Home energy reports (HERs) provide millions of households with information on past energy consumption, tips on ways to save in the present, and product recommendations for longer-term energy savings. Many utilities have operated this successful behavior-change program over the years, achieving energy savings on the order of 1.5% to 2.5% of total annual energy use across large, residential populations. With utilities expecting to see a decrease in energy savings from upstream lighting programs in the coming years, given federal policy requiring efficient lighting (EISA backstop provision, utilities will likely look to the HERs or similar products for additional savings.
Despite the HERs’ savings achievements over the initial program implementation years, many utilities now experience program maturity challenges, such as an energy savings plateau and customers’ declining interest in or motivation for behavior change. Many have questions about next steps for HERs, how they can be optimized for continued success as they evolve, or whether they should be replaced with something else. To help answer these questions, Masumi Izawa and Cheryl Winch reveal why thinking forward, automating a new normal, and designing more direct connections with customers could be the future of behavior change.
Why Cadmus
As a leader in the energy and security sectors, Cadmus is focused on delivering extraordinary results and transformative solutions.
- Demand-side management pioneer
- Sophisticated forecasting and modeling tools
- Deep experience in grid vulnerability
