Approach to Work

Program Summary

We offer programs that include on-site energy assessments tailored to recommendations for energy efficiency measures and upgrades. Recommendations include direct-install mechanical plug-in timers and behavioral measures. Contractor measures include internet enabled thermostats, and lighting controls management and other energy efficiency measures. 

Our programs are innovative approaches to increase participation, awareness, and adoption of energy efficiency solutions for historically underserved and underperforming buildings. The programs will effectively increasing the adoption and installation of measures of hard-to-reach business customers and diverse business enterprises. To meet customers where they are and speak to them in their language by establishing a neighborhood presence with energy ambassadors to promote the SCE program in a cost-effective manner. Gemini will hire and train disadvantage workers, that cut across the spectrum of religion, ethnicity, gender and language, as local community ambassadors to provide measures within their community.

Marketing & Outreach

​The programs' marketing and outreach approach is to ally with trusted community leaders: the religious institutions, community-based non-profits, and business associations to host gatherings for and disseminate information to targeted customers in a cost-efficient manner. 

Addressing Barriers

Gemini’s Programs are designed to reach small/ mid-size customers in a cost-efficient manner while mitigating acquisition cost via a community-based marketing approach. The following are ways that our programs further address barriers to this customer segment:

Information/ Search Costs: 

• Once a customer is informed about how much money their devices and systems cost, they can be empowered to make EE choices in the near and long-term. Furthermore, the neighborhood presence approach provides the customers a trusted source for EE knowledge and information. 

Performance Uncertainties:

• The use of sensors to measure the schedules of light, HVAC, equipment, and motors provides a higher-level of confidence in the estimated savings. Additionally, following any contractor installation, a supplemental review is done by the area manager of that region as part of our QA process. 

Hiring Local

​Gemini believes that representation matters; thus, our programs not only focus on disadvantaged communities but hiring local employees and utilizing local contractors as well. This involves identifying disadvantage zip codes that have a high density of the customer segments then hiring and training workers who reside in the zip code. To help facilitate the hiring and training, Gemini will partner with workforce development groups. 

Hassle/Transaction Costs.

• ​Small customers like religious institutions do not have the capital to invest in energy efficiency nor are their energy costs their biggest concern.  This program mitigates the customer’s hassle by:

1. Direct installs of mechanical plug-in timers during the assessment and
2. Low-cost thermostat and light control measures bid to a closed network of contractors. 

Access to Financing.

• Our direct-install measures will be free to the customer to remove the initial upfront cost of participating. All contractor installations will receive incentives for projects installed using NMEC to determine energy savings. Financing support such as California Hub for Energy Efficiency Financing (CHEEF) will also be introduced to the customers as options to encourage future work i.e., spillover.

Changing the world, one business at a time, one community at a time

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