
                    2015 ENERGY STAR[(R)] Award Application
          Partner of the Year  -  Energy Efficiency Program Delivery


Eligibility:  	This award is open to utilities, state agencies, regional energy efficiency nonprofit organizations, associations, and other organizations that sponsor sustained energy efficiency and environmental programs. 

      Please note that for-profit energy service and product providers are not eligible for this award category and are redirected to the application for Service and Product Providers under the Partner of the Year category. Please remember to review the General Instructions before completing your application.
      
      
Description 
of Award:	This award recognizes organizations that have demonstrated leadership and best practices in implementing energy efficiency program and/or program portfolios that incorporate ENERGY STAR as a key strategy. Recipients of awards in this category distinguish themselves through their use of ENERGY STAR tools, strategies and resources as a cost-effective approach to delivering near-term program results while also effectively overcoming market barriers to efficiency such that more efficient products, homes and buildings become the norm. Organizations applying for this award are strongly encouraged to address how they are transforming the market for energy efficiency in the long term.

      The goal of this award is to recognize comprehensive, high-performing energy efficiency programs and/or portfolios that have directly leveraged ENERGY STAR to achieve (or to be positioned to achieve) significant impact in the marketplace advancing energy efficiency and related greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives.
      
Program
Categories: 	Applicants may apply in one or more of the following four Program Categories. Applicants promoting ENERGY STAR in more than one ENERGY STAR program area (i.e., Residential New Homes, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, ENERGY STAR Certified Products, and/or Commercial and Industrial) are strongly encouraged to submit one comprehensive application to most effectively convey their organization's strategic use of the ENERGY STAR platform and partnership in advancing energy efficiency, irrespective of internal organization/program management structures. 

      NOTE: For organizations that have been recognized with ENERGY STAR Awards in past years, the award evaluation committee will evaluate applicants not only on their ability to sustain successful strategies from prior years, but on the new strategies and activities initiated in 2014. Applicants are encouraged to respond accordingly in their narratives.

      
      
      Contact your regional account manager for additional details or guidance if applying for multiple awards.

      Category 1. Residential New Construction: Programs that promote the construction of ENERGY STAR certified homes by implementing program elements such as the following: 
            
             Design approaches that are based on the local housing market and unique program goals and reflect the most important regional factors for program success;
             Marketing strategies that increase awareness of ENERGY STAR certified homes; 
             Training sessions to help stakeholders be successful program participants;
             Strategic incentive structures that help to offset upgrade costs and encourage participation; 
             Outreach approaches that create strong relationships with stakeholders, communicate procedures and expectations, and share important program information;
             Quality assurance protocols to ensure the integrity of the ENERGY STAR label and the EEPS program; and 
             Measurement and evaluation processes to assess progress and attainment of goals and facilitate continuous improvement in the implementation of the program.
      
      Category 2. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR. Sponsors of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR programs may apply for recognition for either 2(a) or 2(b) as follows:
      
         2(a) Home Performance with ENERGY STAR/Emerging Markets: Programs that recently signed a Partnership Agreement and reported completing at least 100 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects in 2014. Program Sponsors must have submitted an implementation plan, a signed Partnership Agreement, and have met all reporting requirements for the past year. Applicants should provide detailed information on their strategies and tactics to: increase homeowner demand (marketing, incentives, and financing); develop their workforce (recruitment, retention, recognition, incentives, and training); and implement a quality assurance (QA) system. 
            
         2(b) Home Performance with ENERGY STAR/Established Markets: This category applies to HPwES programs that have reported completing at least 1000 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects in the last year. Successful applicants should be able to demonstrate how their program achieved substantial market penetration and sustainability.  Applicants for this category should be able to illustrate how their program approach is overcoming market barriers to home performance, such as: reducing market confusion, minimizing administrative burdens, and/or developing a strong value proposition for participants. Program Sponsors must have submitted an implementation plan, a signed Partnership Agreement, and have met all reporting requirements for the past year. Applicants should provide detailed information on their strategies and tactics to: increase homeowner demand (marketing, incentives, and financing); develop their workforce (recruitment, retention, recognition, incentives, and training); and implement a quality assurance (QA) system.
      
      Category 3. Certified Products: Programs that are designed to overcome market barriers to widespread adoption of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and residential products and/or related best practices, such as power management of office equipment, consumer education on proper thermostat use, etc.
Category 4. Commercial and Industrial: Programs that deliver improved whole - building energy performance in existing commercial buildings; target and track performance for new construction; and/or achieve facility-wide improvement in industrial plants, by using ENERGY STAR tools and resources to overcome market barriers. The evaluation committee will look for several specific actions, including but not limited to:
 Implementing Building Performance with ENERGY STAR;
 Increasing the use of Portfolio Manager by making whole-building energy data more readily available to customers, in particular through use of the Portfolio Manager web services;
 Promoting the National Building Competition, the Challenge for Industry, and earning the ENERGY STAR for buildings;  and, 
 Setting energy design goals using Target Finder and achieving Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR for new buildings.

	Submissions must consist of (1) an executive summary of no more than 300 words, and (2) a narrative of no more than three pages per program category as described above; (3) Supplemental materials are optional. 

	Please note the following (applies for both the executive summary and narrative):

             Accomplishments -- Applicants should provide a detailed description of your 2014 accomplishments demonstrating how you have met the required criteria below. 
            
             Cumulative Accomplishments -- When highlighting cumulative accomplishments, please ensure that you include a timeframe (e.g., "saved $3 million in 2014 and more than $10 million since 2001"). 
            
             Activities must be ongoing or completed during calendar year 2014

1. Executive Summary (no more than 300 words)
Please provide a brief overview of your organization and the highlights of key accomplishments that make you eligible for this ENERGY STAR award. Include all of the following information: company revenue; location of company headquarters; brief summary of company (2-3 sentences); and a summary of your top three 2014 ENERGY STAR accomplishments. In the event that you are chosen to receive an award, this text will be used to prepare a summary of your organization's achievements. The Executive Summary will not count toward the narrative page limits outlined below.

      2. Narrative (no more than three pages per program category). 
      It is recommended that each item, as defined below, be addressed explicitly in the application. New and emerging programs are encouraged to apply, and scores will be weighted accordingly (i.e., more heavily based on program design and anticipated market effects than proven energy and emission savings.) 
      
      Candidates must include the following in their submissions:

         a. Category: From the list above, please identify all target Program Categories for your program(s)/initiative(s). If you address multiple Program Categories, please ensure that each category clearly addresses the following criteria.   

         b. Program design: Describe your program design in terms of goals, market barriers addressed, strategy for overcoming market barriers, key activities, and discuss why this approach is the best practice for your market. Applicants with new programs/program designs should focus heavily on this section, clearly explaining their program logic and why it is likely to lead to sustained market change.

         c. Incorporation of ENERGY STAR: Describe how you have incorporated the ENERGY STAR platform (i.e., messaging, tools, and strategies) as a central pillar of your initiative. Participation in EPA-led national promotions may be included in this application to the extent they are part of a larger program strategy. Please provide relevant examples in electronic format as part of your supplemental materials.
         
         d. Market Effects: Please provide qualitative and numerical data to support your case that the market has changed or will likely change in a sustained way as a result of your initiative (e.g., improved energy performance of buildings in your region, changes in ENERGY STAR awareness or availability/sale of ENERGY STAR certified products or homes). To the extent possible, also indicate the size and importance of the market that has been (or will be) affected within the context of your service territory, state, or region.  
   
         Examples of market effects include, but are not limited to, the following:
             Energy savings, peak demand reductions, and air pollution reductions achieved through residential, commercial, and/or industrial sector programs that explicitly leverage ENERGY STAR.
             Increase in salesperson/contractor knowledge; change in business practices. 
             Increase in participation by key suppliers, including energy service companies, equipment suppliers, architects, engineers, contractors, or retailers.
             Increase in service availability.
             Increase in third-party advertising by market participants. 
             Increase in consumer awareness; change in consumer attitude.
             Breadth and reach of publicity activities.
             Increase in participation in the ENERGY STAR Program 
             Cost effectiveness of program (e.g., $0.05/kWh TRC levelized cost).
             Estimated year-to-date energy savings.  

         e. Program Category-Specific Market Effects: Applicants must provide the following information specific to the Program Category(ies) covered in your application:
   
             For Residential New Construction:
 Please provide specific program numbers for 2013 and 2014 and the percent change in these numbers from 2013 to 2014 for the following: 
 Number of new homes in the service territory that were ENERGY STAR Certified.
 Number of builders and Home Energy Raters partnering in the program. 
 Number of media impressions to demonstrate growth in consumer awareness of ENERGY STAR Certified Homes.  
 Description of efforts to engage the local HVAC industry about quality installation and their participation in the ENERGY STAR program.
      
               NOTE: Sponsors implementing tiered incentive programs where the ENERGY STAR Certified homes program is not the entry-level tier should only report results from those that participated at the ENERGY STAR level.
      
             For Home Performance with ENERGY STAR:
 Activities to recruit and train participating contractors as demonstrated by production rates, retention, number of Century Club Contractors, etc.
 Innovative solutions to grow Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, such as motivating homeowners to take action, increased recognition for whole house solutions, diversity and strength of the contractor workforce, and/or economic growth.
 Completed projects by participating contractors.
 Assessment to completed project conversion rates.
 Number of on-site QA inspections by program, contractor, and third-party inspectors.
 Success in coordinating with other organizations (e.g., utilities, manufacturers, state and local governments, retail, financial organizations, non-profits, trade associations) to grow overall market acceptance of the home performance delivery.
 Support for development of local contractor networking and advocacy
      
 For ENERGY STAR Certified Products:
                Increase in sales or market share of ENERGY STAR certified products vis a vis non-certified models.
                Increase in shelf space devoted to ENERGY STAR certified products.
                Increase in dealer stocking for certified products.
                Number of older/inefficient units permanently removed from service (e.g., properly recycled).
      
 For Commercial and Industrial:
                Increase in use of EPA's ENERGY STAR measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, and the Target Finder, for new construction.
                Number of customers participating in the National Building Competition or Challenge for Industry.
                Increase in buildings earning the ENERGY STAR label. 
                Number of customer buildings benchmarked and evaluated through Building Performance with ENERGY STAR.
               
      
         f. Data Sources: Please reference data sources used to support your market effect claims. As relevant, briefly (1-2 sentences) describe the data collection method, sample frame, and respondent population (e.g., telephone survey, large-share sample of heating and cooling contractors).

3. Supplemental Materials (optional): Applicants may submit electronic samples of program materials and evaluation reports to accompany the narrative description. Absent electronic submission of collateral marketing materials, EPA will validate incorporation of the ENERGY STAR label by reviewing use of the ENERGY STAR logo and educational content of the applicant's website. In all cases, EPA reserves the right to consider online resources in reviewing applications.

























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