The New Hampshire Department of Energy (NH DOE) partnered with MDR to conduct the FY23 Energy Consumers Survey to better understand how residents and organizations across the state perceive, access, and act on energy efficiency information and programs. The survey was commissioned to inform future policy and program development by identifying key motivators and barriers to energy-efficient practices. MDR collaborated closely with NH DOE and the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy (EESE) Committee throughout the project. 

MDR implemented a dual-survey methodology targeting both residential consumers and organizational stakeholders. The residential survey included 1,188 respondents and used a multi-mode approach combining address-based sampling (ABS) and an online panel. The ABS sample was stratified by geography and demographics, including age, income, and homeownership status, and was supplemented with mailed invitations, reminder postcards, and paper surveys upon request. The organizational survey included 482 respondents from small businesses, non-profits, and municipalities. Recruitment was conducted via email, mail, and telephone follow-ups, with stratification by organization type and size to ensure diversity in responses. Both surveys were designed to capture a broad range of demographic and operational characteristics and were administered online with a $10 incentive for participation. 

MDR provided NH DOE with a comprehensive set of deliverables, including cleaned and weighted datasets in SPSS and Excel formats, detailed data dictionaries, and a data compendium with tabulations by key demographic and organizational characteristics. MDR also coded and categorized open-ended responses for thematic analysis and provided a de-identified compendium of verbatim comments. Weekly status reports and real-time data monitoring ensured quality control throughout the project. The analytical plan included data imputation, weighting, and the creation of computed variables to support subgroup analysis and reporting. 

This project stands out for its dual focus on both residential and organizational energy consumers, its use of advanced sampling and data collection techniques, and its detailed demographic and regional analysis. The findings offer actionable insights for NH DOE to enhance public engagement, tailor communication strategies, and improve program accessibility across diverse populations.