Residential and Commercial Programs

Summerhill develops and implements energy efficiency and demand response programs for gas and electric utilities. At Summerhill, we’re passionate about getting people and business to use energy efficiently.

Summerhill is recognized for our unique ability to create memorable program experiences for your customers. For over 25 years we’ve given people and businesses the tools they need to make better choices for using energy efficiently. Whether it’s introducing new technologies, or a simple payback calculation, customers want their questions answered in order to make informed decisions. Our innovative approaches to consumer engagement generate increased customer satisfaction, participation and value that go beyond the traditional program experience.

Summerhill takes pride in recruiting our staff from the communities where your customers operate. We call it Our Local Team Advantage. Hiring locally brings more jobs to your communities and creates a motivated team that knows the neighbourhoods where you will be deploying your programs. The result is increased customer engagement and lasting program results.

We work with:

Electric and Gas Utilities
Energy Efficiency Agencies
Municipal Utilities
Independent System Operators

Residential Programs

Commercial Programs

RESIDENTIAL

When it comes to energy efficiency, there’s no place like home.

No matter where they live, your customers’ homes are often the most immediate touch-points in energy efficiency. From retail programs to home performance programs, to direct install measures, we develop innovative approaches that help your customers use energy more wisely, all across North America.

At the heart of our residential programs is a disciplined and strategically coordinated plan that prioritizes the most effective tactics while adhering to well-defined budgets and timelines. This approach drives greater customer engagement quickly and measurably.

RESIDENTIAL TURNKEY PROGRAMS

Retail Programs

Summerhill is an innovator in the design and delivery of utility-driven retail programs. In fact, our in-store events and engagement techniques have been heralded as the key to success for our program model and is why we implement 100% of the outsourced retail programs in Canada.

Multi-Unit Residential Building (MURB) Direct Install Programs

The MURB direct install program introduces tenants and property owners/managers to the benefits of energy efficiency by installing free, low-cost conservation measures. Summerhill engages property owners/managers who help facilitate the work of our Local Ambassadors to install products and educate residents on energy efficient behaviours. Summerhill ensures results are monitored through custom quality assurance systems based on meeting client needs. Where feasible, Summerhill will engage residents and cross-promote other approved energy efficiency programs.

Rural and Remote Community Programs

Uniquely, Summerhill has developed a proven capability to design and deliver programs that meet the needs of isolated communities across Canada. Our efforts focus on community-based capacity building (hiring and training local installers) and community knowledge development. We also develop data tracking and quality control auditing tools specifically suited to assessing remote program impact.

Appliance Retirement Programs

Summerhill has developed and implemented a range of appliance exchange, collection and recycling programs, including programs for: room air conditioners, microwaves and refrigerators. Building off our strong retail sector relationships, we have been able to cost-effectively engage consumers at in-store events to educate and influence consumer decision making.

Home Performance/Assistance Programs

Summerhill has developed programs that make it easier for people to increase the energy efficiency of their homes, even those in lower income markets. We develop the marketing tactics that enlist homeowners to book appointments for an energy audit of their home. Our customized in-field auditing application allows auditors to collect all the information through a hand-held device – and helps us work with the homeowner to install energy efficient products in their residence. Case Studies In-home energy audits measure efficiency, provide products and offer rebates. Home Assistance Program (HAP) helps homeowners improve energy efficiency.the energy efficiency of their homes.

Residential New Construction

Summerhill works with builders to meet the demands of Residential New Construction Programs in their area. Summerhill can assist the builder in many ways including reviewing building plans, generating reports, assisting with processing applications for any applicable utility incentives that may be available, and ensuring that everything meets the program requirements.

Innovation Pilot Programs

Summerhill strives to bring fresh ideas, concepts and pilot projects to utilities, retailers and manufacturers. We have the experience and customer-centred analytics to continue to improve approaches to the market and develop next generation conservation strategies.

COMMERCIAL

Energy efficiency is good business.

The commercial sector represents one of the largest sources of energy savings for utilities. Summerhill understands how to work with businesses in your community to ensure that various program offerings are clearly aligned with their expectations. Whether we’re delivering an audit, customer retrofit or new construction project we strive to make participation simple for your customers and trade allies. Our client centric approach works to identify the needs and goals of your commercial customers. This approach ensures our programs are clearly aligned with your customers expectations and are deployed on as intended.

Summerhill works with your commercial customers to:

Understand specific requirements including historical delivery hurdles, perceived barriers and preferred delivery options
Engage decision makes within an organization in order to increase the participation rates internally to achieve targets
Identify opportunities to integrate solutions to maximize benefits to your customers
Coordinate implementation of measures needed to improve performance
Ensure applications are prepared and submitted to ensure your customers get their incentives

COMMERCIAL TURNKEY PROGRAMS

Tenant Engagement for Building Owners and Property Managers

Tenant behaviour can be a decisive factor in affecting a building’s efficiency and performance. Summerhill has had great success in designing, facilitating and implementing tenant engagement programs that are interesting and effective. Our approach connects the building owner/manager and tenants as partners in the project to achieve higher levels of performance.

Sector-Specific Programs (hospitals, schools and other institutions)

Energy efficiency is an important consideration for a small to medium-sized business, but they do not always have the resources to address anything beyond emergency issues. Summerhill works with businesses in the commercial sector, such as restaurants and hotels, strategically advising them on appropriate energy efficiency incentives available from the local utilities as well as networks and strategies to plan and execute energy efficient retrofits.

Small Business Lighting Programs

This innovative program targets small businesses by offering a turnkey service that helps them upgrade to more efficient lighting. It starts with free on-site lighting assessment, followed up with incentives to upgrade lighting and completed by full lighting installation, including dealing with quotes, contractors and clean up.

Roving Energy Management

By focusing on the needs of customers, for information, access, and support, Summerhill brings the key account program support experience to medium and even smaller-sized businesses. Our team is able to bring program and industry knowledge to support application development, project design, and business case development for small to medium-sized business.

Lead Generation

Traditional utility customer data is no longer sufficient to tailor conservation outreach and application lead generation. Summerhill works to improve these data-sets and engage customers on the range of options available to support their conservation efforts. The result is a working database of customers and a plethora of new applicant leads.

Summerhill Energy Efficiency Programs

Summerhill has a unique and highly skilled team of energy efficiency experts that have helped us deliver programs to our residential and commercial customers. For many years, we have enjoyed a dynamic and productive working relationship with the Summerhill team, which has yielded superior program results and energy savings to Manitobans. They truly seek to understand our business objectives and have become a natural extension of our in-house team!

— Colleen Kuruluk, CEO, Efficiency Manitoba