Topic:"Stakeholder Engagement" in M12186

Instant Savings Highlights - Instant Savings' two major campaigns (spring and fall) saw high uptake and very strong results in terms of unit sales and energy and demands savings achieved, compared to previous years. This was driven primari...

AI summary Instant Savings' spring and fall campaigns in 2024 achieved high uptake and strong energy/demand savings due to 70-80% rebates and targeted marketing for LED products. Digital campaigns also contributed to consistent savings. The Evaluator's survey indicated lower freeridership than previous years.

Affordable Multi-family Housing and Non-Profit Organizations Highlights - Affordable Multi-family Housing completed 83 projects in 2024, a slight increase from 2023, however, energy and demand savings were slightly lower in 2024 than 2023...

AI summary Affordable Multi-family Housing completed 83 projects in 2024, with slightly lower energy savings due to fewer prescriptive project applications and smaller building sizes. Efforts to boost participation included contractor engagement and targeting co-ops. Financial barriers and rental rate dissatisfaction were identified as key participation challenges through process evaluations and feedback.

Efficient Product Installation Highlights - Energy and demand savings in Efficient Product Installation in 2024 were consistent with 2023, but fell short of mid-course adjusted targets due to increasing measure saturation. With fewer measu...

AI summary Energy and demand savings from Efficient Product Installation in 2024 remained consistent with 2023 but missed mid-course adjusted targets due to measure saturation. Lower installation rates for smart thermostats and LED lamps, along with reduced average savings per household, contributed to this shortfall. Electrician-installed measures and new marketing campaigns are expected to improve outcomes in 2025.

Green Heat Highlights • Green Heat experienced low application volumes throughout 2024, consistent with a trend seen in 2023, as uptake of the most popular measure in the program component (heat pumps) continued 11 E1 2024 DSM Programs Eva...

AI summary Green Heat saw low 2024 applications due to the Canada Greener Homes Grant program, which offered higher rebates. Heat pumps dominated installations, with rebate adjustments in Q1. A 2024 billing analysis showed lower unitary savings for heat pumps and wood/pellet stoves. Marketing focused on heat pumps and cooling options, while incentives for wood/pellet stoves were increased until 2024.

Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project Highlights • Participation in the Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project was higher in 2024 than any previous year in the project's history, but the program component did not meet its mid-course adjus...

AI summary Participation in the Mi'kmaw Home Energy Efficiency Project increased in 2024, but energy and demand savings targets were unmet due to a billing analysis updating the HOT2000 software overestimation ratio. Outreach included distributing a bilingual 2023 Impact Report and program materials to 13 First Nations communities.

Residential Behaviour Highlights - The Residential Behaviour program component launched on April 30, and in its first eight months achieved 6.3 GWh of energy savings. While below the mid-course adjusted target of 8 GWh, the 6.3 GWh achieve...

AI summary The Residential Behaviour program, launched on April 30, achieved 6.3 GWh savings in its first eight months, below the 8 GWh target. This reflects revised savings expectations from Bidgely and a delayed launch affecting report delivery. The program reached 239,093 participants in 2024, with E1 improving report personalization in the second half of the year to enhance engagement.

BNI EFFICIENT PRODUCT REBATES (2024) - o Two new distributor partners were added and fully onboarded in Q2 and began offering instant rebates to their customers in June. - o The Evaluator performed a process evaluation for the Instant Reba...

AI summary The BNI Efficient Product Rebates (2024) report highlights additions of distributor partners, process and market evaluations, increased participation in lighting and motor measures, new solar PV pilot rebates, and LED road lighting initiatives. The Evaluator recommended improving instant rebates, increasing rebate amounts, and simplifying paperwork, while suggesting further research for market evaluation. Marketing campaigns targeted various sectors, including agriculture and commercial buildings.

CUSTOM INCENTIVES (2024) executed more quickly than conventional projects. This alternative, customer-driven approach resulted in two industrial customers achieving significant savings as a result of compressed air leak audits. - The Evalu...

AI summary The 2024 Custom Incentives program highlights successes in energy savings, including a 10% reduction in Retrofit service free-ridership, high New Construction participation, and tripled Building Optimization savings. Challenges include cost barriers for modeling in new construction and delays from compliance requirements. Pay-for-Performance projects initiated in 2024 will yield savings starting in 2025. Marketing efforts targeted BNI and commercial sectors.

DIRECT INSTALLATION (2024) - Small Business Energy Solutions continued to develop the partner portal in an effort to make contractor access easier and smoother, and to improve the accuracy of data coming in from contractor-driven applicati...

AI summary Small Business Energy Solutions improved the partner portal, aligned with Natural Resources Canada's criteria, faced market challenges, and conducted marketing campaigns targeting BNI and contractors. Cycle times remained affected by supply chain issues and contractor priorities.

1 5.6 Enabling Strategies - 2 The Enabling Strategies component in the 2023-2025 DSM Plan focuses on the following three - 3 categories: - 4 Education and Outreach; - 5 Development and Research; and - 6 Other Enabling Strategies. 7 8 [Tabl...

AI summary The Enabling Strategies component of the 2023-2025 DSM Plan focuses on three categories: Education and Outreach, Development and Research, and Other Enabling Strategies. Table 14 highlights E1's 2024 Enabling Strategy activities.

Education and Outreach Education and Outreach activities in 2024 included the following activities: - E1 participated in five home shows; as well as the Build Green Atlantic conference, which had record attendance and featured several E1 s...

AI summary E1 conducted outreach through home shows, conferences, and summer events across all 18 Nova Scotia counties. Green Schools engaged 30,375 students, with focused efforts in communities with high African Nova Scotian and Mi'kmaw populations. Ecology Action Centre developed training and educational videos on energy efficiency featuring Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian voices.

ENABLING STRATEGIES 2024 ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS - o research and relationship-building support with key stakeholders for the Affordable Multifamily Housing program component, including four sessions designed to identify issues and find soluti...

AI summary Enabling Strategies 2024 highlights stakeholder engagement, events, and partnerships to advance energy efficiency. Key activities include supporting the Affordable Multifamily Housing program, strategic partnerships with organizations like the Black Business Initiative and Skills Nova Scotia, capacity-building initiatives, and expanding E1/ENS's social media presence. The Efficiency Preferred Partner network grew to 458 members, with training on energy efficiency topics and preparation for code changes.

Development and Research Development and Research activities in 2024 included: - quarterly tracking of quality assurance, participant satisfaction, and other attitudinal metrics among Nova Scotia households to help E1 respond to changing m...

AI summary In 2024, Development and Research activities focused on tracking household metrics for E1, conducting studies to enhance program offerings, and completing surveys including Demand Response Eco Shift participants and Efficiency Preferred Partner Network members. Projects included finalizing a Small Business Energy Solutions portal prototype and evaluating events and training programs.

Regulatory Affairs E1 filed the following reports with the NSUARB: - 2023 DSM Evaluation Reports and 2023 Annual Progress Report, and a summary report on DSMAG consideration of these reports; - Behavioural Program Update, responses to Info...

AI summary E1 submitted multiple reports to the NSUARB, including DSM evaluations, financial statements, and quarterly DSM updates. Engagement activities involved NS Power-led technical sessions and stakeholder interactions. The filings cover 2023-2024 DSM program performance and compliance.

15 Efficient Product Rebates - 16 Instant Savings - 17 To increase participation in the fall campaign resulting in additional savings from the lighting - 18 category, E1 increased rebates for several measures in Q3 2024, which had an impac...

AI summary EfficiencyOne (E1) increased rebates in Q3 2024 to boost participation in a fall campaign, impacting Q4 2024 average incentives. Post-campaign, incentive levels reverted to pre-campaign thresholds, including specific per-unit amounts for LED fixtures and recessed downlights. A NSUARB decision (M10473) is referenced in footnotes.

3 AMH Stakeholder Perspectives This section presents an analysis of stakeholder perspectives on AMH. Stakeholders include AMH participants, dropped-out participants, non-participants, EAs, and E1 staff. It should be noted that, due to the...

AI summary This section analyzes stakeholder perspectives on Affordable Multifamily Housing (AMH), including participants, non-participants, and Energy Auditors (EAs). Due to small sample sizes, results are presented as raw numbers rather than percentages.

8 ASFH Stakeholder Perspectives This section presents an analysis of stakeholder perspectives on ASFH. Stakeholders include ASFH participants (heat pump only and modelled participants), DAs, heat pump contractors, as well as program staff....

AI summary This section analyzes stakeholder perspectives on the Affordable Single-Family Homes (ASFH) program, involving participants, Delivery Agents (DAs), heat pump contractors, and program staff. Sample sizes influence data presentation, with percentages used for larger samples and numerical values for smaller ones.

8.4 DA and Heat Pump Contractor Suggestions for Improvements DAs and heat pump contractors make the following suggestions for program improvements: - › Simplify/streamline the administrative process throughout delivery and improve the user...

AI summary DAs and heat pump contractors suggest streamlining administrative processes, improving CIS usability, providing training, enhancing communication, raising ASFH program awareness, and improving grassroots education. Recommendations include automation, batch uploads, simplified invoicing, technical training via HRAI, participant portals, and leveraging MLAs for outreach.

enable this, the service could conduct an analysis to identify high-opportunity non-MURB sectors, including relevant stakeholders, and develop targeted outreach and engagement plans for these sectors. E1 program staff explained that popula...

AI summary The service aims to boost non-MURB participation in energy efficiency programs by analyzing high-opportunity sectors, engaging stakeholders like architects early, and hiring Energy Managers with non-MURB expertise. Challenges include limited data outside HRM and higher costs for smaller buildings, with public sector buildings seen as key opportunities outside HRM.

4.1.2 Regional Participation Econoler reviewed program tracking data and identified which projects occurred inside and outside the HRM. There were 83 projects inside and 17 outside the HRM during the 2019–2024 period. 18 Statistics Canada:...

AI summary Econoler analyzed program tracking data, identifying 83 projects inside and 17 outside the HRM between 2019–2024. Data quality issues, such as missing building area information in older permits, limited analysis. Regional participation metrics are visualized in Figure 7.

rs 1, 2, and 3. Such incentives would need to evolve as the new code is phased in: Tier 1 will soon be adopted in Nova Scotia in April 2025, followed by Tier 2 in April 2027, and Tier 3 in April 2029. Limited awareness among developers is...

AI summary The text discusses barriers to aligning program logic with the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings 2020 (NECB 2020) tiers, including limited developer awareness of long-term cost savings and performance concerns with energy-efficient technologies in cold climates. The service aims to address these barriers through education, training, and evidence-based outreach to builders.

APPENDIX VII New Construction Participant Phone Interview Guide (CPA Stage)

AI summary This document outlines a phone interview guide for new construction participants during the CPA (Construction Participant Agreement) stage of a regulatory proceeding, focusing on energy efficiency programs and stakeholder engagement in Nova Scotia.

Contact Person 2 [OPTIONAL]: Name: [RECORD] Role: [CAPTURE VERBATIM] Email: [RECORD IN FORMAT] Phone number: [RECORD NUMERALS ONLY] [IF [A1=](#page-71-0) NO or DK: END] These are all the questions I have for you. Thank you very much for yo...

AI summary The document outlines optional contact person details for a regulatory proceeding, including placeholders for name, role, email, and phone number. It notes conditional instructions for ending the process if certain criteria are unmet and references scheduling an interview with key decision-makers.

APPENDIX VIII New Construction Participant Interview Guide (Completed Projects)

AI summary This document outlines an interview guide for participants in completed new construction projects under a Nova Scotia regulatory proceeding, focusing on data collection for program evaluation and stakeholder engagement.

[IF NO, ASK "CAN WE SCHEDULE A MORE CONVENIENT TIME FOR YOU TO CONDUCT THIS SURVEY?" & RESCHEDULE.] Can you confirm, are you the owner or primary decision-maker ["at a small business operating in Nova Scotia" OR PIPE IN "of " (if in contac...

AI summary A survey question asks if the respondent is the owner or primary decision-maker of a small business in Nova Scotia, with options to confirm, decline, or refuse. Refusal triggers termination, while declining prompts a rescheduling offer.

Document and Communicate Clearly document the methodology and communicate it to all stakeholders.

AI summary The text emphasizes the importance of clearly documenting the methodology and effectively communicating it to all stakeholders to ensure transparency and engagement in the regulatory process.

Be Transparent The methodology for establishing the cap should be transparent and well-documented to maintain stakeholder trust.

AI summary The text emphasizes the importance of transparency and thorough documentation in establishing a cap to ensure stakeholder trust within the regulatory process.

Data Collection Elements - › Pretest the survey to ensure that: - › Questions are correctly understood - › Questions provide results that are valid and reliable - › Skips work as they should - › Questions and sections flow well - › To impr...

AI summary The text outlines best practices for data collection in energy efficiency programs, emphasizing pretesting surveys, improving response rates through branding and incentives, conducting fieldwork promptly to minimize recall bias, and using qualified interviewers. It also notes considerations for spillover effects and the importance of timing in survey design.

Table 368: Overview of NTGR Survey and Question Design Best Practices Survey Design Question Design Question Order Data Collection › Identify key decision maker › Use simple words › Make early questions easy and pleasant › Pre-test the sur...

AI summary Table 368 outlines best practices for designing surveys and questionnaires, focusing on survey design, question design, question order, and data collection. It emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and consistency to improve data quality and participant engagement.

Key Changes - › Averaging the intention and influence scores to calculate free-ridership. This updated approach adopted by several jurisdictions ensures that both variables carry an equal weighting as decision-making factors. Econoler reco...

AI summary The text outlines key changes to free-ridership measurement methods, including averaging intention and influence scores, adopting a four-point unbalanced scale, simplifying survey questions, and ensuring NTGR consideration. Econoler recommends these updates to improve accuracy and participant comprehension in E1 programs like EPI.