EE2020 Overview

The Serrafix team, joined by Peregrine Energy Group and Clark Strategic Communications spent two years working with partner cities in Massachusetts to help them start or improve efficiency programs and initiatives that could serve as models for other cities. This effort was funded by the Barr Foundation. EE2020 has created a Toolkit to share what we have learned.

EE2020 Goals

All energy efficiency initiatives are challenged by outreach and uptake. Simply put, it is difficult to get people to fix their houses, apartments and businesses even when the services are free or the economic advantages are clear. The EE2020 effort sets out to test whether mayors and city leaders could play meaningful roles in encouraging businesses and residents to take advantage of existing efficiency programs. This is of particular importance in Massachusetts, as utility programs are under a mandate to spend aggressively on efficiency.

Key Achievements

With its partner cities, EE2020 tested different program models and interventions, including

Concierge mode in which an intermediary group provides a critical service link between customers/potential customers and utility efficiency programs.
PACE financing with which cities provide long-term financing that allows property owners to pay for efficiency improvements on a cashflow-positive basis.
Municipal Finance models to provide choices for cities whose finances are tight.
Learning Network to provide peer-to-peer learning, linking city efforts with service providers, utilities, regulators and policymakers.
Data Targeting using assessor’s data to target the most promising homeowners and landlords, according to information on building stock.