The Benefits of Home Performance w/ ENERGY STAR
Anecdotal evidence suggested that many participants in energy efficiency programs value the non-energy benefits more than the energy savings associated with their efficiency retrofits. These benefits can include greater comfort, safety, noise reduction, and healthcare savings.
Currently, Efficiency Vermont’s program cost-effectiveness calculation does not count some non-energy benefits because these benefits are difficult to quantify and monetize. To identify, and measure the value of, non-energy benefits resulting from efficiency improvements, Efficiency Vermont surveyed 319 customers who had completed Home Performance with ENERGY STAR projects. The survey revealed that participants valued combined non-energy benefits at 150 percent of the value of energy cost savings; that is, cost savings accounted for 40 percent of the total perceived value of participants’ home improvements and combined non-energy benefits accounted for 60 percent.