Current Projects
Summer 2021 - Winter 2021
Measuring the Non-Energy Impacts of the Massachusetts Utility Program Administrators’ Residential New Construction Energy Efficiency Program
Three3 has partnered with the Boston-based NMR Group to update the non-energy impacts (NEIs) assessment for the Massachusetts Utility Program Administrators’ Residential New Construction energy efficiency program. The program had previously evaluated and monetized the benefits of improved thermal comfort and lighting quality as well as reduced noise indoors attributable to the enhanced energy efficiency of new homes built through their program. In this update, the team conducted both jurisdictional and literature reviews for NEIs claimed by other utilities or evidence for the existence of previously unclaimed NEIs. In total, the team explored 14 additional NEIs and recommended further research on 7 NEIs, such as reductions in asthma health care costs attributable to improved indoor air quality and reduced operations and maintenance costs. A number of additional NEIs were brought forward for further consideration. The team also noted pathways for increasing the NEIs of a residential new construction program, such as increasing the share of all-electric homes and Passive House construction.
Measuring the Non-Energy Impacts of the Massachusetts Utility Program Administrators’ Residential New Construction Energy Efficiency Program
Three3 has partnered with the Boston-based NMR Group to update the non-energy impacts (NEIs) assessment for the Massachusetts Utility Program Administrators’ Residential New Construction energy efficiency program. The program had previously evaluated and monetized the benefits of improved thermal comfort and lighting quality as well as reduced noise indoors attributable to the enhanced energy efficiency of new homes built through their program. In this update, the team conducted both jurisdictional and literature reviews for NEIs claimed by other utilities or evidence for the existence of previously unclaimed NEIs. In total, the team explored 14 additional NEIs and recommended further research on 7 NEIs, such as reductions in asthma health care costs attributable to improved indoor air quality and reduced operations and maintenance costs. A number of additional NEIs were brought forward for further consideration. The team also noted pathways for increasing the NEIs of a residential new construction program, such as increasing the share of all-electric homes and Passive House construction.
Fall 2020 – Winter 2021
"Low-Income Solar Programs - Customer Experiences Survey "
Groundswell, Three3, and Elevate Energy, Inc. are partnering on survey research for LIFT Solar. LIFT Solar is a group of nonprofit organizations conducting research on behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Energy about the implementation of solar programs that serve low-income households across the country. Groundswell is a non-profit operating out of Washington D.C. that "develops community solar projects and programs that connect solar power with economic empowerment." Elevate Energy, Inc. is a non-profit headquartered in Chicago, IL that "design and implement programs that reduce costs, protect people and the environment, and ensure the benefits of clean and efficient energy use reach those who need them most."
"Low-Income Solar Programs - Customer Experiences Survey "
Groundswell, Three3, and Elevate Energy, Inc. are partnering on survey research for LIFT Solar. LIFT Solar is a group of nonprofit organizations conducting research on behalf of the U.S. Dept. of Energy about the implementation of solar programs that serve low-income households across the country. Groundswell is a non-profit operating out of Washington D.C. that "develops community solar projects and programs that connect solar power with economic empowerment." Elevate Energy, Inc. is a non-profit headquartered in Chicago, IL that "design and implement programs that reduce costs, protect people and the environment, and ensure the benefits of clean and efficient energy use reach those who need them most."
Summer 2019 – Winter 2021
"Wx Rx: Connecting Healthcare (Rx) with Weatherization (Wx)"
This project, funded by the Energy Foundation and the East Tennessee Foundation, seeks to create new approaches and a sustainable system for linking the healthcare and energy efficiency sectors in Knoxville to address housing issues that contribute to chronic respiratory illness for income-qualifying households. To do this, Three3, in partnership with the City of Knoxville's Office of Sustainability, has convened key stakeholders across the city – from government officials and local community-based organizations to the public health and healthcare sectors. Transformative education across organizations will help to develop processes and protocols to refer patients from healthcare (Cherokee Health and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital) to Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee. Through this pilot, a small number of homes of patients with chronic (and uncontrolled) respiratory illness will receive a healthy homes assessment and will be weatherized. Three3 and study partners will assess the process and short-term health outcomes for patients whose homes were weatherized and the model’s impacts overall to ensure households that need a referral for healthy homes and weatherization services have access to any newly developed program with strong likelihood to produce meaningful outcomes.
"Wx Rx: Connecting Healthcare (Rx) with Weatherization (Wx)"
This project, funded by the Energy Foundation and the East Tennessee Foundation, seeks to create new approaches and a sustainable system for linking the healthcare and energy efficiency sectors in Knoxville to address housing issues that contribute to chronic respiratory illness for income-qualifying households. To do this, Three3, in partnership with the City of Knoxville's Office of Sustainability, has convened key stakeholders across the city – from government officials and local community-based organizations to the public health and healthcare sectors. Transformative education across organizations will help to develop processes and protocols to refer patients from healthcare (Cherokee Health and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital) to Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee. Through this pilot, a small number of homes of patients with chronic (and uncontrolled) respiratory illness will receive a healthy homes assessment and will be weatherized. Three3 and study partners will assess the process and short-term health outcomes for patients whose homes were weatherized and the model’s impacts overall to ensure households that need a referral for healthy homes and weatherization services have access to any newly developed program with strong likelihood to produce meaningful outcomes.
Summer 2018 – Fall 2021
"Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Home Uplift Initiative Non-Energy Impact Study”
Three3 has been contracted by TVA to capture and estimate observed non-energy impacts (NEIs) stemming from their low-income weatherization initiative, Home Uplift, implemented in multiple metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. Three3 will use survey data to estimate select health and wellbeing, dwelling quality, and household economic outcomes to measure broader impacts, such as reduced energy burden and advancements in health equity. The evaluation uses a quasi-experimental approach with both treatment (weatherized) and control (non-weatherized) group household to measure NEIs attributable to Home Uplift. Qualitative information is being collected through in-depth interviews with households participating in the Data With a Soul (DWaS) component of our evaluation. The DWaS project uses microdocs (short documentary films) to capture the human stories in response to observable changes in quality of life, thermal stress, indoor environmental quality, and energy burden as a result of Home Uplift.
"Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Home Uplift Initiative Non-Energy Impact Study”
Three3 has been contracted by TVA to capture and estimate observed non-energy impacts (NEIs) stemming from their low-income weatherization initiative, Home Uplift, implemented in multiple metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. Three3 will use survey data to estimate select health and wellbeing, dwelling quality, and household economic outcomes to measure broader impacts, such as reduced energy burden and advancements in health equity. The evaluation uses a quasi-experimental approach with both treatment (weatherized) and control (non-weatherized) group household to measure NEIs attributable to Home Uplift. Qualitative information is being collected through in-depth interviews with households participating in the Data With a Soul (DWaS) component of our evaluation. The DWaS project uses microdocs (short documentary films) to capture the human stories in response to observable changes in quality of life, thermal stress, indoor environmental quality, and energy burden as a result of Home Uplift.