This page lists characteristics of today's most successful community energy efficiency programs. The list was adapted from RMI’s Community Energy Workbook and drawn from the ACEEE 2003 report entitled America’s Best: Profiles of America’s Leading Energy Efficiency Programs.

A Community-Based Approach that Relies Heavily on Citizen Participation
Each and every citizen in your community consumes energy. A key to achieving your community’s long-term energy reduction goals is to get many citizens involved. By participating in the planning and execution of a community energy plan, citizens will become more aware of energy-related problems and alternatives, and will help ensure their efforts persist in the long term (and not fall apart if the next elected official doesn’t put energy at the top of the priority list).

Check out the results section for one of your scenarios and notice how drastically the numbers change depending on how high or low you make the participation rates.

Widespread Community Awareness of Energy Alternatives
In many communities, residents seldom think of energy issues, much less see improved energy use as a means to a stronger economy. However, in communities that are making great strides in reducing energy use, community awareness of energy alternatives is so commonplace that citizens routinely incorporate cost-effective efficiency methods into everyday practice.

Involvement of an Oversight Organization to Carry the Effort On, Year After Year
While individual actions are critical to success, it is essential to involve institutions and organizations that can help fund, administer, and implement energy programs on an ongoing basis for years to come. These organizations can include:

Partnerships or Collaboratives Of Various Types of Organizations
These organizations can assist a community energy efficiency program in a variety of ways. For example, they can provide financial and funding incentives; assist in developing a marketing plan; develop and enforce energy efficiency standards and codes; provide technical advice and services; recommend contractors; and help educate the public on energy efficiency.

Financial Incentives and Rebates
The most effective energy efficiency programs offer some sort of financial incentive to help customers pay for the cost of installing energy efficiency measures. Incentives can go not only to the customer but also to other market participants such as retailers and homebuilders. Incentives are a powerful marketing tool, and have been shown to increase participation rates in energy efficiency programs. For more information on financial initiatives and rebates, go to the Funding & Initiatives page.

Strong Local Leadership
Successful programs always have champions, whether they are individuals or organizations, who educate, support, convince, organize, and fundraise to achieve their vision. Again and again, it is the interest and initiative of a few people who take on an active role and garner the support of their fellow citizens to make their communities better places to live and work.

Community and Political Support
Good ideas without community and political backing often go nowhere. Strong and enthusiastic support from elected officials, civic leaders, and the community at large plays a critical role in turning a good idea into lasting local change.

Promotion of More than Just Energy Savings
Some of the best energy efficiency programs are successful in large, partly because they offer customers more than just energy savings. Simply saving energy is often not enough of a motivating factor to get a majority of your community involved. More people will be attracted to your community energy efficiency program if it is focused on the benefits of saving energy, such as increased comfort and home value, convenience, superior product performance, and cost savings. The same is true in the commercial sector. Business owners tend to respond very positively to programs that promise improved worker productivity, aesthetics, and comfort; reduced operating and maintenance costs; and superior reliability.

Market Transformation Objective
Some energy efficiency programs aim to achieve high market shares for their efficient products and/or services, and thus “transform” the market. In general, efficient products and services such as compact fluorescent lightbulbs, Energy Star appliances, and efficient building-design practices do not capture, or penetrate, a significant portion of their targeted market. Market transformation programs that attempt to improve market penetration and have shown to be far more successful than programs without this objective.

Comprehensive, Whole Systems Approaches
A comprehensive approach to energy efficiency does not make just one or two parts of a building more efficient, but rather seeks to improve the entire system. The benefits of improving a building’s HVAC and building shell, water heating, lighting, and appliance systems all at once can be far greater than the sum of the individual measures because each measure can reduce energy use in other areas. For example, installing energy efficient lighting can reduce a building’s cooling load dramatically. By looking at the building as a whole and focusing your efforts where you are likely to reap multiple benefits, you can achieve maximum system efficiency and cost savings.

Technology-Specific Energy Programs
Although comprehensive approaches are usually the most successful in achieving the best energy savings, programs that focus on improving only one or two specific end uses can also be effective. For example, a community may decide to offer a rebate on a specific energy efficient technology, for example light bulbs, to help jumpstart an energy efficiency program. Or some buildings or homes already have efficient lighting or water heating and only need to upgrade their appliance or HVAC systems. An energy audit is a great way to determine whether a comprehensive or technology-specific program is appropriate for a given situation.

Effective Marketing, Training, and Technical Assistance
The most successful energy efficiency programs are measured by high participation rates and substantial energy savings. To get there, a program must have a good marketing strategy, which increases the participation rate, and excellent training and technical assistance, which increases the energy savings of your program.

Community-Wide Incentives to Change
Educated community members see it is in their best interest to take advantage of energy efficiency for economic, environmental, and other reasons. Good community programs help citizens see that rather than an issue that only a few citizen activists care about, improving energy use can be a community priority directly tied to existing important local goals and concerns.

Energy Star Program
The Energy Star program operated by EPA and the U.S. DOE is often a key element in a successful energy efficiency program. The Energy Star logo is a well-recognized mark of high-energy efficiency standards. It can offer a distinct advantage as a marketing tool to help enhance your overall program. Go to www.energystar.gov for more information.