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Evaluation

Vendor Showcase

Breakout 3

Vendor Showcase: Affordability is Personal: Six Takes from Energy Efficiency Experts

Presentation

Tuesday, April 14, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM  
Location: A114 & 115 (Level 1)

Sponsored By 
CEU Type(s):
Affordability is often discussed in broad strokes—but for customers, it is deeply personal. This session brings together six CLEAResult energy efficiency experts to share case studies and ideas on what affordability really means to customers and how programs can better respond. Drawing from experience across program design, customer engagement, delivery, and market transformation, speakers will explore how factors such as income volatility, housing/building type, health, trust, and lived experience shape a customer's ability to participate in and benefit from energy efficiency. Each “take” highlights a different lens—ranging from behavioral insights and human-centered design to equity-focused incentives and scalable program models—illustrating why one-size-fits-all approaches fall short. Together, these perspectives challenge traditional definitions of affordability and offer practical insights for utilities, implementers, and policymakers seeking to design programs that meet customers where they are. Attendees will leave with a more nuanced understanding of affordability—and concrete ideas for translating empathy into impact.

Learning Objectives:

By attending this session, attendees will:
  • Recognize how factors such as income volatility, housing conditions, health, and lived experience shape what “affordability” means for energy customers.
  • Evaluate why one‑size‑fits‑all energy efficiency program designs often fall short, using real‑world case examples shared by energy efficiency practitioners.
  • Apply practical, customer‑centered strategies to design or adapt energy efficiency programs that better meet customers where they are and improve participation and impact.