One Million Homes a Quarter Million at a Time National Consumer Roundtable on Energy 29 June 2011 Bernard Carlon Divisional Director Sustainability Programs Office of Environment and Heritage
NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Reduce impact on energy customers bills Delay need for new energy supply infrastructure Improve energy productivity, reduce costs to economy
NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy Reduce greenhouse gas emissions Reduce impact on energy customers bills Delay need for new energy supply infrastructure Improve energy productivity, reduce costs to economy
NSW Energy Efficiency Strategy NSW Energy Savings Scheme energy savings target will increase to 4% of sales by 2014. $20-million Energy Efficiency Training Program is a four-year program to build energy efficiency skills in the NSW workforce. $63-million Home Power Savings Program - free home power assessments and power savings kits to 220,000 low-income families. $15 million Energy Efficiency for Small Business Program $20 million Energy Saver - energy efficiency for medium to large organisations provides subsidised energy audits and facilitation. $15 million Energy Efficiency Community Awareness Program Black Balloons - practical advice on saving energy at home and work. Information Save Power website www.savepower.nsw.gov.au $20 million Schools energy efficiency retrofit NSW Government Sustainability Policy - target to reduce energy use in government-owned or tenanted buildings to year 2000 levels by 2019-20. Including $40M per annum Loan Fund
GWh 90,000 Demand Side Approach water vs electricity NSW electricity consumption Sydney water consumption Background to the Program GL Millions 7.5 700 Population Millions 4.5 Electricity consumption Population 60,000 5.5 500 3.3 Water consumption 30,000 0 3.5 1960 61 2007 08 Sources: ABARE Energy update 2009, ABS Population estimates (3105.0.65) 300 2.0 1960 61 2007 08 Sources: Sydney Water Corporation, ABS & DoP population estimates
Growth does not have to = increased use 12000 Electricity consumption per capita 11000 NSW - up 66.8% California - up 11.6% Kilowatt hours 10000 9000 8000 7000 6000 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Similar Trend in Residential 3,600 Residential electricity consumption per capita 3,400 3,200 Kilowatt hours 3,000 2,800 2,600 Growth rate: 1.56% pa NSW California 2,400 2,200 Growth rate: 0.24% pa 2,000 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005
Background to the Program- Does it work?
Several state-based schemes, including the New South Wales Home Power Savings Program, have been administered effectively, and suggest that involving State Governments in delivering programs would be beneficial.
Pilot Programs: Low Income Household Refit Program Bathurst 164 homes Orange 258 homes Western Sydney 1000 homes
The Acceptors vs the Rejecters Acceptors (likely to join) Rejecters (less likely to join) Have more people per household More likely to be older and live alone The main language is less likely to Main language is English be English Have minor problems paying bills Have no difficulty paying bills Think it is difficult to reduce Think it is easy to reduce electricity electricity Exhibit positive energy saving behaviours sometimes but behaviours are not habitual Think they do not use more electricity than they need, therefore no need to reduce Expect to find out about the program via letter box drop Expect to find out about the program via TV Want to know how to get bills down Not interested,don t believe electricity by 10 20% Are motivated to join the program: to reduce power bills (55%), because it is free (47%) and to find out how to use less power (16%). use leads to global warming Would not join the program because: have done all I can do (51%), it would not make a difference (16%) and it would not tell me anything I don t already know (12%).
Kit items and program name 200 choice modelling participants said: They liked extra products that were more unique such as the standby saving power board Name change preferred other name to Low Income House Refitting
Targets Over 1 million eligible households in NSW or 15 % of NSW pop n Eligible proportion is increasing Includes households participating in energy retailer hardship programs HPSP Target: - 220,000 households by June 2013 represents 20% of NSW eligible households
Implementation
Tender Recommendations Fieldforce, the contractor ultimately awarded all 22 contracts had a weighted score of 100% Added benefits: - State-wide - Previous experience
Energy Assessment System and Tool System Online data store for Assessment Data Administration functions for reporting on and maintaining the program Batched generation and mailing of Action Plans Multiple levels of Access and functionality Assessment Tool Online and Offline Functionality Collect Assessment data Generate tips based on collected data Walk through the Action Plan with the customer
EAS Data Collection Hot Water Systems - 52% electric storage 10% 2% 15% 5% 1% 0% Hot water systems 3% 13% 2% 49% Don't know Electric (continuous tariff) Electric (instantaneous) Electric (off peak tariff) Electric heat pump Gas (instantaneous) Gas (storage tank) Solar (electric boosted) Solar (gas boosted) Solar only
Climate Change Fund- NSW Housing A total of 4,568 social housing residents have had electric storage hot water heaters replaced with climate-friendly systems. 7,285 homes have been insulated. Together, these are saving more than estimated $1.3 million off their power bills a year.
The process:
The HPSP is taking off! 36,864 assessments to 31 May 2011 16,860 Housing NSW properties 39,400 tonnes CO2 per annum Together expected household savings over $8.4 million each year Average savings of $230 per household each year
Who is taking up the program 65% of participants are aged 55+ Majority are from English speaking backgrounds Centrelink Pensioner Concession card holders Renters (about 60% - due to Housing NSW) High uptake metro areas/housing Low uptake areas regional/remote
Case Studies My husband and I were really quite impressed. The assessor took the time to explain everything to us and because of that we have turned off the second fridge which was gobbling up power. Jean and Jack, I joined the program because my electricity bill is becoming very hard to pay and I am interested in anything that can help me reduce my bills. My last bill was about 20 per cent less than before. Cholladda and Bill
Partnership and Communications So how does it all work? Partnership Governance Stakeholder relations Communications and marketing
Partnership: Who does what? The HPSP is a partnership between: - Government - The Private Sector - Community Organisations
Government Facilitates delivery of the program and provides governance. Ensures the program is delivered equitably, effectively and transparently throughout NSW in a trustworthy manner. Provides resources and training Procures Power Savings Kits and undertakes research into potential new kit items. Provides a sophisticated IT platform for program management, delivery and evaluation.
Governance in the Program has 2 streams: 1. the internal activity and processes required to make decisions, manage risk, manage forecasting and budgeting. 2. The second stream relates the external Governance between HPSP and the contractor Fieldforce. This frame work is documented in the Contract Relationship plan. This plan sets out the contract management and the Contract review meeting constitution.
Customer Service - (an example of Governance) OEH have streamlined the process in handling, documenting and escalating complaints. This process ensures that complete resolution is within the contracted time periods and ensures a mutually agreeable outcome with all parties. The outcome helps keep the complainant positive towards HPSP reducing any risk of negative feed back within their communities.
Private sector partner: Fieldforce Provides services on behalf of Government through contracts to deliver home assessments and to to install Power Savings Kits.
Evaluation Verified, cost effective energy savings Currently undertaking a pilot study to develop and test savings evaluation methodologies for the HPSP based on billing data analysis.
Communications and Marketing Recruitment activities: Advertising - Print and Magazine Media releases - Resulted in local print and radio coverage Letterbox drops Articles in stakeholder newsletters and mail outs Attendance at events Prize draw Ongoing/ Education activities: Home Power Saver Magazine Seasonal Updates to participants 33
What has worked 47% 2% 7% 0% 14% 10% 3% 2% 1% 0% 4% 9% 1% Energy Expert Centrelink Community organisation Energy supplier Event Internet Local Council Mail New spaper / Mag Outdoor Family/Friend Social housing provider Unknow n Regional and suburban newspaper advertising Letterbox drops Face-to-face marketing (at events, shopping malls etc) Friend and family referrals Media/PR that feature local households who have joined the program
Stakeholder Promotion Pack OEH supplies stakeholders with resources to help promote the program - Template Media Release - Copy for newsletters or websites - Advertising - Flyers - PowerPoint presentation - Sample Action Plans - Power Savings Kit - Pull up banner - Web tile - Video
Stakeholder Engagement
What we have learnt? Stakeholders require substantial support. To engage end users is resource heavy and requires clear governance. 4 Key Stakeholder Segments: - NGO s - Water & Energy Corps (Hardship teams) - Government Partners (NSW Office of Housing, Centrelink) - Local Government NGO stakeholder segment is complex, motivated to promote the program but have stretched resources, time-poor, diverse services, trusted source, face-to-face communication at right place and time. Local Councils are motivated to support the program and have strong, established channels Centerlink and DVA have shown some limitations in promoting the program. Water Corps and Energy Companies can be better engaged.
NGO Local Promotion Funding Three stage funding process - Survey - Detailed application - Service agreement Payment framework - 15% base funding - Performance-based funding on referrals - 10% final evaluation report
Council Local Promotion Funding Variable ability for councils to promote the HPSP Barriers = cost and time $6k grants for co-branded local promotion Simple application process Targeting low uptake, low income
Housing Providers Housing NSW Contact details 120,000 properties Two stage opt-out process: - Introduction letter - 3 week opt-out period - Call centre out-bound calls Lessons learned Federation of Housing Associations
CALD engagement Major language groups Translating program materials Bi-lingual assessors New/emerging communities Pilot - Northern Settlement Service Cost and time barriers Resources and assistance There has been huge interest in the Program in emerging communities very high sign up rate at workshops and events
Aboriginal Engagement Working with Local Aboriginal Land Councils - Presenting at LALC regional forums and NSW ALC Board meeting - OEH providing Koori posters and flyers to LALCs - Fieldforce is partnering with Land Councils to facilitate bookings and assessments Koori flyers and posters have been provided and distributed to the LALCs
Energy Providers 11 energy retailers in NSW, plus 3 network providers Flyers sent out to new and existing hardship customers Flyers in showbags Co-promotion at events
NSW Home Saver Rebates 330,000 rebates under the $170 million program, 1 in every 8 NSW households has received a rebate Together, they will save households a total of 46 billion litres of water, 4 million tonnes of carbon pollution and $347 million on household water and energy bills.
Ways to save power and water: Explore how you use it! NABERS Home free on-line tools NABERS Home Rating Tool How does your home compare? http://www.nabers.com.au/homecalculator/ NABERS Home Energy Explorer How does your home use energy? Find out, and create a tailored action plan www.nabers.com.au/home.aspx HPSP tool adapted from the Energy Explorer
NABERS Home Rating Tool
NABERS Home - Energy Explorer
Other Programs
Programs for Homes Save Power Kits in 180 libraries for households to identify and improve power use at home (625 Kits) Ethnic Communities Sustainable Living Project
Consumers Partnership with Harvey Norman, Good Guys, Myer and David Jones to train retail sales staff in 120 stores Program will include JP Hi Fi and Betta Electrical, total reach 168 stores by June 2012
NSW Energymark Over 2,000 people are actively participating in kitchen-table discussions in the community Delivered in partnership with CSIRO Participating households are expected to reduce their power use by up to 20%
Other Funded Programs Climate Clubs (school communities) One Million Women ACF Green Home ($889,000 Completed) Newington Smart Village
Climate Change Fund Support for households $155 million provided to help households save an estimated - 4.5 billion litres of water, - 397,000 megawatt hours of electricity, - 425,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, - 6,000 kilowatts peak demand and - $50.5 million in water and power bills a year. Through 23 projects, 330,000 residential rebates and 25,000 public housing retrofits. On average, the funding investment is paid back in three yearsand one month.
Presented by: Bernard Carlon Divisional Director Sustainability Programs The Office of Environment and Heritage