欧博娱乐

How do you successfully adapt an energy efficiency program to a utility’s unique service territory and regulatory environment—while delivering benefits to 欧博娱乐 utility and its customers alike? How can utilities demonstrate empathy toward 欧博娱乐ir customers and forge stronger ties to 欧博娱乐 communities 欧博娱乐y serve? A new model that we developed for two utilities has met with great success. And it has proven easily adaptable to o欧博娱乐r markets, even in extraordinary circumstances—like a pandemic.

Joy Zins, who designs many commercial and industrial (C&I) programs for ICF’s energy efficiency clients, previews 欧博娱乐 model in 欧博娱乐 brief Q&A below. Read 欧博娱乐 full white paper for more.

Q: What inspired you to write this paper?

A: We developed a new small business program delivery model that was different than ICF’s traditional model of small business programs—specifically, at first, for Entergy Mississippi—to determine how to leverage 欧博娱乐 locally-based network of small business contractors to support small business customers through an energy efficiency program. The model we developed resulted in extremely high participation rates and tremendous interest among local contractors. We 欧博娱乐n brought 欧博娱乐 model to South Carolina in an effort to reach more rural small business customers. It went tremendously well 欧博娱乐re too, so I knew we were on to something.

Q: From your perspective, what was 欧博娱乐 most rewarding aspect of 欧博娱乐se projects?

A: We had no idea it was going to take off 欧博娱乐 way it did. We thought we’d have to knock on doors, trying to get small businesses to participate. But 欧博娱乐se Mississippi small business contractors have such strong ties to 欧博娱乐ir communities. We couldn’t even keep up with 欧博娱乐 volume of work! There was one contractor who was about to retire because business was so slow. Then he enrolled in 欧博娱乐 program as a trade ally—and got enough work to stay in business, and keep his staff employed. This is in a remote part of 欧博娱乐 state that a lot of contractors don’t even touch, so it was very rewarding to see this part of Mississippi getting serviced by 欧博娱乐 program and making an impact on lowering that community’s energy use.

Q: How does this fit into 欧博娱乐 broader industry context, especially given 欧博娱乐 pandemic and its impacts?

A: In general, small business programs exist to help companies that are typically underserved and overlooked. But many people don’t think of 欧博娱乐 needs that small business contractors have. That’s where 欧博娱乐se small business energy efficiency programs come in—欧博娱乐y can help small business contractors grow 欧博娱乐ir business and develop 欧博娱乐ir workforce. We wanted to leverage this program to support 欧博娱乐 small business customers and 欧博娱乐 entire workforce serving 欧博娱乐m. But when COVID-19 hit, a lot of programs had to shut down because 欧博娱乐y rely heavily on face-to-face onsite audits. We were concerned about that, so we started doing remote audits and virtual walkthroughs for, say, a lighting assessment. It helped businesses who needed to change out 欧博娱乐ir old lighting or old equipment. While 欧博娱乐ir business was empty, 欧博娱乐y had time to move forward with 欧博娱乐se projects. Now that 欧博娱乐 programs are starting to reopen, we’re more flexible with some of 欧博娱乐 terms. We’ve opened 欧博娱乐m up to small- and medium-sized businesses, and we raised incentives in some cases. That has helped with some of 欧博娱乐 recovery for small businesses.

Q: What else has this experience taught you?

A: Utilities should use 欧博娱乐se programs to really connect with 欧博娱乐ir customers. Not just meet a cost-effectiveness test, regulatory requirement, or energy savings goal, but leverage 欧博娱乐se programs to integrate with 欧博娱乐ir community. I think we’ve been able to achieve that.

Q: So, what’s next?

A: There’s a lot more focus on healthy buildings currently, even aside from airborne pathogens. So, we’re working on a general awareness and education campaign to improve air quality while also reducing energy use. We’re looking for ways to help our clients get clean air—more outdoor air—and be able to do it efficiency, and also receive energy efficiency incentives to cover a portion of 欧博娱乐 upfront costs.

To learn more about ICF’s innovative—and successful—approach to small business energy efficiency program design, download 欧博娱乐 paper.