How is CEE leading the way?
Behavioral programs are not necessarily a separate category of efficiency efforts; rather, behavioral approaches can be effectively integrated into all programs in residential, commercial, or industrial settings. As increased connectivity within homes and businesses expands opportunities to provide energy information, the role of behavior will likely become even more prominent. Here is a sample of what CEE members are working on:
- International Collaboration Toward Behavior Resource Development
CEE is representing US and Canadian program administrators in the “Hard to Reach” Annex, a project of the UsersTCP by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Through this project, sponsoring CEE members will gain access to international learnings on effective approaches to better engage “Hard to Reach” (HTR) energy users. Year 1 of this effort, UsersTCP published an HTR Characterization that provides an overview of HTR audiences, barriers, and definitions.
To learn more: Read additional IEA HTR project details; CEE members can view additional details, including opportunities for input, through the new HTR page on the CEE Forum - Behavior Program Information Sharing
Each year, CEE compiles details on the behavior techniques applied in members’ programs and how these approaches are evaluated.
To learn more: CEE Behavior Public Program Summary, excerpted from the complete version - Behavior Change Insights from the Social Sciences
CEE has compiled research from various social science disciplines on the approaches that are more (and less) effective at encouraging behavior change. Behavior insights from this research are provided to members in brief snapshots with examples from energy efficiency.
To learn more: This paper includes a sample of the insights - Persistence of Behavior Change
Confidence in the persistence of energy savings from behavioral efforts is crucial for cost-effectiveness calculations, resource planning, and claiming savings. CEE compiles persistence research and practical implications from energy efficiency and related behavioral fields to help our members maximize the persistence from their behavior programs.
To learn more: Keep the Change: Behavioral Persistence in Energy Efficiency Programs, as presented at the 2017 International Energy Program Evaluation Conference, Baltimore, MD - Regulatory Treatment of Behavior Change
The ability to claim the energy savings achieved from behavior approaches is vital to the widespread adoption of these techniques. CEE tracks and shares with members where, and under what circumstances, program administrators may claim savings from behavior programs. States such as California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Illinois, Arkansas, and others are allowing program administrators to claim savings from certain behavioral efforts.
What additional behavior resources are available to CEE members?
CEE members enjoy access to all behavior resources, including:
- The annual Behavior Program Summary that outlines members' behavioral program approaches, including contact information for the member organization running each program
- The Behavior Insights and Tools kit, outlining how different behavior techniques from various social science disciplines can be applied to energy efficiency
- Case studies of behavioral programs, including case studies that focus on the use of two-way feedback technologies
- An overview of the regulatory treatment of behavioral approaches by state, province, and territory
- The complete version of Keep the Change: The Persistence of New Energy Behaviors, which details the results of persistence research in energy efficiency and other behavior change fields, program characteristics that may enhance or inhibit persistence, and implications for future energy efficiency program planning
- Numerous webinars, presentation summaries, and research resources
Perhaps most valuably, CEE members learn from the expertise of other program administrators who have already explored specific behavioral program approaches as they collaborate on areas of mutual interest and exploration. In addition, members have the opportunity to help determine which topics CEE behavior work will focus on next and to help shape future behavioral resources.
Find out who CEE members are, see who qualifies for CEE membership, or contact CEE for details about joining.
