Title: CBLI Research Questions - APPRISE, Inc.
Description: * OHIO REACH Evaluation Ohio's Department of Development, Office of Community Services, has been awarded a REACH grant to research how they can provide additional resources to low-income weatherization services in a way that addresses the more comprehensive needs of low-income households. These funds are being used to assess the in-home environmental health risks for vulnerable individuals, prioritize usage reduction measures to meet the energy and health needs of vulnerable individuals, and provide additional measures that enhance the health and safety of the home. Much of the work focuses on the remediation of moisture and mold issues that negatively impact clients who have breathing-related health issues such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. The program establishes partnerships with vulnerable households to take actions to mitigate the environmental health risks in the home and refer clients to other services that can improve the health of the home and the clients who live there. APPRISE is conducting a process and impact evaluation of this project. We would like to conduct case studies to explore the specific work that was done in a sample of homes to restore healthy living environments and interview clients to determine how this work has impacted the home and the clients’ health status. * Energy Education and Energy Usage Reduction: APPRISE has recently conducted an evaluation for a local electric and gas utility company that showed that customers, on average, had high savings from energy education. We conducted a survey with high and low savings to determine what types of actions they have taken as a result of the usage reduction program. We would like to further analyze the usage data and the survey data to determine what types of relationships there are between actions that customer report taking as a result of the program and energy savings. We would also like to investigate whether certain customer characteristics are correlated with greater energy savings. This research will involve statistical analysis of data that APPRISE has collected using software such as STATA. * Energy Case Management: Utilities in Pennsylvania are required to have programs called Customer Assistance Referreral and Evaluation Program (CARES). These programs help customers with special needs by referring them to social assistance programs. APPRISE is developing a database for a PA utility to use to help them provide better CARES services and analyze the services that they provide. APPRISE would like to conduct surveys with CARES recipients to understand how they have been helped by the program and what their needs are for additional services. This research would involve survey development and telephone interviews with customers who have received CARES services. * Emergency Bill Payment Assistance: APPRISE provides evaluation support for NJ SHARES, a nonprofit that provides assistance to families in New Jersey that need temporary help with their utility bills. Recent research has only included impact analysis, to determine characteristics of grants awarded and grant recipients, and to determine whether customers are able to pay their utility bills after receiving program assistance. APPRISE would like to learn more about how the program could be improved. This research could include 1) Gather and review documentation on NJ SHARES policies and procedures 2) Interview NJ SHARES staff regarding implementation of program procedures 3) Interview staff at local agencies around the staff that do intake for the program 4) Observe intake for NJ SHARES staff at local agencies around the state 5) Survey clients to determine satisfaction with the program and impacts of the grant on their ability to meet bill payment obligations. * Home Performance with Energy Star: Home Performance with Energy Star is a program that offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment. This program, implemented in several states around the country, trains contractors to provide services using the whole house approach and sometimes provides rebates to customers who undertake a home audit or home performance services. There has not been much research on these programs that show why contractors do or do not choose to become involved, why customers do or do not use these services, and what level of energy savings customers achieve by undertaking these improvements. This research would involve the development, and possibly the implementation, of a research plan for one or more of these issues.
Position Type: course
Start Date: 0000-00-00
End Date: 0000-00-00
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Organization: Community-Based Learning Initiative (CBLI)
Web site: http://www.princeton.edu/~cbli
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