Energy Navigator Landscape Assessment

Bridging Energy Access Gaps

Research shows that with the right policies and practices, state and local governments and utility companies can eliminate many of the barriers preventing low-income households from accessing energy efficiency programs and services, with the ultimate goal of addressing energy insecurity and reducing households’ energy use and burden.

This team conducted a landscape assessment of energy navigator programs as a potential approach to addressing this challenge. Energy navigator programs are designed to help community members understand how to reduce household energy use and transition to renewable energy sources.

This project focused on identifying effective outreach methods and program approaches to support the potential development of an energy navigator program.

Outcomes

• Held an in-person workshop exploring the needs for an “energy navigator” program, which focused on establishing a common understanding of and appreciation for how we think about energy and envisioning changes to how we interact with energy
• Held a virtual follow-up workshop addressing ideas generated from the first, including a web-based platform for a one-stop-shop or universal application/assistance hub and a local navigation approach
• Supported student learning on energy navigators