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On Bainbridge Island, Washington, the average home's energy use is higher than that of the average customer in Puget Sound Energy's (PSE) entire service area. This fact, coupled with increasing demand for energy, left Bainbridge Island residents with an interesting choice to make: build a new substation on the island, or increase the energy efficiency of their homes. The community's values and commitment to the environment—as well as associated financial savings—made energy efficiency the easy choice. However, local workforce development was needed due to a limited number of qualified energy efficiency professionals in Kitsap County—and on the island in particular. To help meet these needs, the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Neighborhood Program awarded $4.9 million in seed funding for the development of RePower, a program that serves Bainbridge Island and Bremerton, Washington.

Operated by Conservation Services Group, RePower Bainbridge aims to reduce energy use on the island by 15% in three years, through a combination of free home energy check-ups in 4,000 residences and 150 businesses and energy upgrades in 2,000 homes and 25 businesses. RePower Bremerton has set a goal to complete another 1,000 free home energy checkups and 100 home energy assessments. By combining activities in a high-income submarket of metropolitan Seattle (Bainbridge) and a lower income area (Bremerton), the project will bridge two communities and expand energy efficiency market in the region. The RePower program is also leveraging its Better Buildings funding to provide financing for upgrades and create up to 65 new jobs.

Background: Putting the Power in Residents' Hands
Driving Demand: Energy Dashboards Raise Awareness
Workforce Development: Creating a Qualified Energy Workforce
Financing: Scoring Financial Incentives

Putting the Power in Residents' Hands

When Bainbridge Island's energy use peaked above a 58 megawatt threshold three times in winter 2009, PSE—the main electricity provider on the island—said it would need to install a fourth substation to meet growing demand. Island residents came together to learn more about their energy use and develop a plan to ensure a sustainable energy future for the Island.

RePower Bainbridge offers opportunities to improve the island's overall energy use, while also helping reduce utility costs for individuals and businesses. To achieve energy reductions, RePower Bainbridge targeted older homes for energy evaluations and upgrades. More than 50% of the approximately 8,000 single-family homes on Bainbridge Island were built before 1980, and of these, only 20% are properly insulated. As a result, the average Bainbridge Island home uses 60% more energy than other residences served by PSE.

RePower Bainbridge offers homeowners two options to evaluate and improve their homes' energy performance, based on what works for their schedule and budget: a home energy checkup, or a home energy assessment with an energy performance score (EPS).

For the free home energy check-ups, a RePower Bainbridge energy advisor visits a home and visually identifies areas of energy loss such as insulation, gaps, cracks, and inefficient equipment. Homeowners receive a list of custom recommendations, which includes information on no-cost and low-cost upgrades and long-term energy-saving solutions. The energy advisor also installs compact fluorescent lights during the check-up and leaves behind up to two high-efficiency showerheads.

A home energy assessment with EPS is an in-depth evaluation of a home using advanced building science tools to show how a home's systems—from heating and cooling to insulation and windows—work together to impact the overall efficiency. Homeowners receive an EPS, which documents the home's current energy use and carbon footprint, and details energy upgrade recommendations and options. The report includes expected monetary and energy savings potential and payback periods.

Energy Dashboards Raise Awareness

RePower Bainbridge works with local residents on creative ways to increase energy awareness and deliver the energy efficiency message. Partnering with Positive Energy, a local non-profit, RePower Bainbridge developed innovative Island Energy Dashboards that display real-time energy use around the island. These dashboards are featured in local businesses and on the island's commuter ferries to and from the City of Seattle. RePower also worked with PSE to distribute the OPower Home Energy Report, which shows how homeowners' energy use compares to 100 of their neighbors.

Taking energy awareness to the streets, RePower Bainbridge also created Electric Avenue, a visual street painting that builds awareness by displaying the collective energy savings of two island neighborhoods. Electric Avenue is updated weekly during the summer to highlight the average energy use of participating homeowners.

Creating a Qualified Energy Workforce

According to a local survey, 55% of Bainbridge Islanders are willing to increase their energy efficiency to protect the environment. Although the community does not need to be sold on the benefits and value of saving energy, access to properly qualified workers was scarce. Before RePower Bainbridge, if a homeowner or business wanted an energy evaluation, energy professionals had to drive or ferry to the island, which would likely increase the cost of the evaluation and discourage the professional from coming.

To foster local energy efficiency jobs in all three RePower programs, a local Trade Ally Network was created for Kitsap County contractors to become energy experts. RePower has also teamed with Olympic Community College in Bremerton, to train additional energy advisors and weatherization professionals. To increase the quality of contractors' work, the RePower program requires them to complete a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lead-Safe Certification Program and be Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified.

Scoring Financial Incentives

RePower offers homeowners and businesses in Bainbridge, Bremerton, and Kitsap easy access to financial incentives by providing loan financing and RePower and PSE incentives. The City of Bainbridge Island and Kitsap Credit Union partnered to create an Energy Efficiency Loan Program, which offers customers low-interest loans. Homeowners who complete a home energy assessment with EPS are eligible for a limited-time $350 instant rebate from Kitsap County. In addition, they are eligible for a $450 rebate from PSE when they complete two energy efficiency upgrades—prioritized by an energy advisor—and achieve a minimum energy efficiency improvement.

RePower also offers $400 RePower Rewards for customers who complete two or more of the priority recommendations received during their home energy check up. Homes heated primarily with electricity from PSE are eligible to receive PSE incentives. Homes heated primarily with oil and propane are eligible to receive cash-back incentives from RePower. Available tax credits also help offset the cost of homeowners' out-of-pocket expenses.

Contact

Yvonne Kraus
Yvonne.kraus@csgrp.com
206-866-0650 ext. 10212

U.S. Department of Energy
Better Buildings Neighborhood Program
BetterBuildings@ee.doe.gov