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Boosting residential retrofit rates using a centralized energy labeling infrastructure

Panel: 5. Saving energy in buildings: The time to act is now

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Sean Penrith, Earth Advantage Institute, USA
David Heslam, EPS Manager, USA
Thomas Breunig, Earth Advantage Institute, USA

Abstract

With the recent availability of stimulus (ARRA) dollars from the federal government, many U.S. cities are deploying residential energy audit retrofit programs, but the rate of “conversion” -- from audited home to implementation of energy upgrades – has historically been low due to insufficient education of the homeowner, inadequate messaging, and cost barriers.

This presentation will discuss ongoing results of a large energy labeling pilot of 5,000 homes in Seattle, Washington, that is designed to increase residential retrofit rates. The program seeks to create an expandable infrastructure for municipalities to engage homeowners, using a web-based information delivery system and energy labeling as the focal point. In this way homeowners take advantage of “one-stop shopping” that shows them specific information on their home audit, comparisons of energy upgrade bids, and proposed financing information.

Homeowners log in to see 1) results of the Energy Performance Score (EPS) audit, with photos of relevant findings 2) the actual scores, including “as designed” energy consumption and carbon emissions ratings 3) recommended energy upgrades 4) bids on the recommended work from qualified contractors participating in the program, and 5) homeowner cost for participation in the city’s on-bill financing. To further enable market transformation, the infrastructure provides training of auditors on the EPS rating system as well as education of real estate professionals about the EPS so that they may act as agents of change.

The authors will discuss the historical market barriers, the ongoing results of the pilot program, the challenges of getting the program off the ground at the implementation level, and future additions to this scalable infrastructure that could make it an even more effective tool for any municipality or state.

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Download this presentation as pdf: 5-424_Penrith_pre.pdf

Download this paper as pdf: 5-424_Penrith.pdf