Using Residential Sector-Level Logic Models to Improve the Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Energy Efficiency Programs

Scott Albert, GDS Associates, Inc.
Lori Megdal, Megdal & Associates
Victoria S. Engel, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Keywords

Abstract

Logic models are being used more regularly to aid the design, implementation and evaluation of individual energy efficiency programs. Little attention, however, has been focused to date on looking across programs at the sector level. Significant insights, program design/delivery efficiencies, and results assessment benefits can be gained through development and use of logic models at the sector level.

This paper provides details on the methods, results and challenges/lessons learned from a recently developed residential sector-level logic model. Through diagrams and text, this document is helping program-specific and sector-level managers to identify common activities among programs and to make explicit their linkages to anticipate sector-level outputs, short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes. In addition, potential interactions (synergistic opportunities) between programs, market barriers and external influences were discussed and documented. Finally, an extensive list of measurement indicators and potential researchable issues was developed to track progress toward key sector-level goals and to help assess the validity of some of the higher priority logical links.

Details regarding the methods used to identify and roll-up activities from over ten separate residential programs, targeting different market actors and areas, will be presented. The resulting logic diagram and sample measurement indicators will be shown along with a summary of the challenges and lessons learned from this project. In addition, this paper describes how such sector-level logics can help to improve the design, implementation and evaluation of residential energy efficiency programs.