Combining Community-Based Efforts and Geographic Targeting to Optimize Delivery of Energy Efficiency Programs

Thom Freyer, Community Energy Cooperative
Tom Talerico and Nick Hall, TecMRKT Works
Curt Puckett, RLW Analytics

Keywords

Abstract

The Community Energy Cooperative (Cooperative) was formed in June 2000 by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) in partnership with Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). The Cooperative exists to reduce peak electrical demand by helping communities implement technologies to improve energy efficiency. The Cooperative is unique in that its approach combines the use of community-based efforts and geographic targeting to reduce peak demand in areas that need electricity infrastructure improvements.

The Cooperative began full-scale implementation of its residential energy programs in four Chicago-area communities during 2001. Despite the Cooperative’s brief history, membership and participation have grown rapidly, creating measurable reductions in peak demand. The Cooperative has recruited over 5,800 residential members and replaced about 7,200 old, inefficient window air conditioners and 700 central air conditioners with new, efficient models.

Previous papers have described the Cooperative and its initial experiences (Budd 2000 and Kushler 2001) prior to the full-scale implementation of its residential programs. The significance of this paper is that it presents results describing how the Cooperative is successfully using community-based efforts to optimize the delivery of its residential energy efficiency programs.