Efficiency First

Efficiency First Chapters are looking to 2011 as a year to build on this past years efforts and continue to work hard for Home Performance industry growth. Here is the latest from some of the Efficiency First’s network of state and local chapters.

For more information, visit www.efficiencyfirst.org/chapters.

Arizona

• The Energy Upgrade California (EUC) rebate program has finally begun in Southern California, and our members are going through the paperwork requirements to become approved contractors while others have applied for approval for work.
• To help address delays and challenges being encountered in the program, the Los Angeles Chapter has scheduled a conference call for every two weeks to voice concerns and troubles we are having in the initial stages of the program.  The invite is open to all members and program staff, so they can hear directly from the people in the field what is working and what is not. Contact southernca@efficiencyfirst.org for more info.
• In our December conference call, we went over chapter duties and had a review of letter from the California EF members to the California Energy Commission about changes we would like to see in Energy Upgrade California.
• Then Lauren Rank for the LA County Energy program and David Meyers from Build it Green spoke to our group about the EUC and how the advertising of the program will coincide with the ACI regional show here in Los Angeles, January 10 & 11, 2011.

California — North Bay

• Adopting chapter bylaws in January 2011.
• At its November meeting, the North Bay Chapter provided feedback on the types of marketing resources and tools they want to receive from the Energy Upgrade California program.
• The North Bay Chapter has formed a Best Practices or Nuts n’ Bolts group that meets the second Monday of the month to discuss technical and on-the-job issues; the BP group is facilitated by John Craig, John Craig Construction, who is an Energy Upgrade California contractor. In December, the BP group reviewed the NREL- DOE standard work specifications to provide comments before the January 7 deadline. This group is a platform for collaboration and problem solving.

California — San Diego

• Energy Upgrade California is up and running, and we are ramping up our contractors to get trained and approved to increase our impact in the market.
• We are working statewide to address program challenges including the need for additional software options within the Energy Upgrade California Program.
• Our membership is on the rise and our group is expanding.  We had over 60 people attend our last meeting of 2010!
• Our bylaws our out for comment and will be voted on our first meeting of 2011.
• Upon request, contractors are stepping up to fill various leadership roles to promote our organization, industry, and needs.  We are actively working on Best Practice’s, Real Estate, Marketing, Policy and Program Development
• The Home Upgrade/Carbon Downgrade Program in Chula Vista, CA is working along side the Energy Upgrade California program, matching the incentive dollar for dollar. Chula Vista residents can receive up to 8K in rebates!

California — SF Bay Area

• Held chapter meetings in later 2010 in the East Bay and South Bay, and heard feedback on Energy Upgrade California participation. Efficiency First is working to address program delays and other challenges.
• Chapter meetings and a holiday party are planned for early 2011. Contact bayarea@efficiencyfirst.org for more info.

Colorado

• Efficiency First members get a discount on registration for the Colorado Contractors Utility Exchange.
• Gearing up for Colorado chapter work on several key issues, including the Denver Better Building Program, Excel Energy programs, new Boulder programs and the Home Energy Score pilot program in Eagle, CO.

Maine

• Gathering success stories and case studies from member companies about Home Performance
• Supporting efforts in the state to continue funding for the Efficiency Maine program.
• The next chapter meeting will be January 11th at the Natural Resources Council of Maine. We will get an briefing on state legislative items. The chapter meeting may be followed by meetings with key Maine legislators.

Maryland/DC

• Meeting with utility company to discuss how to improve success for their HPwES incentive program. Using this effort to focus our statewide agenda for Home Performance in Maryland.
• Getting ready for the launch of  new statewide loan and incentive programs, based on our work with the MD Energy Administration, utilities and the MD Clean Energy Center
• Preparing for the Maryland Clean Energy 2011 Legislative Day on Thursday, January 27, 2011 in Annapolis, including networking with other clean energy and environmental organizations. Click here to register.
• Building our chapter organization by passing by-laws and seeking new members. We also continue to develop our chapter’s steering committee.

Massachusetts

• Companies in Massachusetts have been experiencing delays in the MassSave (utility program) changes that are anticipated to give Home Performance contractors a chance in a closed market. We are currently awaiting the Lead Vendor RFP to determine how market will provide an option for additional Vendors.
• Pilot programs exploring Home Performance contractor integration into MassSave are finishing up and many issues are identified as a barrier to continued program success including software, program standards and more.
• Stretch Code (building code) requiring energy performance ratings start in January.
• Also, the PowerSavers financing pilot is creating a lot of interest.

Michigan

• Consumers Energy and ICF International are training contractors around the state on the Home Performance with Energy Star Program kicking off on January 1, 2011
• Better Buildings for Michigan is launching it’s second and third neighborhood sweeps in Grand Rapids and Detroit Michigan.  The goal is twenty-seven neighborhoods in total.
• Michigan Chapter Meeting had record attendance of almost 80 people on December 15th, including key state government leaders, non-profits, utility representatives and energy efficiency program deployment contractors.

New Jersey

• The 2011 NJ Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program was recently released, taking much guidance into account from the recommendations made by Efficiency First New Jersey:
  • 10%-19.9% savings: $1,000 rebate, no financing. 20%-24.9% savings: $3,000 rebate and 0% financing. 25%+ savings: $4,000 rebate and 0% financing
  • A fine for failed inspections to reduce the number of people letting the program do their quality control, which was putting a large administrative burden on the program and slowing inspections down for everyone.
  • Elimination of incentives for appliances, and windows/doors, to focus/simplify program on the big energy savers (shell, hvac, hot water)
  • Contractors can now proceed with projects without pre-approval from the program, contractors can approve their own projects in the software reducing project turnaround time, program will review everything at completion submittal.
  • Reduction from 25% minimum energy savings down to the 20% level. This is a key change.

New York

• EF/BPCA  joint membership recruitment staging to launch 1/11/11.
• State Legislature outreach, critical for On-Bill financing bill passage to enhance NYSERDA’s Green Jobs/Green New York program.
• Foremost concern amongst HP Contractors in NY polled at GJ/GNY roll out is changing life limits and program savings requirements limiting project approval.
• Kudos-EF/NY Long Island’s chapter mobilization, organization, and early traction.
• The EF/NY steering committee is drilling into agenda’s, working groups, and action items.

New York — Long Island

• Planning on having 8 local town reps at our January meeting.
• Energy Audit legislation passed in Suffolk County, Nassau County expected to follow suit
• Agenda for Early 2011
• Program uniformity
• Pushing for HPXML standard locally
• Outreach to local congressional representatives
• Continued push for membership
• Working with BPCA/EF NYS to work towards on-bill financing

North Carolina

• Building on the October chapter launch to grow create a a strong local organization
• Plans for early 2011 include:
  • Establishing connecting points between local utility companies and private sector Home Performance contractors
  • Begin educating state/local policymakers aabout Home Performance and how the industry works
  • Look into HUD grant possibilities
  • Outreach to other local stakeholders

Ohio

• Local chapter members are getting involved in Efficiency First national working groups, including Business Models and Workforce Development.

Oregon (Home Performance Contractors Guild of Oregon)

• Negotiating terms and parameters of the FED-grant winning Clean Energy Works Oregon program with staff.  Similar to 500-home pilot from the last 18 months.
• Performing Executive Director search.

Vermont

• Identifying opportunities to provide contractor best practices education to Vermont members
• Plans to conduct policymaker education about Home Performance

Virginia

• Established chapter board
• Plans for 2011 to launch regional chapters around the state in 2011, and to work with Regional Energy Alliances to help ensure program success.
• Identifying legislative opportunities in the 2011 Virginia legislative session.

Washington (Home Performance Washington)

• It was a pleasure to host Jared Asch, Efficiency First national director, at our November meeting.
• Our Marketing working group is working on a consumer tri-fold and consumer facing web site, for use in Washington State.  We are drawing ideas from the great new Effciency First tri-fold.
• Our Service Provider Development Committee is participating in creating an inventory of training and workforce development assets.  We also completed a contract to assess employer experiences hiring from Seattle weatherization training programs.
• We are engaging members to gather feedback on changes to a local utility energy audit program.  Efficiency First’s best practices reports serve as a useful tool in crafting this feedback.
• Many members in Seattle are serving on planning committees for Seattle’s Community Power Works program.  The program aims to deliver 2000 home energy retrofits over the next 2.5 years.
• Our holiday social on December 14th was a big success.  Thanks all who attended!
• Next month’s meeting on January 11th at 3pm at the Greenwood Library in Seattle.