New Evidence on Energy Education Effectiveness

New Evidence onNew Evidence on

Energy Education Energy Education

EffectivenessEffectiveness

A. Tamasin SternerPure Energy

Lancaster, PAwww.PureEnergyAudits.com

Pilot ObjectivesPilot ObjectivesThe goals were to:

► Understand how a particular household uses electricity,

► Identify the possibilities for reducing that use,

► Explain the benefits of the On Track Program, and

► Partner with the occupant for the best possible outcomes.

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

►Share the methods used

►Discuss cases - May ’05 – January ‘07

►Discuss what was discovered during the home visits

►Share results - one and two years later – savings persistent

►Share successes

Our MethodsOur Methods

► Use Analysis

► The Coaching Model

Use AnalysisUse Analysis

►The customer’s patterns of use drive measures and energy education

Savings Follows WasteSavings Follows Waste

Total electricity use relates directly to potential electricity savings

Source: Carroll and Berger, APPRISE, PA Energy Forum, 2007

Annual End Use Consumption Annual End Use Consumption Ranges (kWh)Ranges (kWh)

Electricity Use LOW MID HIGH

Baseload 2250 5000 8000

Domestic Hot WaterHot water use, 1-3 people 2500 4500 6000Hot water use, 3-6 people 4000 6000 8000

CoolingCooling load (total household) 750 1500 2500

HeatingElectric heat load 2000 5000 8500

National averages trued up to PA utility program experience

Coaching ModelCoaching Modelwith thanks to Maria Nemeth, Ph.D.with thanks to Maria Nemeth, Ph.D.

► Look

► See

► Tell the Truth

► Take Authentic Action

If Authentic Action needs to be taken to get results,

the Truth needs to be told

Coaching Takes TimeCoaching Takes Time►LOOKLOOK at the thing. Focus.

►SEESEE what it is doing, how it is acting – notice, examine, and discern.

►TELL THE TRUTHTELL THE TRUTH – All Partners - about what is seen. Associate with costs, benefits, expectations, choices, options, consequences.

►TAKE AUTHENTIC ACTIONTAKE AUTHENTIC ACTION, together, to move in a positive direction.

Coaching ExampleCoaching Example►LOOK: There is a heating unit in the garage.►SEE: It is set to come on at 74 degrees.►TELL THE TRUTH: Heating the garage uses a

lot of electricity and costs $X per month. You are not paying for all the electricity you use. The utility wants you to use less electricity…

►TAKE AUTHENTIC ACTION: Remove temperature sensitive items from the garage; separate laundry area from the rest of the garage…

Another ExampleAnother Example►LOOK: There is a dehumidifier.►SEE: It is running and it is winter. Rainwater drains into

the basement due to foundation leaks and poor street drainage.

►TELL THE TRUTH: It costs $X to run the dehumidifier each month. If the rainwater didn’t enter the basement, the dehumidifier wouldn’t have to run in the winter. You are not paying for all your electricity use. The utility wants you to use less electricity so they don’t have to cover you. Consider moving?

►TAKE AUTHENTIC ACTION: Let’s call the City and report the problem together.

Tamasin’s Cases at a GlanceTamasin’s Cases at a Glance

►22 total cases

►20 went through the entire pilot

►11 are still connected up to two years later

►All but one case saved, and the savings ranged from 6% to 47% annually

►4 of the 11 have two years post-audit data

►4 of the 11 are now off On Track (CAP) but not the same 4 customers

Total Electricity Use, Pre-AuditTotal Electricity Use, Pre-Audit

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Electricity Use Analysis, All Cases, Electricity Use Analysis, All Cases, Pre-AuditPre-Audit

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Baseload Summer Winter

Tamasin’s Cases

Pre-Audit Usage RangesPre-Audit Usage Ranges

Avg.Avg. Min.Min. Max.Max. Avg. Non-Avg. Non-Case UseCase Use

Annual TotalAnnual Total 44,500 34,000 72,000 16,000

BaseloadBaseload(Incl. hot water)

24,250 11,000 60,000 10,000

SummerSummer 1,955 0 7,000 1,500

WinterWinter 17,841 5,000 35,000 4,500

Electricity Usage Ranges among Cases (kWh)

Pre- and Post-Audit UsePre- and Post-Audit Use

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Selected CasesSelected Cases

►Since this presentation is about energy education and persistent savings, we are now going to look at the 4 oldest cases.

►Four cases with 2 years of post-audit data

Case ACase A

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Case A Reasons for High UseCase A Reasons for High Use

►Holes in the thermal barrier

►Inadequate insulation

►Constant dehumidifier and fan use due to flooding from poor street drainage

Case A MeasuresCase A Measures

►Insulation and air sealing►Education►Adjusted refrigerator temperature►CFL’s

►Customer worked with the City to improve rain drainage problem

►Roof leaked again since insulation

Case BCase B

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Case B Reasons for High UseCase B Reasons for High Use

►The old heat pump wasn’t working properly – the auxiliary heat was always on

►Thermostat set with Fan On instead of Auto

Case B MeasuresCase B Measures

►Reset thermostat fan setting to Auto

►Met with the complex Maintenance, showed him the problem, and asked him to arrange for service

►Education

Case CCase C

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Case C Reasons for High UseCase C Reasons for High Use

►High baseload due to high number of occupants, multiple TV’s on most of the time, leaking water heater, bad refrigerator

►High AC use due to AC thermostat not accurate, inadequate returns so bedrooms pressurized at night

►One AC duct disconnected

Case C MeasuresCase C Measures

►Replaced refrigerator

►Installed CFL’s

►Replaced AC thermostat

►Reconnected duct

►Undercut bedroom doors

►Installed window film on W and S windows

►Appliance timer on TV’s left on all night

►Education

Case DCase D

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Case D Reasons for High UseCase D Reasons for High Use

►Very high baseload use due to hot water clothes washing, multiple refrigerators/freezers

►High summer use – 5 room AC’s, 3 of which were 5 or 6 EER

►High winter use - Washer and dryer in the garage, so she kept the garage electric heater on

Case D MeasuresCase D Measures

►Switched washer hoses►Installed CFL’s►Eliminated beer tap►Father built wall to separate laundry area►Replaced 1 AC and removed another►Replaced thermostats►Added insulation and air sealed►Education

Savings RangeSavings RangePre-Audit use compared to Pre-Audit use compared to

22ndnd year Post-Audit year Post-Audit

►Case A saved 42%

►Case B saved 47%

►Case C saved 22%

►Case D saved 30%

What Work Was Done? Mostly What Work Was Done? Mostly Typical Measures… Typical Measures…

The ones that have two years of savings:►Refrigerators and freezers were replaced ►Refrigerator temperatures adjusted►Energy efficient lighting installed►Central AC thermostat was replaced►West and south facing windows were tinted►Doors were undercut to relieve pressure from

unbalanced duct system►Reconnect a disconnected duct►Heat pump fixed►Ceiling repaired and insulated

So… What Was Different?So… What Was Different?How did these folks save so much How did these folks save so much

more than typical?more than typical?►The customer’s use was analyzed before the

audit:

We focused on the high use categories: where we could make the most difference?

►We applied the Coaching Model:

Look

See

Tell the Truth ( “the party’s over” )

Take Authentic Action

Effective Visit ToolsEffective Visit Tools► How Much Electricity Am I Using form

► Form a partnership by telling the truth:

On Track program benefits are a blessing

You are in trouble: may not be your fault but you are in trouble

► Use analysis - Knowing low to high use ranges – how much electricity use is high

► Determining if the issue is structural, and/or waste, and/or inefficient appliances

► Have multiple metering tools

► Prioritize the spending where it will help the most

► Take the time needed to do it right: research options, multiple visits

► Ask for a commitment

Could the Savings have been Could the Savings have been Higher?Higher?

►Time lags between audit and installation Customers felt disrespected lost motivation when

there is too long a lag

Partnership concept was weakened

►Assuming use at $250 a month meant something was wrong

►Treating the shell when the building isn’t the reason for the high use

Communication SuccessesCommunication Successes►Showing the customer how her use compared to

average use – an “aha” moment►Customers appreciated hearing the truth about

their bill, benefit, and payment situation ►Showing what month the customer will have to

start to pay their full bill if their use remains the same

►Being open and honest – responding and not reacting to the customer’s confessions

What Customers SaidWhat Customers Said(One and Two Years after Audit)(One and Two Years after Audit)

►Felt empowered to act►Noticed electricity use went down►Remembered Action Plan items►Children are healthier►Don’t need On Track (CAP) anymore►Motivated to follow through with items missed or

dropped►Frustrated about installer follow through in some

cases

ConclusionsConclusions

The new evidence …

High and persistent energy savings are possible when the customer’s use is analyzed and appropriate measures are taken …

And when the time is taken to effectively and honestly coach customers.