“Residential energy efficiency programs are delivered by many different types of organizations and their partners, including utilities, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and for-profit companies, but no matter which sector delivers the program, the need to work in partnership with different entities can make or break program success.

Partnerships are relationships between two or more parties that specify joint rights and responsibilities, and are mutually beneficial. The focus in this context is on strategic relationships concerning the internal, operational side of core energy efficiency program practices. Partnerships go beyond contractual obligations, such as those between an energy efficiency program and a vendor or supplier, and have implications concerning stakeholders, which are defined as any person or institution that can affect or is affected by an organization, strategy, or project. …

[This Toolkit includes] a range of tools to understand what constitutes a partnership, establish the need for partnerships, identify potential partners methodically, conduct partnerships, evaluate them, and communicate their success.”