U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office – Better Buildings Partners

Stories

In neighborhoods across the country, stories are emerging constantly of individuals, businesses, and organizations that are benefiting from energy efficiency. Below are the stories of real people making their homes, businesses, and communities better with the help of the Better Buildings Neighborhood Program. You can also read additional success stories and testimonials from Better Buildings Neighborhood Program partners.

Energy Upgrade California Drives Demand From Behind the Wheel

 

Going Deeper in the Heart of Texas Helps Retired Officers Save

 

Northern Virginia Residents Improve Their Homes' Energy With A Funding Boost

Read how the California Center for Sustainable Energy's Energy Upgrade California Roadshow took homeowner education on the road across the Golden State.
April 2013

 

Learn how CPS Energy Savers in San Antonio, Texas, helped the local Army Residence Community achieve 15% energy savings in 200 single-family homes.
April 2013

 

 The Northern Virginia Home Energy Makeover Contest logo.

Read about the Local Energy Alliance's Northern Virginia Home Energy Makeover Contest that provided funding to homeowners ready to move forward with energy upgrades.
February 2013

Lowell, Massachusetts, Preserves Historic Home Through Energy Upgrades

 

Community Power Works Uses Housing Data to Make the Emerald City Even "Greener"

 

New Bond Helps Toledo, Ohio, Expand Financing Pool
A photo of a two-story historic home.

Find out how installing energy upgrades to the historic home of artist James MacNeil Whistler will save energy and preserve art.
January 2013

 

 A photo of a family, father, mother, and toddler, sitting on the steps in front of a brick home.

Read how Community Power Works in Seattle, Washington, used housing data to break through to a local untapped market—owners of oil-heated homes.
January 2013

 

 The logo of the BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio, Toledo Lucas County Port Authority Program.

Learn about BetterBuildings Northwest Ohio Program's second bond that will help commercial building owners fund energy upgrades.
January 2013

Lowell, Massachusetts, Restaurant Exceeds Energy Savings Expectations

 

EnergyWorks Grabs Attention in Calm and Stormy Weather with Intuitive Ads

 

Strategic Financing Partnerships Help Jacksonville Program Take Loans From Buydown to Uptake
The Better Buildings Lowell logo.

Read how BetterBuildings Lowell helped a family-owned restaurant in the city's historic district reduce its energy use by 41%.
December 2012

 

 An image bearing the words 'ICE CREAM' with the EnergyWorks logo at the bottom.

Read about EnergyWorks' phased marketing campaign that appeals to Philadelphia homeowners based on the current weather conditions.
October 2012

 

 A photo of a home in a residential neighborhood.

Find out how JEA successfully increased interest in its low-interest loan program beyond a short-term incentive.
September 2012

Energy Efficiency Upgrades Make a Big Difference to a Small Organization

 

San Jose Partners With Established Community Groups to Win Over Homeowners

 

California Homebuyers Find More Value in Energy-Efficient Labeled Homes
Photo of a man and a woman standing in front of the double doors to a building; the sign over them reads Perni Youth Center.

Learn how Pemi Youth Center funded vital energy efficiency upgrades through the Plymouth BetterBuildings program.
September 2012

 

 A speaker speaking in front of a crowd.

Read how Better Buildings Program San Jose engages homeowners by working with local groups already serving the community.
August 2012

 

 Photo of a house

Read how Energy Upgrade California case studies have found that home buyers value houses with energy-efficient upgrades already installed. August 2012

Keep Customers—and Energy—From Slipping Through the Cracks

 

University Park, Maryland, Plans to STEP Into New Communities

 

Phoenix Overcomes Barriers and Energizes Homeowners to Make Upgrades
Photo of three people standing and talking to each other inside a home: two men and a woman.

Learn how the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance's follow-up with interested customers leads to more completed upgrades.
July 2012

 

 Photo of three brick buildings with flowering trees around them.

Read how University Park is expanding into surrounding communities with its rebranded "STEP" program.
July 2012

 

 Photo of a residence.

Learn how grants from Energize Phoenix encourage low-to-moderate income homeowners to complete energy upgrades.
June 2012

Energize New York Harnesses the Power of Community

 

Innovative Home Tours Help Homeowners Understand Energy Savings

 

Indianapolis Offers a Lesson on Driving Demand
Blue and Green logo that depicts a house surrounded by a blue and green segmented circle with the words ENERGIZE NEW YORK Comfort and Savings for Your Home

Read about the keys to Energize New York's energy upgrade success.
May 2012

 

 Open house signs placed throughout a kitchen with hardwood floors

Read how California homeowners are learning about energy efficiency by touring demonstration homes.
May 2012

 

 An EcoHouse logo that says 'Save energy, save money, improve your home.'

Learn how the Indianapolis EcoHouse Project refined its marketing approach to better motivate homeowners to implement energy efficiency upgrades.
April 2012

Honeymoons Lead to Upgrades in Western Vermont

 

Fayette County Training Makes All the Difference for Business Owner

 

Residents Learn to Open Their Doors to Energy Efficiency
The logo for Neighborworks H.E.A.T. Squad.

Read how NeighborWorks of Western Vermont used a payment holiday to spur energy upgrades.
April 2012

 

 A photo of a city skyline that includes a capitol building.

Learn how the Fayette County Better Buildings Initiative helps business owners and contractors develop building science skills to improve homes through energy efficiency upgrades.
March 2012

 

 The BetterBuildings for Michigan logo.

Read about BetterBuildings for Michigan's efforts to increase homeowner awareness through neighborhood sweeps.
February 2012

Making an Impact on Energy Use in Illinois

 

Better Buildings Partners Gather to Plan for the Future

 

Local Contractors Face an Enviable Challenge
Image of the Energy Impact Illinois website home page.

Read how Energy Impact Illinois is helping multifamily building owners increase energy efficiency.
January 2012

 

 Photo of a booth display at an event, with various posters and other informational materials displayed, and a person seated next to the table.

Read about the October 2011 Business of Energy Efficiency Workshop.
November 2011

 

 A photo of a man and a woman looking at plans for a home.

Learn more about how Clean Energy Works and EnergySmart are meeting the high demand for energy efficiency upgrades in their communities.
November 2011

Low-Interest Rates Entice Philadelphians to Reach for the Stars

 

Program Offers New Spin on Traditional Marketing

 

Public Displays of Efficiency

The EnergyWorks logo.

Learn how EnergyWorks in Philadelphia is using low-interest loan rates to incentivize homeowners to upgrade their homes.
November 2011

 

 A photo of several boys in matching T-shirts dancing on a paved surface.

Read about Community Power Works' unique approaches to marketing energy efficiency upgrades.
November 2011

 

 A photo of a bicyclist riding along a paved surface with painted lettering on it.

Learn how our partners are publicly displaying energy efficiency savings.
November 2011

Omaha/Lincoln reEnergize Program

 

Small Town Energy for University Park (STEP-UP)

 

Financing Tool Fits the Bill
Photo of tall buildings in a city skyline, with a river spread out in the foreground.

Learn how the reEnergize Program, with the help of community partners, designed an innovative energy efficiency upgrade program that benefits homes and businesses.
September 2011

 

 Photo of a young boy outdoors looking at a butterfly on his hand.

Read how STEP-UP helped a family not only save money but also feel comfortable in their home again.
September 2011

 

 A photo of a chart, like on a web page, with the headline 'Innovative Financing.'

Learn how our partners are using on-bill financing to help homeowners pay for energy efficiency upgrades.
July 2011

LA County Makeover Contest Attracts More Than Just Winners

 

Massachusetts Captures Home Energy Waste

 

Missouri Entices With Rebates, Lends for the Long-Term
The Energy Upgrade California logo.

Read about the results of the LA County's energy makeover contest.
July 2011

 

 A thermal image of a house.

Read how the Massachusetts DOER used thermal imaging to show homeowners opportunities to improve energy efficiency in their homes.
July 2011

 

 Image of the MAESTRO logo and slogan.

Learn how Missouri found the most successful way to reach farmers, its target audience for energy efficiency upgrades.
July 2011

 

Read more stories from Better Buildings partners

The Better Buildings Beacon Communities logo.

 

Read the success stories coming out of the Beacon Communities Project in New Hampshire, where home and business owners are living and working more comfortably following energy efficiency upgrades.

The Better Buildings for Michigan logo.

 

Read testimonials and success stories from homeowners in various neighborhoods about how their families and homes have benefitted from energy efficiency upgrades.

The Center for Sustainable Energy logo.

 

Read success stories about San Diego homeowners who are lowering their energy use by working with the California Center for Sustainable Energy.

The Clean Energy Works Oregon logo.

 

Read how energy efficiency upgrades made the Williams family's home more comfortable in both summer and winter thanks to Clean Energy Works Oregon.

The Community Power Works logo.

 

From warmer winters to remedied mold problems read customer stories about homeowners who have benefitted from undertaking upgrades through Community Power Works.

The Denver Energy Challenge logo.

 

Learn how Denver, Colorado, home and business owners are achieving energy savings using Denver Energy Challenge's interactive Denver Ripple Map.

The Efficiency Maine logo.

 

These homeowners weatherized their homes with help from Efficiency Maine's Home Energy Savings Program, which also helped upgrade the Marcus Woods and Bangor multifamily dwellings.
The Energize Bedford logo.

 

Discover the stories and watch the videos of homeowners reaping the benefits of Energize Bedford in Bedford, New York.
The Energy Impact Illinois logo.

 

Read several success stories detailing how energy efficiency upgrades have benefitted residential high-rises, a bed-and-breakfast, an automobile parts manufacturing facility, and more.

The EnergySmart logo.

 

Learn how Boulder County homeowners and business owners worked with EnergySmart Advisors to make decisions about energy efficiency upgrades for their homes and businesses.

The EnergySmart Colorado logo.

 

Explore the success stories of happy EnergySmart Colorado homeowners living in Eagle County, Colorado.

The EnergyWorks logo.

 

Read the residential testimonials and commercial success stories made possible through EnergyWorks in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Garfield Clean Energy logo.

 

From local homeowners to a steakhouse restaurant, browse the residential and commercial energy-saving success stories achieved through the Garfield Clean Energy program.
The Green Madisonlogo.

 

As part of Wisconsin Energy Efficiency, Green Madison in Madison, Wisconsin, shares client testimonials on everything from the assessment experience to the rebate offerings.
The LEAP logo.

 

Check out the success stories offered online by the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) in Charlottesville, Virginia. Homeowners who have completed upgrades through LEAP also provide recommendations and participate in video interviews.

The MAESTRO logo.

 

Read the success stories and testimonials outlining how farmers in Missouri are saving energy and reducing their operating costs thanks to Missouri Agricultural Energy Saving Team—A Revolutionary Opportunity (MAESTRO).

The Nola Wise logo.

 

Read about the many satisfied New Orleans locals who have achieved greater energy efficiency through the NOLA WISE program in Louisiana.

The RePower Bainbridge logo.

 

Learn how neighborhood "Residential Energy Champions" in Bainbridge Island, Washington, are taking steps to achieve increased comfort, health, and safety in their homes.

The RePower Bremerton logo.

 

Like RePower Bainbridge, RePower Bremerton features its own "Residential Energy Champions," including a success story of a real family that reduced its home's heat loss by 50 percent.

The STEP (Small Town Energy Program) logo.

 

Small steps are making a big impact in University Park, Maryland. Watch the testimonial videos featuring homeowners working with Small Town Energy Program (STEP).