Other Research Reports

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Focus on Energy sponsors a variety of technical and market research studies. The final reports on this research are available at the links below.

Milwaukee Pilot Program Results In 2008, Focus on Energy launched Together We Save, a community-based pilot project to increase energy-efficiency investments in Milwaukee homes. The objective was to test a more aggressive approach to reducing the barriers that prevent homeowners from making energy-efficiency investments in their homes. This report is based on a billing analysis of the 91 homes that completed the program.

Focus on Energy Mobile Homes Duct Sealing Pilot: Results from 2008-2009 In 2008 Focus on Energy launched a pilot project to weatherize mobile homes. The project focuses on retrofits that can be identified and implemented quickly so that all diagnosis, work, and testing is completed in one session and at no cost to the homeowner. This report is based on billing analysis of 99 homes out of 192 homes with retrofit work completed prior to June 2009.

Heating Equipment Bonus Program Track 1 Updated Analysis Results This memo updates the Track 1 analysis for the WPS Territory-wide Heating Equipment Bonus program with year-end data and also incorporates results from contractor interviews to provide context to the furnace analysis.

WPS Territory-wide Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Increased Incentives Program Evaluation. This report presents the process evaluation results for the Wisconsin Public Service Territory-wide Home Performance with ENERGY STAR increased Incentives program, which is an enhancement to the Focus on Energy Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. By increasing incentives for completing a package of the most cost-effective measures and creating urgency by limiting the time the bonus is available, the WPS program aims to increase project completion rates.

WPS HPWES Increased Incentives Track 1 Analysis This memo presents the results from the Track 1 analysis for the Wisconsin Public Service Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Increased Incentives program. The primary objective of Track 1 activities is to identify any potential impacts of the WPS programs’ enhancements over the Focus on Energy program, particularly in terms of increased participation and/or savings.

WPS Territory-wide RHEEP Pilot Results This report summarizes the results of primary data collection conducted by Tetra Tech for the Residential Housing Energy Evaluation program pilot (RHEEP) evaluation operating in the Wisconsin Public Service cities of Stevens Point, Oshkosh, and Green Bay.

WPS Territory-wide Efficient Heating Bonus Program This report documents the results of the Track 2 and 3 program evaluation, which focused on data collection and process evaluation.

Dehumidification and Subslab Ventilation in Wisconsin Homes This study aimed to assess the dehumidification effects of subslab ventilation systems in homes and obtain general field data on dehumidifier operation (hours and energy use) in Wisconsin homes. Results include information on the characterization of the operation and energy use of dehumidifiers, effect of subslab ventilation systems on dehumidifier use, the application of regression analysis to dehumidifier data and analysis of additional house ventilation induced subslab fan operation.

Heating Equipment Bonus Program Track 1 Preliminary Analysis Results This evaluation memo examines Heating Equipment Bonus Program market share data provided through the Energy Center of Wisconsin's Furnace and Air Conditioner Tracking (FACTS) database and program participation and savings data captured in the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation’s program tracking database.

State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission of Wisconsin WPS Territory-wide Program Tracking Data Assessment

Focus on Energy – Power Cost Monitor Study This report features the results of a research project that looked at whether providing customers with immediate feedback on electricity consumption would lead to reduced consumption. The device employed in the study conducted by the Energy Center of Wisconsin was the PowerCost Monitor manufactured by Blue Line Innovations, Inc.

Central Air Conditioning in Wisconsin: This report compiles the key findings from several recent research efforts that explored Wisconsin's residential central air-conditioner market, the operating characteristics of these systems, and the potential for efficiency improvements. Data was drawn from field monitoring and testing, distributors' sales data and telephone surveys of Wisconsin households.

Corporate Views on Climate Change: A Survey of Wisconsin Business Executives: This report summarizes results from a 2008 survey that explored the perceptions and perspectives of 340 presidents, chief executive officers and other senior executives of businesses throughout Wisconsin on climate change concerns and appropriate public policy responses.

Energy and Rental Housing: A Wisconsin Characterization Study: This study examines the energy efficiency opportunities of Wisconsin's rental housing. It is based on a statewide sample of 180 rental properties, from single-family rental homes to large apartment buildings. The findings are based on detailed on-site audit data gathered for each building, as well as owner/manager and tenant surveys and utility usage history data.

Corn Furnace Program Feasibility Study for Wisconsin: This report summarizes research on the potential for corn furnaces and stoves to reduce fossil fuel use in Wisconsin. The study was charged with summarizing findings relative to three issues: 1) a profile of corn furnaces and corn fuel available in Wisconsin; 2) the net impact of corn furnaces on household electric and natural gas use; and 3) the feasibility of a Focus on Energy initiative to promote corn furnaces.

Energy Savings from the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program: This report examines differences in energy use between participants in the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes program and similar non-participants who built new homes during the same period. It is based on utility billing histories and a homeowner survey for approximately 100 program participants and 170 randomly recruited non-participating homeowners.

Focus on Energy Business Programs: Supply Chain Characterization and Baseline Study: This study examines the challenges and opportunities involved in marketing energy efficient equipment and supplies to a variety of Wisconsin industries, including residential and commercial new construction, schools, agriculture, grocery stores, health care, food processing, plastics, pulp and paper, metal casting and more. Data was obtained through in-depth interviews and telephone surveys of distributors, manufacturers, equipment dealers, contractors, design firms, developers and other industry experts.