In addition, refrigerator coils are cleaned, air conditioning filters are replaced, and hot water tank thermostat settings are lowered. Each customer is also provided with information on energy conservation. The Neighborhood program is marketed aggressively to targeted neighborhoods. One to two days after a promotional mailer has arrived, program crews distribute brochures throughout the neighborhood describing the program, repeating the phone number that customers can use to sign up for the service, and informing customers of the time period that the program will be offered. If possible, the canvasser will make the appointment for the same day.
All crew members carry two-way radios and work within each neighborhood as a team.
The radios facilitate communication among installers, and improve the overall efficiency of the installment process, allowing for rescheduling of appointments and requests for replacement supplies. The radios are also helpful in neighborhoods where safety concerns are an issue. Northeast Utilities estimates that annual savings in 1991 were 564 kWh per participant. With over 4,500 participants, the program saved a total of 2,580 MWh in its first year of implementation. To date installers have performed 45 retrofits per day, with each visit taking about 45 minutes.