Library: Vermont Department of Public Service

This report is a program evaluation of Efficiency Vermont's Residential energy efficiency programs with goals to estimate EVTs net effects on CFL purchases, Energy Star appliance purchases, new construction practices and to identify opportunities for new programs and improvement of existing programs.

This report is an evaluation of Efficiency Vermont’s Residential New Construction Program, which is designed to increase the energy efficiency of new homes built in Vermont. This evaluation describes the residential new construction market in Vermont and assesses program process and impacts from 2000 to 2002.

This is the Final Report of the Phase 1 Evaluation of Efficiency Vermont’s (EVT’s) Efficient Products Program (EPP). This evaluation assesses the accomplishments of the program from its inception in March 2000 through December 2002. The program addressed lighting (CFL bulbs and efficiency fixtures) and appliances (clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and room air conditioners). This evaluation characterizes the baseline market conditions for each of the program areas; assesses the effects of the program on markets; evaluates the success of programming efforts on consumer choice; and recommends program improvements. Bulb sales from a sample of retailers were analyzed and compared with other data sources to estimate the market effects of the lighting portion of the program. Appliance market share was estimated using net effects modeling analysis. A model was developed for each program area; the model of what the market would have looked like without the program was compared to observed data in order to determine net program impacts. The process evaluation identified additional appliance-related savings opportunities as well as suggesting program improvements.

The overall purpose of this study was to determine baseline construction practices of newly constructed homes following the implementation of the RBES code, and to assess the efficiency of lighting and common appliances being installed in these homes. Although not an exhaustive impact analysis of the efficiency program impacts, this study also highlights the effects of the the utility DSM programs of the late 1990’s and the ongoing efficiency programs currently implemented by Efficiency Vermont efficiency activities, as appropriate.