The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) helps states, local governments, and K–12 schools meet their clean energy goals by developing tools and solutions that address pervasive barriers, convening peer exchanges to showcase replicable models, and providing technical assistance and information from leading experts. 

SCEP organizes its technical assistance, tools, and solutions around the Energy Efficiency Leadership Framework (Leadership Framework), created by leveraging industry resources, expertise, and best practices.

The Leadership Framework identifies four Solution Pathways foundational to public-sector energy efficiency activities that achieve energy goals. Explore the popular tools and resources below for each Solution Pathway.

This guide compiles popular technical assistance resources and initiatives available to states, local governments, and K–12 school districts and highlights technical assistance offerings from other U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offices, where to apply to DOE funding, and more.

Develop Plans and Programs

State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform
A web-based platform that integrates and delivers data on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation to enable data-driven state and local energy planning.
Energy Resilience in the Public Sector
A webpage that features DOE and other federal tools and resources to support state and local governments with integrating resilient, clean energy technologies into public-sector facilities.
Expanding Accessibility of Energy Modeling in Hawaii
A use case on two compatible energy system modeling tools: Engage and the Hawaii Advanced Visualization Environment Nexus (HAVEN).
WAP Home Energy Professionals Competency Models
A technical report that improves the quality of residential retrofits and increases energy savings in the residential market.
Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool
A web-based tool that allows states, communities, and other stakeholders to better understand energy burden and housing characteristics across household income levels.
Clean Energy for Low-Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) Toolkit
A toolkit that provides an overview of tools, resources, and models for developing low-income energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Empower Organizations

Rural K-12 School Workforce Development and Training
A toolkit for rural K–12 school facilities with steps to improve energy efficiency knowledge and create cost-saving and energy-efficient schools.
Building Your Energy Team
A webpage that provides resources to assist states, local governments, and K–12 schools in building their energy teams, including position description templates, national programs that support public-sector energy teams, and case studies.
State Energy Program Implementation Models
Implementation models that outline state approaches to overcoming an energy barrier. These models serve as "how-to" guides for other states who wish to replicate programs that are achieving energy savings.
Weatherization Training Resources
Download training tools developed specifically for the WAP network.
Better Buildings Workforce Accelerator
A voluntary initiative that seeks to raise the level of building science and energy efficiency knowledge in the nation's building-related workforce.

Establish Financing

eProject eXpress
An easy-to-use online platform, eProject eXpress provides a streamlined, tailored pathway for state and local governments to document, track, and demonstrate the ongoing value of their ESPC projects and programs.
C-PACE Toolkit Overview
State and local governments can use resources in the C-PACE Toolkit to build a foundational understanding of C-PACE, inform the decision to start a program, improve implementation, and apply C-PACE to support a range of public purpose objectives.
Energy Savings Performance Contracting Toolkit
A toolkit that contains best practices from partners in the ESPC Accelerator that worked to streamline the process and resolves ESPC barriers.
Achieving Energy Savings in Small- and Medium-Sized Public Facilities
A technical report that shares best practices for state, local government, and K–12 school staff managing small and medium facilities so they can make more strategic decisions about using financing to complete energy upgrades.
ESPC for Small Projects
A technical report that offers strategies and case studies for implementing ESPC in smaller towns, rural counties, and small school districts to complete energy upgrades and maximize energy and cost savings.

Implement Data Management

Energy Data Management Guide
A web-based resource that provides a seven-step approach for establishing a robust and sustainable energy data management program.
Benchmarking and Transparency: Resources for State and Local Leaders
A resource guide that provides state and local leaders with streamlined access to key resources for developing high-impact building energy benchmarking and transparency programs.
Smart Energy Analytics Campaign Toolkit
A toolkit that collects best practices for savings opportunities and performance improvements from energy management and information systems.
Online Weatherization Assistant
A virtual platform that helps states and local agencies implement the Weatherization Assistance Program through four tools focused on energy auditing.
Building Performance Tools
A webpage that showcases a comprehensive suite of tools for accessing, managing, analyzing and sharing building energy data.

Find SCEP Projects in Your State

The interactive SCEP Project Map allows users to explore each state's State Energy Program and Weatherization Assistance Program projects, recently published SCEP success stories, and voluntary partnerships including Better Buildings Initiatives. Learn more and find resources.

Advancing Equity

Energy and environmental justice are core to DOE's mission. DOE is working to address the disproportionate health, environmental, economic, and climate impacts on the communities too often left behind, including low-income rural and urban communities, and communities of color. DOE is dedicated to helping communities overcome barriers to energy justice by pairing meaningful community engagement with the latest science and technology through programs such as the Weatherization Assistance Program and the State Energy Program. DOE-developed resources, including the Low- Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool and Clean Energy for Low-Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) Toolkit, are available to help state and local partners make sure low-income communities benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Visit Low-Income Community Energy Solutions to learn more and find resources.

Contact Us

Reach out to the State and Local Solution Center at stateandlocal@ee.doe.gov.

For more resources, explore our all resources webpage.

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