Tag Archives: interventions

HOW CAN POLICY INTERVENTIONS HELP OVERCOME ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO SOLAR ENERGY ADOPTION

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There are several major economic barriers that can prevent widespread adoption of solar energy systems, especially for residential homeowners. These include the high upfront cost of installation, lack of access to affordable financing options, uncertainty around return on investment timelines, and insufficient financial incentives. Well-designed policy interventions by governments at both the state/provincial and national levels have proven effective in many countries at addressing these economic challenges.

One of the key barriers is the high upfront capital cost required to install a residential solar energy system, which can range from $10,000 to $25,000 or more depending on the size of the system. This large initial investment presents a significant hurdle for many homeowners. States and provinces have overcome this by implementing robust solar rebate programs. Rebates directly lower the upfront costs by providing payments to homeowners of $1-5 per watt of installed solar capacity. Some jurisdictions like California have offered rebates as high as $3-4 per watt, meaning a 5 kW system could qualify for $15,000-$20,000 in rebates. This brings the effective cost much lower and within reach of more homeowners.

Access to low-cost financing is another economic barrier, as the large upfront costs are difficult for many to pay outright. States have addressed this through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing programs. PACE loans allow homeowners to finance 100% of installation costs through their property taxes, with the loan transferred to future owners upon sale. It lengthens the payback period to 20+ years at very low interest rates of 4-6%, making monthly payments much more affordable. Over 30 states have now established PACE programs.

Governments have also implemented net metering policies that provide credits to homeowners for excess power generated and fed back into the grid. This significantly enhances the projected return on investment timelines for a residential system. Without net metering, the payback period could be 15-25 years which is a major deterrent. With net metering policies, homeowners see paybacks of 7-12 years on average depending on local electricity rates, using solar to dramatically lower their electricity costs over the lifetime of the system.

Further, the federal government and many states supplement these programs with valuable solar tax credits that offset 30% of installation costs. The federal investment tax credit has been a huge factor driving the sharp decrease in solar prices over the past decade. Extending these tax credits provides market certainty to installers and homeowners. Some states have gone a step beyond with programs like California’s Emerging Renewables Program that provides additional incentives for newly built homes to come with solar already installed at reduced costs.

When crafting effective policy interventions, it is important governments coordinate efforts across rebates, low-cost financing programs, net metering, and tax credits to achieve maximum economic benefits for homeowners. Evidence clearly shows the cumulative impact of layering various incentive policies together is much greater than any one policy in isolation. For example, combining a rebate with a low-interest PACE loan and net metering credits can bring the effective upfront costs and payback timelines into very affordable ranges for median income households.

By strategically aligning these supportive policies, many jurisdictions across Europe and in places like California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey have succeeded in making residential solar the economically rational choice for a large percentage of homeowners. In the process, they have spurred huge growth in local solar markets that created tens of thousands of jobs and cemented their states’ positions as leaders in the burgeoning clean energy economy. Sustaining these programs is crucial for continued market expansion towards the eventual goal of solar achieving unaided grid parity without subsidies. Increasing worldwide action on climate change will also further strengthen the business case for renewable power investments like residential solar with avoided health and environmental costs factored in. Well-coordinated policy interventions at multiple levels of government have proven highly effective methods for overcoming economic barriers confronting solar energy adoption by households around barriers.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES FOR DEVELOPING MULTI LEVEL INTERVENTIONS FOR AT RISK YOUTH

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There are several evidence-based practices that have been shown to be effective for developing multi-level interventions for at-risk youth. Multi-level interventions are important because they address risk and protective factors at different levels, including the individual, family, school, peer, and community levels. Addressing risk factors at multiple levels simultaneously is thought to have a stronger impact on preventing maladaptive outcomes compared to single-level interventions.

One approach that has shown success is multi-systemic therapy (MST). MST aims to promote behavioral change in the youth’s natural environment using a collaborative, team-based approach. MST therapists work with the family and other systems in the youth’s life, such as school, peers, and neighborhood. Therapists provide interventions that empower caretakers with the skills and resources needed to deal effectively with the behavioral problems. MST focuses on addressing influences on antisocial behavior within the youth’s social networks and developing coping strategies. Randomized controlled trials have found MST to be effective at reducing antisocial behavior, substance use, and out-of-home placements compared to usual care.

Another evidence-based multi-level intervention is the Communities That Care (CTC) prevention system. The CTC system involves assessing community risk and protective factors, building collaboration between community members and organizations, and implementing programs and strategies that target modifiable risk factors. Community coalitions develop plans to implement programs across the different levels, such as parent training, social development strategies in schools, and policies in local government/law enforcement. Longitudinal studies have found that communities using the CTC system demonstrate reductions in rates of substance abuse, delinquency, and other problem behaviors compared to control communities.

At the school-level, positive behavior intervention and support (PBIS) is an evidence-based framework for preventing problem behaviors. PBIS involves teaching prosocial expectations across all school settings, using a system of positive reinforcement, and intervening early for students not responding to Tier 1 supports. School staff are trained to define, teach, model, and reinforce appropriate student behaviors. The universal supports are supplemented with more intensive, individualized supports (Tier 2 and 3) for students needing extra help. Numerous studies show PBIS is associated with reductions in office discipline referrals, suspensions, improvements in academic achievement and school climate over time.

Targeting protective factors through mentoring programs is another effective multi-level intervention for youth. Community-based mentoring matches at-risk youth with caring, supportive adults in their communities. High-quality programs provide ongoing training to mentors, structured activities for mentor-mentee matched, and aim to establish long-lasting relationships. Research indicates community-based mentoring programs can improve outcomes such as academic achievement and performance, self-esteem, social competencies and relationships, as well as decrease rates of risky behaviors like violence, substance use and skipping school.

Family-focused interventions are also important as part of multi-level programs. Parent management training aims to teach parents positive reinforcement techniques, effective discipline strategies, and how to help their child develop important social and emotional skills. Improving parenting skills and the parent-child relationship strengthens a protective factor. Multisystemic family therapy similarly addresses risk factors in youth and their families by changing family dynamics and empowering caretakers. Outcome studies demonstrate reduced antisocial behavior, criminal activity, and mental health issues through family-focused interventions.

Developing multi-level interventions by implementing evidence-based programs across individual, family, school, peer and community domains is an effective approach for at-risk youth populations. Addressing multiple risk and protective factors simultaneously through collaborative, team-based strategies has been shown to produce stronger effects than single-level programs alone. Programs should be matched to the specific needs of the population through an assessment process and involve stakeholder engagement at all levels for sustainability.