financing agencies, national intermediaries,
affordable housing developers, faith-based and
community-based organizations, and owners and
managers of assisted housing. In addition, DOE
through its R&D teams will continue to develop
and disseminate cost-effective, energy-efficient
products and building practices for affordable
homes (see the affordable housing section below).
New Energy Efficiency Services
In addition to building awareness and providing
access to information on energy-efficient products,
the three Agencies in the initiative are collaborating
with a number of organizations nationwide,
including many mentioned above, to develop new
energy efficiency services that provide homeowners
with greater opportunities for energy savings.
These cost-effective, energy-saving opportunities for
a home go beyond the choice of products and
equipment. They entail efficiency improvements to
the outer "envelope" of the home and the heating
and cooling system. Common structural or mechanical
factors that lead to higher energy bills include
^ Air conditioning systems and heat pumps
suffering from improper refrigerant charge,
leading to problems that range from reduced
operating efficiency to system freeze-up,
>• Duct leakage that adversely affects overall
HVAC system efficiency, especially when the
leakage occurs in unconditioned or semi-
conditioned space,
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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1^ Oversized cooling equipment that increases on/off
cycling leading to poor dehumidification, and
l» Air infiltration though the home's envelope (see
cutaway drawing of home), which leads to comfort
problems and reduces the effectiveness of insulation.
Under certain conditions, the influx of warm, humid air
through a poorly sealed envelope allows water to condense
on cool surfaces and cause moisture damage and mold.
New energy efficiency services built on best practices can
address these factors cost-effectively. Well-defined, quality
services delivered by trained professionals, which improve
the comfort of a home while reducing energy costs, could
help many households. Each year, millions of homeowners
spend billions of dollars on home renovations and
remodeling. Many more projects would deliver improved
comfort and energy savings if home contractors, remodelers,
and home professionals offered cost-effective energy
efficiency services as part of these home projects. For
example,
1^ When a furnace or central air conditioner is being
replaced, on-site technicians can potentially seal or
insulate the duct system at lower cost than if this work
were performed in isolation.
l» When siding is replaced, insulation, foam sheathing, and
house wrap can be added underneath.
: • When an unfinished basement is converted to finished
space, insulation can be installed in the walls and air
leaks can be stopped.
As part of the initiative, the federal government in
partnership with leading organizations is working to
define these services and assist in training the contractors
and others who will be offering them.
.. - JNG The
federal government has already developed a training
program to help remodelers understand cost-effective,
energy-efficient remodeling. DOE's Building America
Program will help educate remodelers, document the
energy savings, and continue to refine and promote
remodeler training. Additionally, the federal government
will develop educational materials for the banking,
appraising, and realtor sectors to help them understand
and market energy-efficient homes and services.
FIGURE 4. HOME PERFORMANCE BENEFITS
Many homeowners are not getting the comfort they
are paying for. Their homes suffer from rooms that
are too hot or too cold, drafts, moisture problems, and
mold and mildew. Skilled contractors, under Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR, can
||> Fix rooms that are too hot or too cold,
> Eliminate drafts,
^ Correct conditions that lead to mold or mildew,
> Ensure combustion appliances are venting properly,
^ Prevent ice dams,
> Solve underlying problems that lead to rot or
peeling paint,
*• Keep outdoor pollutants from entering the
home, and
l» Save energy and lower monthly utility bills.
These improvements make a home more comfortable
and more durable.
CRi , .' ' ,' • " .'" •'• •- '
AS! . .: ' • , '• • : . The federal
government will work with state and local governments
and industry partners to establish new or support existing
credentialing programs to help home owners identify
quality technicians. In addition, key partners, with the
assistance of the federal government, will develop
QA/QC procedures for monitoring the work performed by
contractors. Market-wide implementation of these procedures
will help reassure home owners of the quality of the
technician's work.
r-.---;r, -. .... .,:-. __.. ,,.
I" -_•'. :. hC ^wvLii-.i* The federal
government will partner with leading organizations to
offer new services for the installation and verification of
heating and cooling equipment. This work will build on
best practices in the industry and the work of states,
utilities, and others that have demonstrated the cost-
effectiveness of these services. The federal government
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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36 1H
continues to support the North American Technician
Excellence (NATE), which tests HVAC contractors
on proper installation, maintenance, and repair or
service of heating and cooling equipment.
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY
STAR. The federal government already is
partnering with several organizations around the
country to pilot test a home retrofit program called
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. In it,
trained professionals provide homeowners with
detailed home energy audits and make cost-
effective recommendations to improve efficiency
and comfort of the home (see Figure 4). At the
homeowner's request, they will also make the
improvements. Work performed by these home
performance contractors is quality controlled by a
sponsoring organization, such as a state or local
government or utility energy program. A number of
organizations have been testing this program with
significant success (see Table 4).
To further develop the services of this program so
that they become more broadly available across the
country and are attractive to the service providers
and homeowners, the federal government will
Quantify the energy savings from these home
energy efficiency improvements,
*• Continue to educate consumers on the cost-
effective opportunities for improved comfort and
energy savings through home improvement,
>• Enable the service providers to perform well by
giving them training, credible credentials, and a
recognized marketing platform, and
Provide protocols for QA/QC mechanisms so
that the service is reliable and of high quality.
BEST PRACTICE GUIDES AND PROTOCOLS
FOR REMODELERS. In recent years, home
remodeling has grown into a $200 billion dollar
industry in the United States. This growth is driven
by an aging U.S. population, aging housing stock,
strong economic growth, and growth in
homeownership. The trend toward remodeling
provides many opportunities to incorporate energy
efficiency features into remodeling jobs. For example,
A remodeled kitchen could easily include energy-
efficient lighting as well as ENERGY STAR
qualified appliances.
>• A room addition could include ENERGY STAR
qualified windows and lighting and be properly
air sealed and insulated.
Remodelers, however, must be aware that any
changes they make to one or two rooms in the home
may adversely affect the overall heat flow and air
control for the whole home. The federal government
will work with professional groups to develop best
practices guides that show how energy efficiency
improvements may be successfully incorporated into
remodeling jobs. Lastly, the federal government is
supporting the development of technical protocols
that contractors and remodelers can use to assess the
opportunities for improving home energy efficiency
and guide the installation of recommended
improvements in a way that delivers the potential
energy savings. These protocols are designed to carry
out a key recommendation of HUD's Partnership
for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH)
Roadmap for Energy Efficiency in Existing Homes.
Providing guidance to remodeling contractors and
homeowners, the protocols will be developed with
significant input from remodelers, energy specialists,
consumers, and technical experts.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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TABLE 4. LEADING EXAMPLES OF HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR
NEW YORK The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has helped improve the efficiency
of more than 8,000 homes through its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
Homeowners have reaped substantial savings, and the market has accepted a comprehensive,
building science-based approach to improving homes. Homeowners are willing to pay for real
solutions, backed by quality assurance. And contractors are thus able to sustain robust businesses
based on delivering reliable information and quality work.
WISCONSIN The Wisconsin Focus on Energy program has shown that remodeling contractors can be convinced
of the value of bringing in third-party home performance consultants to provide recommendations
for, and independent validation of the quality of, energy and comfort related home improvements.
Wisconsin helped improve more than 1,000 homes in 2004 under Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin Energy is enhancing its residential program by helping contractors qualify for certification
by the Building Performance Institute (BPI), thus establishing a recognizable credential for quality
home energy-related improvements. Austin's use of BPI serves as a national model for technician
certification and contractor accreditation and lends technician credibility to homeowners in the
market for retrofits. In 2004, Austin Energy's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program helped
improve 1,350 homes.
CALIFORNIA In a project funded by the California Public Utility Commission, the California Building Performance
Contractors Association has shown that contractors can successfully deliver services that embrace
home performance contracting principles and practices, even in the absence of special homeowner
or contractor incentives or rebates. This bolsters the immediate viability of the approach on a natonal
scale, recognizing the federal, state, and utility support for a program can help bring this approach to
market more quickly. This Home Performance with ENERGY STAR project based in the San Francisco
Bay Area is anticipated to help improve more than 1,200 homes in 2005.
Financing
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing
Administration (FHA), and other federal and state
agencies offer Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) that help
homeowners finance cost-effective, energy-efficient home
improvements when they are remodeling existing homes
or help them finance the purchase of new energy-efficient
homes. The federal government will work with these
financial organizations as well as other lenders to promote
these mortgage products. Already, FHA has issued a new
Mortgagee Letter clarifying its procedures, and as part of
HUD's Energy Action Plan, it is committed to publicizing
EEMs. The initiative will also facilitate the use of attractive,
easy-access loan packages for remodeling existing homes.
Financing has proven to be important for contractors
offering whole house retrofits under Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR. These jobs typically range in cost
from $5,000 to $15,000. The availability of financing for
such jobs can be pivotal in the homeowner's decision to
retrofit or not. In addition, low interest rates can entice
homeowners to make an energy-efficient improvement.
Through its Climate Vision program, DOE will investigate
the impact of lower interest rates on the inclusion of
energy efficiency in remodeling projects, as well as on new
home buyers' decisions to purchase energy-efficient
homes.
Affordable Housing
The most affordable homes are those that are also energy-
efficient, with lower monthly energy bills. Such a home is
more comfortable and easier to maintain. It places a
smaller burden on limited monthly incomes. Cost-effective
energy efficiency improvements to affordable housing can
either reduce demands on federal, state, and local funds
where such funds are used to pay energy bills or make
these funds available to more households. The initiative
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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will build on the work being done by DOE, HUD,
and other agencies. DOE will continue its successful
Weatherization Assistance Program, which completes
more than 100,000 retrofits of low income houses
each year. DOE also is working through its Building
America project to design and construct Habitat for
Humanity houses that meet or exceed the ENERGY
STAR new homes specification. HUD will continue
to implement a wide ranging Energy Action Plan
to reduce energy use in the approximately 5 million
units of affordable housing that it subsidizes
or insures.
During the coming year, HUD is conducting
department-wide training on energy efficiency,
streamlining its energy performance contracting
procedures within public housing, establishing
ENERGY STAR as the standard for HOPE VI new
construction as well as housing for the elderly and
disabled persons through its competitive grant
awards. HUD also will promote the purchase of
ENERGY STAR qualified products wherever they
are cost-effective. HUD is encouraging communities
to adopt ENERGY STAR guidelines for new
construction or substantial rehab financed through
the HOME or CDBG programs. DOE and HUD
have entered into a weatherization partnership for
multifamily apartment buildings, and the two
Agencies have invested in R&D and home designs
that make energy efficiency more cost-effective.
While continuing work on these efforts, the
Agencies will explore ways to bring new energy
efficiency services such as Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR to affordable housing in partnership
with state and local organizations. EPA is working
with the Weatherization, Rehab & Asset Preservation
Partnership (WRAP) to explore ways to integrate
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR into low
income assistance programs. And, DOE will explore
other ways to improve the energy efficiency of
multifamily affordable housing.
Innovative R&D
DOE and HUD continue to conduct robust building
science research programs. These programs already
have helped industry improve the energy efficiency
of many important household appliances,
equipment, and lighting systems; developed energy
performance improvements in building systems,
practices, and designs; and set the stage for future
energy performance gains. While most of the
research results apply to new home construction,
many of the results can be readily adapted to
existing homes. DOE's Building America Program
and HUD's PATH have demonstrated the energy
savings potential of new products and innovative
building and remodeling practices and provided the
results of their research to building professionals in
the field. DOE and HUD provide technical
assistance, training, and best practices manuals to a
range of building professionals. By linking their
Web sites for this initiative, the Agencies will
facilitate the dissemination of these research results.
DOE also will undertake policy research to explore
what steps best mobilize action by public and
private stakeholders to invest in energy-saving
innovations in the new and existing housing
markets. Also, as part of the initiative, the federal
government is investigating performance monitoring
meters that measure the rate of household energy
consumption in real time. With such meters,
homeowners could monitor their hourly electricity
consumption rate and adjust it, given the right
incentives or under the right conditions.
| 2 o
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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KEY MILESTONES FOR
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Fall 2005
National outreach on energy-efficient lighting
National outreach on energy-efficient heating equipment and do-it-yourself
guidance for consumers on home sealing
>• Expansion of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to new regions
Revised energy efficiency specifications for ENERGY STAR new homes
Protocols for energy-efficient remodeling of existing homes initiated
HUD Phase II Energy Action Plan for single and mulrifamily homes initiated
>• DOE release of HVAC Best Practices guides for home remodelers
Winter/Spring 2006
New accreditation standards and quality assurance criteria for home contractors
* DOE release of 30% HVAC Best Practice Builder Guides
^- New ENERGY STAR guidelines for proper installation and verification of
HVAC equipment
>• DOE release of Energy Efficient Remodeler Training
Summer/Fall 2006
Fall ENERGY STAR campaigns for energy-efficient lighting, heating equipment,
and home sealing
^- Expansion of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR to new regions
>• HUD release of home improvement protocols for remodeler industry
^- DOE research on homes that achieve 30% whole home energy savings
completed
>• DOE launch of research on homes that achieve 50% whole home energy savings
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BENEFITS OF PARTNERSHIPS FOR
HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Many environmental and economic benefits will come from our successful efforts
to improve the energy efficiency of U.S. housing. These benefits include
Significant savings on energy bills,
^ Improved affordability of housing and home ownership,
Avoiding the need for new electric power generation,
^- Reduced demand for natural gas and reduced natural gas price volatility,
Reduced demand for electricity, and
^ Avoided emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases.
If each household across the country were improved by 10 percent over the next
decade, as a nation we would see the following results:
Energy bill savings of more than $20 billion,
^ Reduced demand for natural gas of more than 1 quadrillion BTU,4
^- Reduced demand for electricity of 160 billion kilowatt hours (kWhs),
Avoided need for more than 40 new electric power plants, and
Avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million vehicles.
In addition, many Americans would be living in more comfortable homes.
1 These natural gas savings include savings in direct use and savings from lower electricity demand.
| 2 2
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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OVERVIEW OF COORDINATED
AGENCY WORK PLAN
The coordinated Agency work plan draws on the strengths and resources of the
U.S. Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and
Environmental Protection Agency to pursue the broad objective of improving the
access of homeowners and others to cost-effective, energy-efficient services,
technologies, products, and practices and to continue to overcome market barriers
to greater home energy efficiency. The work plan shows how the Agencies will
pursue projects in the near-term, building on existing policies and programs. The
projects are organized under the following broad areas:
^ Support energy service providers, contractors, and remodelers. Planned projects
will educate and train contractors, remodelers, and home professionals to be
successful in delivering energy efficiency to the homeowner; develop
new credentialing and quality assurance programs; and develop new services
that they can offer, which are backed by the ENERGY STAR program, among
other efforts.
!>• Educate and motivate consumers to seek cost-effective energy efficiency
improvements. Planned projects will educate the public on the benefits of
energy efficiency, promote cost-effective, energy-efficient products, and
condition the marketplace for new home energy efficiency services.
l» Continue innovative research in building science technologies, practices, and
policies and demonstrate new product and building practices that provide
cost-effective energy efficiency in new and existing homes.
The schematics on the following pages provide an overview of the work planned
by the three Agencies.
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY I 23|
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SCHEMATICS
JOINT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE THE
ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF EXISTING HOMES
i.O
7.0
i.O
ENABLE & MOTIVATE
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Assess National Market
for Home Improvement
Identify Business Models
Develop Protocols for
Home Remodeling
Establish Information Base
Conduct Education
and Training
Establish Credentialing
Programs
Develop Award Programs
Outreach to Service Providers
A Expand Home Performance
with ENERGY STAR Nationally
EDUCATE & MOTIVATE
CONSUMERS
Identify and Quantify the
Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Improvements to Homes
Gauge Consumer Knowledge of
2.o the Value of Energy Efficiency
Craft and Develop Uniform
3.0 Messages for Consumers
Facilitate Consumer
Knowledge of Incentives
2.O
TECHNICAL &
POLICY RESEARCH
Obtain Industry Feedback
to Identify Research Needs
Conduct Technical Research
Communicate Research Results
Broadly and Directly to Key Players
Conduct Research that
Enhances Program Effectiveness
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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A ENABLE & MOTIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS
D = DOE E = EPA H = HUD
Assess National
Market for Home
Improvement
Perform analysis on
national impact
of program (E/D/H)
A
2.1
Assess market
transformation drivers I
CE/D)
Develop Protocols
for Home Remodeling
Develop auditing
protocol (H/D/E)
Develop contractor
success stories and define I
contractor market (E/D) I
Develop analysis on
the benefits to local
sponsors (E/D)
A
2.2
Develop contractor
business guides (E/D)
Develop inventory
of green building
programs (E/D)
A
2.3
Develop contractor
models for HVAC
and Home Sealing (E)
A
2.4
Conduct vintage
home analysis (H)
Determine motivators
for allied industries (D)
A
3-2
Develop quality
assurance audit (H/D)
A
3.3
Review software
models (D)
A
3-4
Review and refine
web tools (E/D/H)
Establish
Information Base
Promote DOE as
source of technical
4*1 information (D)
4.2
Promote ENERGY
STAR solutions (E/D)
Research how industry
learns information
(E/D/H)
Outreach to Building
America Network (D)
Conduct Education
and Training
Develop materials
for architecture and
engineering programs (D)
A
5.2
Pilot appraiser
training (E)
A
5.3
Work with retailers to
develop training for
subcontractors for in-
house staff and external
contractors (E/D)
Develop
Award Programs
Promote ENERGY
STAR Awards program
7*1 (E/D)
^ Develop state and
- locally based recognition
7.2 programs (D)
Promote Solar
Decathlon Awards (D)
Develop materials for
remodelers, realtors,
financial institutions
(EEMs), and home
energy raters (D/E)
Promote EnergyValue
Housing Awards program
for builders (D)
Expand Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR Nationally
Provide on-going support of state
and local Home Performance with
ENERGY STAR Programs (E/D/H)
Recruit additional Home
Performance with ENERGY STAR
i.2 sponsors (D/E/H)
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B EDUCATE & MOTIVATE CONSUMERS
1.1
D = DOE E = EPA H = HUD
Identify and Quantify the
Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Improvements to Homes
Research monetized value
of energy efficiency (E/D/H)
Gauge Consumer Knowledge of
the Value of Energy Efficiency
Survey recognition of energy
efficiency annually (E/D)
Craft and Develop Uniform
Messages for Consumers
Develop and promote Energy
Efficiency in Homes PSA (D/E/H)
4.1
Facilitate Consumer
Knowledge of Incentives
Promote awareness and
availability of EEMs (E/D/H)
1.2
Assess non-energy benefits of energy
efficiency improvements (E/D/H)
Compile case studies on
completed retrofit work (D/E/H)
Assess value of energy efficiency
in low-income housing (H)
Conduct literature search on
2.2 consumer choice models (H)
Compile and evaluate information
from existing consumer surveys
2-3 (E/D/H)
Implement ENERGY STAR regional
I and seasonal campaigns (E/D)
Develc
strateg
'
Post state-by-state information
on financial incentives on
web sites (E/D)
Develop future communication
strategies (E/D/H)
Incorporate tax credit information
in program materials (D/H/E)
B
Survey of home buyers and how
they value energy features (D)
Develop communications
targeting low-moderate income
home owners (H/E/D)
Convene workshop to develop
easy-to-use financing for home
improvements (E/D)
Develop and implement
outreach strategy for ENERGY
STAR Home Sealing (E)
Develop and implement
outreach strategy for HVAC
quality installation (E)
Continue ENERGY STAR
retailer campaigns (E/D)
Convene working group
with NGOs to discuss future
communication strategies (E/D/H)
Promote Energy Savers
revised publications (D)
Promote consumer fact sheets
through agency clearinghouses,
web site, conferences, etc. (D/E/H)
Develop clearinghouse web page
(D/E/H)
B
4.5
Develop revolving loan model
(E/H/D)
PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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C TECHNICAL & POLICY RESEARCH
D = DOE E = EPA H = HUD
Obtain Industry Feedback
to Identify Research Needs
l.l
Conduct Technical Research
Review recommendations in June
2002 PATH Report "Volume 1:
Technology Brainstorming" (H/D)
Determine applicability of energy
efficiency strategies for new
homes to existing homes (D)
Communicate Research
Results Broadly and Directly
to Key Players
Present findings at conferences
(D/E/H)
4.1
jnduct Research that
Enhances Program Effectiveness
Identify and involve missing players
to fill product systems gaps (D)
1.2
Conduct sessions at conferences
to develop list of potential
research projects(H/D)
2.2
Determine unique needs for
existing homes (D)
3.2
Post results of research on
web sites and commercially
available documents (E/D/H)
Validate component and whole
house energy efficiency via
monitoring (D)
Refine systems research on
whole house model (D)
Include results of research into
materials for service providers,
consumers, and other key players
(D/E/H)
Incorporate research results into
educational and training materials
and programs and certification
processes (D)
Policy analysis on transaction chain
involved in home improvement.
Develop, test, and evaluate options
that affect chain in NY, TX, and
CA(D)
Evaluate overall effectiveness
of transaction chain process (D)
4-4
Develop specifications for
new products (D)
Develop and disseminate report
on research results (D)
| PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
TT]
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REFERENCES
National Energy Policy Development Group. 2001. National Energy Policy. May. Available online at
http://www.energy.gov/engine/doe/files/dynamic/1952003121758_national_energy_policy.pdf
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). 2004. Protecting the Environment—Together. ENERGY STAR
and Other Voluntary Programs. 2003 Annual Report. Climate Protection Partnerships Division. September.
(EPA 430-R-04-011). Available online at http://www.epa.gov/appdstar/annualreports/annualreports.htm
U.S. EPA. 2005. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2003. Office of Atmospheric Programs.
April. (EPA 430-R-05-003). Available online at
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarirung.nsf/content/ResourceCenterPublicauonsGHGErnissions.html
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration (U.S. DOE, EIA). 2001. Residential Energy
Consumption Survey. Available online at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/recs/contents.html
U.S. DOE, EIA. 2004. Annual Energy Outlook 2004 with Projections to 2025. Office of Integrated Analysis and
Forecasting. January. (DOE/EIA-0383(2004)). Available online at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/
U.S. DOE, EIA. 2005. Annual Energy Outlook 2005 with Projections to 2025. Office of Integrated Analysis and
Forecasting. January. (DOE/EIA-0383(2005)). Available online at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 2003. PATH Technology Roadmap: Energy
Efficiency in Existing Homes. Office of Policy Development and Research. October. (Volume Three: Prioritized
Action Plan).
|28 I PARTNERSHIPS FOR HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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