Clients As a Resource in Energy Education - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Clients As a Resource in Energy Education

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Title: PowerPoint Presentation Author: Jackie Berger Last modified by: Jackie Berger Created Date: 3/17/2003 1:00:33 PM Document presentation format – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Clients As a Resource in Energy Education


1
Clients As a Resource in Energy Education
Jackie Berger David Carroll 2004 Affordable
Comfort April 28, 2004
2
Purpose of Session
  • Conceptual What is the realistic potential
    associated with energy education?
  • Evaluative What have we found in our program
    evaluations?
  • Exploratory Can we improve measurement of
    energy education impacts and the delivery of
    energy education at the same time?

3
Organization of Session
  • PART 1 Framework David 15 minutes
  • PART 2 Findings Jackie 50 minutes
  • PART 3 Instrument David 15 minutes
  • WRAP-UP Feedback 15 minutes
  • ASK QUESTIONS ANY TIME

4
Status of Energy Education
  • New funds are being invested in low-income usage
    reduction programs
  • Energy education is an important part of many new
    and existing programs
  • Many field staff still doubt the potential for
    energy education
  • Evaluations find program barriers and mixed
    results

5
Energy Education Assumptions
  • Behavioral changes can reduce energy usage and
    energy bills
  • We can teach individuals how to change behavior
  • We can motivate individuals to change behavior
  • We can identify the changes that will lower bills
    and provide reinforcement

6
Evidence of Behavior Impacts
  • National Statistics - RECS
  • 1997 compared to 2001
  • 22 increase in prices
  • 8 reduction in heating degree days
  • 16 reduction in energy consumption
  • Change by Income Group
  • Lowest income group 16
  • Other income groups 15, 20, 17

7
Evidence (continued)
  • NMPC Power Partnerships Evaluation showed 10
    incremental gas savings and 3 incremental
    electric savings from education
  • Ohio PIPP clients were alert to potential
    savings on summer bills
  • California 12 reduction in electricity usage
    resulting from a number of initiatives in
    2000-2001

8
Other Ways Education Works
  • Awareness of measures
  • Support of measures
  • Improvement of auditor diagnostics

9
Evaluation Information Objectives
  • Are education procedures followed?
  • What are the barriers to following prescribed
    procedures?
  • How can procedures be improved?
  • How can implementation be improved?
  • What is the impact of education?

10
Evaluation Activities
  1. Interviews with program managers and designers
  2. Interviews with service providers
  3. Observation of education training
  4. Observation in the field
  5. Client interviews
  6. Impact analysis

11
NJ Comfort PartnersProgram Background
  • Comprehensive usage reduction program managed by
    7 electric and gas utilities
  • Addresses electric, gas, and fuel oil usage
  • Protocols developed from best practices of
    previous individual utility programs
  • 98 of homes served by one large contractor
  • Households under 175 of poverty are eligible

12
NJ Comfort PartnersEducation Protocols
  • Partnership model
  • Initiate partnership when first contact is made
  • Explain the program
  • Confirm the partnership in the home
  • Benefits to each partner
  • Responsibilities of each partner
  • Sign the partnership agreement form
  • Information gathering
  • Familys needs, wants, behaviors
  • Review of customers bills

13
NJ Comfort PartnersEducation Protocols
(continued)
  • House tour
  • Identify measure installation opportunities
  • Determine usage habits
  • Install qualifying measures
  • Calculate current costs and projected costs with
    energy savings
  • Review options for measures and actions
  • Make decisions and complete Partnership Agreement
    Action Plan
  • Follow up on responsibilities

14
NJ Comfort PartnersEducation Materials
  • Education Notebook and Note cards
  • Partnership Agreement Form
  • Action Plan

Reduce Costs of Actions/Measures Estimated Annual Savings Electricity Gas Estimated Annual Savings Electricity Gas
Home heating Home cooling Water heating Appliances Lighting Other
15
NJ Comfort PartnersBarriers
  • New program
  • Utilities ordered to implement program in two
    months
  • Education training could not be scheduled
    immediately
  • Uncertainty of future program administration
  • Training funds are limited

16
NJ Comfort PartnersObservation Findings
  • Partnership agreement
  • Auditors did not consistently explain the
    partnership agreement at the beginning of the
    visit
  • Many did not mention a partnership until the end
    of the visit
  • Energy education notebook
  • Many did not use at all

17
NJ Comfort PartnersObservation Findings
  • Explain what visit would entail
  • Many did not describe what would be done.
  • Review and explain bills
  • Auditors did not consistently review bills.
  • Co-developing an action plan
  • Auditors did not consistently work with customers
    to determine actions the customer was willing to
    take to reduce usage

18
NJ Comfort PartnersObservation Findings
  • Co-developing an action plan
  • Many auditors did a good job explaining work and
    potential actions during walkthrough
  • Some auditors did not recommend actions during
    the walkthrough
  • Some auditors did not tailor recommendations to
    the customers behavior and home
  • Auditors did not consistently reinforce
    recommended actions at the end of the visit
  • Some auditors did not record actions that the
    customers agreed to

19
NJ Comfort PartnersObservation Findings
  • Co-developing an action plan
  • Most auditors did not use the action form
  • Auditors did not provide estimates of cost
    savings
  • Summary and Review
  • Auditors did not consistently review work done in
    the home, and actions that customer had committed
    to.
  • Auditors did not reinforce the importance of the
    customers role in the partnership and in
    reducing energy usage

20
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Understanding of the Program

Yes, I understand the Comfort Partners Program 92
Yes, I understand the Partnership 60
The service providers responsibility is to reduce energy usage or energy bills 30
The customers responsibility is to reduce energy usage or follow recommendations 30
The benefit of the program is reduced energy usage or bills 40
21
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Customer Motivation

Energy bill is not affordable 26
It is somewhat or very difficult to pay energy bills 76
Reducing bills is a benefit of saving energy 71
22
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Education Provided

Energy bill was explained 52
Written list of actions was provided 42
Estimate of savings from actions was provided 26
23
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Recall of Energy Saving Actions

Agreed to Taken
Turn off lights 9 4
Reduce temperature 5 3
Use CFLs 4 3
Conserve energy 4 1
Reduce AC use 4 2
Close doors/windows 2 1
Set back heat at night/when out 2 lt1
Turn down hot water temperature 2 lt1
None 74 78
24
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Reduced End Uses

Hot Water 48
Air Conditioning 45
Dryer 36
Dishwasher 19
25
NJ Comfort PartnersClient Interview Findings
  • Percent with actions expected to reduce energy
    use

At least 1 non-prompted action 17
One or more reduced end uses (prompted) 77
One or more reduced end uses and associated action 66
26
NJ Comfort PartnersSummary
  • Well-developed education protocols
  • Excellent education materials
  • Many barriers to implementation
  • Inconsistent implementation
  • Education not tailored to individual client
  • Reflected in client interviews
  • Improvement recently seen

27
Ohio Electric Partnership Program Background
  • Electric usage reduction program managed by Ohio
    Office of Energy Efficiency
  • 18 authorized providers in first year
  • Reduced to 9 in second year
  • Providers are CBOs and one private contractor
  • Some agencies have several sub-agencies
  • Electric PIPP customers are targeted for service
    delivery

28
Ohio Electric Partnership Program Background
  • OEE receives electric usage data from utilities
    each quarter
  • Based on usage thresholds, they target clients
    for
  • High use baseload services (gt8,000 kWh baseload
    usage)
  • Moderate use baseload services (4,000-6,000 kWh
    baseload usage)
  • Weatherization services (gt8,000 kWh heating or
    cooling usage)

29
Ohio Electric Partnership Program Background
  • Auditor uses a PDA to collect information on all
    electric uses in the home
  • Auditor matches total use calculated in home with
    usage on customers bills
  • Auditor identifies cost-effective measures for
    installation
  • Measures include refrigerators, freezers, light
    bulbs, aerators, showerheads, water heater wraps
  • Fuel switches and custom measures recently
    introduced

30
Ohio Electric Partnership Education Protocols
  • Introduction
  • Purpose of visit
  • Program overview and steps
  • Partnership agreement
  • Usage analysis
  • Review customers bill
  • Explain baseload versus heating/cooling usage

31
Ohio Electric Partnership Education Protocols
  • Energy tour
  • Review biggest electric uses
  • Estimate costs per appliance
  • List suggested actions
  • Action plan
  • Review list of suggested actions
  • Obtain commitment for 3-5 actions
  • Complete energy savings actions plan
  • Reinforce consequences of each action

32
Ohio Electric Partnership Education Protocols
  • Conclusion
  • Complete and sign action plan
  • Review next steps and time frame
  • Provide referral information
  • Establish follow-up procedures

33
Ohio Electric Partnership Education Materials
  • Education note cards
  • Reports generated by program software
  • Graph of top ten electric users with annual cost
  • Action form

Appliance Action Annual Savings Annual Savings New Hours
Appliance Action kWh Cost New Hours

34
Ohio Electric Partnership Barriers
  • OEE ordered to implement program in 6 months
  • Limited OEE staff
  • Auditors adjustment to PDA
  • Perception of PIPP customers
  • Education training could not be scheduled
    immediately

35
Ohio Electric Partnership Observation Findings
  • Visit introduction
  • Many auditors introduce themselves with no
    description of the program and then meter
    refrigerator and inspect home
  • Usage data
  • Auditors request bill and enter updated usage
    information into PDA
  • Most auditors do not explain bill

36
Ohio Electric Partnership Observation Findings
  • Energy tour
  • Most auditors do not review biggest electric
    uses, estimate costs per appliance, or list
    suggested actions
  • Action plan
  • Most auditors do not use action reports

37
Ohio Electric Partnership Observation Findings
  • Conclusion
  • Most auditors do not
  • Secure action commitment
  • Reinforce partnership agreement
  • Explain next steps of program

38
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Understanding of the Program

Round 1 Round 2
Yes, I understand the EPP 90 87
Yes, I understand the Partnership 72 73
The service providers responsibility is to reduce energy usage or energy bills 68 48
The customers responsibility is to reduce energy usage or follow recommendations 40 55
The benefit of the program is reduced energy usage or bills 63 67
39
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Customer Motivation

Round 1 Round 2
I would be required to pay arrearages if I left PIPP 82 67
There are benefits to reducing usage while on PIPP 73 65
Reducing usage will reduce summer electric bills 78 74
Reducing usage will prevent increase in arrears 83 72
40
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Education Provided

Round 1 Round 2
Explained energy bill 76 70
Explained how to tell if usage is increasing or decreasing 61 63
Explained how electric use is measured 71 56
Suggested actions 78 82
Developed Action Plan 71 56
Provided saving estimates 72 60
41
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Recall of Energy Saving Actions

Agreed to Taken
Turn off lights 57 30
Turn off appliances 38 16
Conserve energy 15 8
Use CFLs 8 3
Wash clothes in cold water 4 3
Use double spin on clothes washer 2 2
Reduce water heater temperature 3 3
Reduce length of showers 3 3
Line dry clothes 3 3
None 15 15
42
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Percent with actions expected to reduce energy
    use

Round 1 Round 2
High energy savings potential 25 31
Low energy saving potential 66 47
No action 9 22
43
Ohio Electric PartnershipClient Interview
Findings
  • Reduced End Uses

Round 1 Round 2
Hot Water 32 25
Air Conditioning 24 41
Electric Dryer 62 45
Dishwasher 8 12
Dehumidifier 6 4
Lights 75 74
44
Ohio Electric PartnershipSummary
  • Well-developed education protocols
  • Excellent education materials
  • Many barriers to implementation
  • Auditors not focused on action plans
  • Education not tailored to individual client
  • More recent client interviews show better results

45
Utility ProgramProgram Background
  • Comprehensive usage reduction program managed by
    an electric and gas utility
  • Addresses electric and gas usage
  • Provide appliance replacement and weatherization
    services
  • Providers are community action agencies and
    private contractors
  • Four energy coordinators oversee work of agencies
    and contractors

46
Utility ProgramProgram Background
  • Services are targeted to non public assistance,
    low-income, payment troubled, LIHEAP-recipient
    customers
  • Four types of energy services
  • Appliance Efficiency Program (AEP) Refrigerator
    and/or freezer replacement, waterbed mattress
    replacement, fuel switching
  • Weatherization Program heating system service
    and repairs, air sealing, duct sealing,
    insulation
  • Combination AEP and Weatherization
  • Modified Inspection for AEP or Weatherization
    but no additional treatment

47
Utility Program Education Protocols
  • Energy Use Management Education
  • Workshop or education packet with worksheets and
    video
  • Customers complete energy services questionnaire
    and are targeted into programs based on their
    usage
  • Contractors provide additional education when
    performing tests and installing measures

48
Utility Program Education Protocols
  • In-home Education
  • Include the customer
  • Tailor the inspection to the customers needs
  • Identify incentives (increased comfort and lower
    cost)
  • Provide reinforcing confidence
  • Initiate and develop an action plan

49
Utility ProgramEducation Materials
  • Hot water temperature card
  • Cost of Operating Home Appliances brochure
  • Sheets on major energy users
  • Home heating and cooling
  • Home water heating
  • Kitchen energy use
  • Electric home appliances
  • Home lighting
  • Laundry energy use

50
Utility ProgramEducation Materials
  • Energy Savings Action Plan

I would like to reduce monthly energy costs by _______ I would like to reduce monthly energy costs by _______
Space Heating Electric Appliances
1. _____Apply for Weatherization 6. _____Unplug second refrigerator
2. _____Turn down thermostat 7. _____Turn off TVs when not in use
3. _____Discontinue use of space heaters 8. _____Turn off computer when not used
Water Heating Lighting
4. _____Set water temperature at 120 9. _____Turn off lights when not needed
5. _____Wash clothes in cold water 10. ____Install energy efficient lights in these rooms ___________ ____________
Other Actions or Suggestions for Reducing Energy Use Other Actions or Suggestions for Reducing Energy Use

51
Utility Program Barriers and Supports
  • Lack of contractors
  • Time lag between initial education and service
    delivery for some providers
  • Quality control provided by energy coordinators
  • Many contractors are well experienced with the
    utilitys programs

52
Utility Program Observation Findings
  • Energy usage analysis
  • Auditors calculate the energy usage of appliances
    and estimate the contribution of each major use
  • General education
  • Auditors explain what they are doing and how
    appliances should be maintained

53
Utility Program Observation Findings
  • Review of actions from workshop
  • Contractors sometimes review actions from
    workshop
  • Action plan
  • Contractors did not create a written list of
    actions for the customer at the end of the visit
    or review actions they had discussed during the
    visit

54
Utility ProgramClient Interview Findings
  • Understanding of the Program


Yes, I understand the services provided by the program 88
The service providers responsibility is to reduce energy bills 44
The service providers responsibility is to reduce energy usage 21
The customers responsibility is to reduce energy usage or follow recommendations 54
55
Utility ProgramClient Interview Findings
  • Customer Motivation

Energy bill is somewhat or very difficult to pay 92
Reduce energy usage or bills is the most important benefit of the program 53
56
Utility ProgramsClient Interview Findings
  • Education Provided

Discussed hot water use 73
Discussed home heating use 62
Discussed clothes dryer use 59
Discussed other high energy uses 47
Described dollar savings from actions always or most of the time 73
57
Utility ProgramClient Interview Findings
  • Recall of Energy Saving Actions

Actions Taken As a Result of Actions Taken As a Result of Actions Taken As a Result of
Workshop Video In-Home Education
Turn off lights 43 40 33
Install CFLs 27 20 24
Turn down thermostat 14 15 10
Reduce TV usage 11 3 6
Turn off appliances 11 9 9
Turn down water temperature 10 12 10
Reduce use of AC 9 3 6
Use cold water for clothes washing 9 5 6
Set back temperature at night/when out 5 4 2
58
Utility ProgramClient Interview Findings
  • Percent with actions expected to reduce energy
    use

Action Taken as a Result of Action Taken as a Result of Action Taken as a Result of
Workshop Video In-Home Education
High energy savings potential 69 65 60
Low energy saving potential 26 20 23
No action 5 15 13
59
Utility ProgramClient Interview Findings
  • Reduced End Uses

Hot Water 62
Heating 59
Dryer 48
Lights 73
60
Utility ProgramSummary
  • Well-developed education protocols
  • Excellent education materials
  • Some barriers to implementation
  • Auditors were not focused on action plans
  • Action form was developed
  • More recent client interviews show promising
    results

61
Summary of Evaluation Findings
  • Education procedures and materials are well
    planned and developed
  • Observations show that auditors do not focus on
    the education aspect of the audit
  • Client interviews show that clients are
    motivated, but most do not focus on actions with
    greatest savings potential
  • Need better evaluation data on impacts of
    education

62
Ways to Improve Energy Education
  • Auditor motivation
  • Auditor training and feedback
  • Flexible education protocols
  • Pilot new approaches

63
Baseline Assessment Instrument
  • Original Purpose
  • Improve measurement of the impacts of behavioral
    changes on energy usage
  • Design Elements
  • Capture preprogram knowledge, attitudes, and
    actions
  • Identify reasons for unexplained changes in usage
  • Furnish educator with motivation information
  • Discussion Components
  • Comfort and Safety
  • Knowledge/Behaviors/Actions
  • Motivation/Empowerment

64
Experiences with Instrument
  • Step 1 - Coworker Pretest
  • Issues in design and format
  • Significant differences in knowledge/attitudes/act
    ions
  • Special circumstances
  • Step 2 Client Pretest
  • Clients appreciate someone listening to them
  • Significant differences in knowledge/attitude/acti
    ons
  • Ideas for tailoring education
  • Ideas for tailoring treatments
  • Step 3 Field Pretest
  • Need motivated volunteers

65
Experiences with Instrument
  • Examples

66
Summary of Findings
  • Instrument can serve as a baseline for
    measurement of client behavioral change
  • Instrument can serve as a useful starting point
    for educator
  • Instrument can help the auditor to identify
    unusual situations that change treatment
    priorities
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