10.2190/TQLQ-B45A-9TK5-QY1A TQLQB45A9TK5QY1A 3 The Effects of Loans on Residential Retrofit: Extent, Pace, and Longevity 347 354 20020509 20020509 20020509 20020509 TQLQB45A9TK5QY1A.pdf http://baywood.metapress.com/link.asp?target=contribution&id=TQLQB45A9TK5QY1A 4 Eric Hirst Energy Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee Many gas and electric utilities throughout the U. S. offer financial incentives to their residential customers in an effort to encourage installation of energy-efficient measures. These low-interest loan and cash rebate programs represent major energy conservation investments on the part of these utilities and therefore warrant careful assessment of their effects and effectiveness.This article reviews empirical evidence on the effects of no- and low-interest loan programs that help finance retrofit measures in single-family homes. The evidence shows that these financial incentives have several effects. Households that participate in these programs install more retrofit measures, install measures more quickly, and install measures with longer lifetimes than do households not participating in these programs.

U. S. Department of Energy, Residential Conservation Service Evaluation Report, January 1984.

L. Berry, The Role of Financial Incentives in Utility-Sponsored Residential Conservation Programs: A Review of Customer Surveys, ORNL/CON-102, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, December 1982.

E. Hirst, et al., Evaluation of Home Energy Audit and Retrofit Loan Programs in Minnesota: The Northern States Power Experience, ORNL/CON-136, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, December 1983.

E. Hirst, et al., The Residential Conservation Service in Connecticut: Evaluation of the CONN SAVE Program, ORNL/CON-132, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, September 1983.

E. Hirst, et al., Evaluation of the BPA Residential Weatherization Pilot Program, ORNL/CON-124, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, June 1983.