Residential Energy Conservation Outreach Activities and the Energy Extension Service

Outreach is the process of encouraging consumers through information to voluntarily implement energy conservation measures. GAO has examined the Department of Energy's (DOE) role in providing energy conservation outreach. The three central questions GAO addressed were: (1) how outreach can best motivate consumers to act; (2) what outreach techniques are used and emphasized by DOE and how well its outreach programs are managed; and (3) how effective DOE efforts are in meeting consumer information needs in view of non-DOE activities and optimal methods of providing outreach. Findings with respect to these questions have led GAO to believe that DOE needs to refocus its outreach efforts. A pilot program by the Energy Extension Service (EES) demonstrated that combining individualized information with personalized delivery of that information meets consumers' information needs in a way that is most likely to result in the implementation of conservation measures. However, DOE emphasis on providing general energy conservation information to consumers is inconsistent with the findings of the pilot EES program. It is also unclear how DOE outreach activities complement non-DOE efforts by utility companies, community organizations, and other federal agencies. GAO believes that DOE should change the overall thrust of its residential outreach efforts from one which focuses on providing limited energy conservation information to as many consumers as possible to one which is centered around encouraging residential consumers to obtain on-site energy audits. Because of its on-site energy audit feature, the Residential Conservation Service should be the key program in this strategy. EES is also a potentially valuable mechanism for effectively coordinating federal and nonfederal outreach.