New Cadmus Study Examines Long-Term Impacts of Home Energy Report Programs
Waltham, Mass., November 6, 2014—The Cadmus Group, Inc. (Cadmus) announced today that it has released a new white paper, “Long-Run Savings and Cost-Effectiveness of Home Energy Report Programs.” In the paper, authors M. Sami Khawaja, Ph.D., and James Stewart, Ph.D., report the results of an analysis of long-term impacts of home energy reports (HERs). The analysis finds that the benefits of HER programs extend beyond the initial years of program implementation, but stresses that fuller understanding of these benefits is crucial for accurately measuring them within analytical frameworks.
The full white paper is available for download or viewing at cadmusgroup.com/home-energy-reports.
The report’s findings are based on data from four independent studies of Opower HER programs across the United States. Opower is a leading provider of cloud-based software and customer-engagement programs to the utility industry, analyzing more than 300 billion meter reads to deliver its services.
“HER programs are a cornerstone of many utilities’ energy-efficiency programs,” said co-author Khawaja. “Currently, understanding of their long-term impact is critically lacking in the analytics framework of behavioral programs. Effective useful life is fundamental in planning and assessing cost effectiveness. This paper provides a modest first step toward reasonable assessment of the economics of such programs.”
HER programs involve sending electronic or paper reports to residential electricity or natural gas customers, educating them about their energy use and encouraging them to conserve. Previous large-scale studies have focused on the results of the programs’ first two years, which typically result in 1.5-2.5 percent electricity savings.
The authors also offer recommendations for regulatory frameworks to more accurately measure the benefits of HER programs.
Cadmus provides a full range of industry-leading support services for commercial energy utilities, energy consortia, and research entities. It offers strategic and analytic services to support integrated resource planning and program development; has developed standards that have been adopted across North America and Europe through international agreements; and conducts economic analyses for federal, state, and local governments. Learn more at cadmusgroup.com/energy.
About The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Cadmus is an employee-owned consultancy committed to helping our clients address complex challenges by applying diverse skills and experiences in a highly collaborative environment. By assisting our clients in achieving their goals, we create social and economic value today and for future generations. Founded in 1983, we leverage exceptional expertise across a staff of more than 400 professionals in the physical and life sciences, engineering, social sciences, strategic communication, architecture and design, law, policy analysis, and the liberal arts who provide an array of research and analytical services in the United States and abroad.
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