The E-Star Solution for Utilities
Forward-thinking utilities have begun to integrate energy-efficiency
solutions into their overall customer service plans and public
relations programs. This demonstrates commitment to the needs
of the residential and business communities, thereby demonstrating
the utility’s ongoing interest in the local economy.
Utilities that partner with E-Star™ can augment their
existing customer service program and contribute to their
conservation or demand-side management efforts while adopting
a proactive stance in respect to energy-efficiency issues.
Customer Service
Solutions
The E-Star program provides utilities
with turnkey customer services solutions that can be tailored
to meet the needs of each E-Star Utility partner. The expertise
and network of resources provided by E-Star allows Investor
Owned Utilities (IOUs), Municipally Owned Utilities (“muni’s”)
and Rural Electric Cooperatives (REAs) to customize programs
designed to make homes more comfortable, lower utility bills,
and save energy for consumers who own new or existing homes.
E-Star offers utilities an abundance of options in designing
their customer service plan. In partnership with E-Star, a
utility can promote and facilitate consumer-driven energy
improvements in existing homes, as well as address comfort
and utility cost concerns. The following is a partial list
of E-Star solutions a utility could use to promote residential
energy efficiency in its service territory.
Call Center Support. Give out E-Star’s toll-free
number at customer call centers as a source of information
on residential energy efficiency.
Home Energy Ratings. Help homeowners identify comfort
and utility cost improvement opportunities by providing putting
them in touch with E-Star Home Energy Raters.
Financing for Improvements. Offer financing options
for implementation of energy-effective improvements suggested
in Home Energy Ratings by connecting homeowners with E-Star
lending partners. E-Star lenders Universal Lending and GMAC
Mortgage Corporation offer Energy Mortgage, Energy Improvement,
and Energy Equity loan incentives of up to $500 for utility
customers desiring to finance energy improvements.
Technical Support. Spread knowledge throughout the
builder community and residential customers by tapping into
E-Star for technical support on remodeling, system design,
and building science.
Promoting
Energy-Efficient Construction
Forward thinking builders
realize that the greatest impact on home energy use can be
made during the initial construction of a home. In fact, the
Residential Energy Consumption Survey of 1997, published in
November 1999 by the Energy Information Administration reported
that 56% of residential utility use goes towards home heating
and cooling (Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Pie Chart). HVAC systems
and the construction techniques that affect them, such as
insulation, building envelope tightness, windows and doors,
are easier to build right when a home is first constructed
than after it has been completed. E-Star Utilities can support
builders who develop energy-efficient homes. This kind of
support can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example,
a utility could: sponsor E-Star educational seminars for builders,
underwrite an E-Star builder awards program, or create informative
printed materials on energy efficiency for the public in cooperation
with E-Star and participating builders.
E-Star Utility
Partners and Success Stories
E-Star participates
with utilities in a number of awards programs, public outreach
forums, and research endeavors aimed at fostering energy efficiency
in housing and supporting utilities’ efforts to inform
and meet the needs of their residential customers.
Colorado Springs Utilities. Colorado
Springs Utilities and E-Star share a close relationship
as they work to promote energy-efficient housing throughout
the Colorado Springs municipality. E-Star provides ongoing
technical support for both utility officials and builders
in Colorado Springs desiring to increase residential energy
efficiency. E-Star takes part in Colorado Springs Utilities’
annual Conservation Quest, operating an information center
at the event that distributes information to utility customers.
E-Star Raters routinely evaluate new and existing homes in
Colorado Springs so that reports on their energy efficiency
can be provided to homeowners.
Fort Collins Utilities. Over the past two years, E-Star
has been working with Fort
Collins Utilities as that organization produced a seminal
report on the state of housing within the city of Fort Collins.
Although based on findings in Fort Collins housing, the reportindicated
significant room for improvement in the quality of construction
statewide. E-Star provided technical information and support
for the production of the report and helped the builder community
to implement recommended changes. Today, the
Fort
Collins Report is an integral part of both Fort Collins
Utilities’ and E-Star’s efforts to promote residential
energy efficiency.
Xcel Energy. E-Star Utility partner Xcel
Energy routinely sends customers with comfort or bill
problems to E-Star. E-Star provides these Xcel Energy customers
with easy to implement solutions for improving the energy
performance of their homes. Xcel Energy participated in the
2002 US EPA New Millennium Builder Awards and has provided
significant financial support for the New Millennium Builder
Awards in 2003. As a result, Xcel is demonstrating its commitment
to quality housing in Colorado, a sentiment very much appreciated
by the business and residential communities in Xcel’s
service territory.
Delta Montrose Electric Association. E-Star has participated
in public events hosted by Delta
Montrose Electric Association to thereby make important
energy-efficient information available to residents of the
West slope.
Becoming an E-Star Utility
Partner
E-Star staff works with its management to
design a residential energy-efficiency solution that meets
the needs of a utility. An agreement is executed between the
parties and an annual fee is paid to E-Star.
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