1 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Public Service of Colorado Ponnequin Wind Farm TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT AND OUTREACH Web Coordinators Meeting Hosted by: Drew Bittner Sarah Kirchen April 15, 2010 Room 5E-081 Call In

2 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Around the Room (15 min.) – Drew Bittner Communication Standards Survey Results (10 min.) – Elizabeth Spencer Maintaining PIR Pages (5 min.) – Lou Sousa ITP User Research Survey Results (10 min.) – Morgan Weir Solar Usability Testing Summary (10 min.) – Linh Truong Earth Day (10 min.) – Elizabeth Spencer & Leslie Gardner EERE Facebook Fan Page (5 min.) – Drew Bittner & Chris Stewart WIP Site Redesign Preview (5 min.) – Elizabeth Meckes EERE Redesign Update (5 min.) – Chris Stewart Agenda – April 15, 2010 EERE Web Coordinators Meeting

3 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Open for two and a half weeks, March 3-19 Designed to get feedback from everyone who works on the EERE Web site—no matter what products they work on or if they are federal workers or contractors. This feedback will be part of a recommendations report that combines statistics, usability testing, Webmaster s, blog comments, and feedback responses, in order to update the Web site in FY11. Communication Standards Survey

4 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Communication Standards Survey We received responses from 33 people—23 contractors, 10 federal workers (8 of which are Web Coordinators). Thank you!

5 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov About half are fairly new (0-2 years), and half are more experienced (3+ years). Communication Standards Survey

6 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov And they work on every part of the EERE enterprise— with a good split between people who work with Web and print products. Communication Standards Survey

7 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov The most popular content on the site among the respondents includes the EERE Style Guide, the ability to find updates, and Web project management. Communication Standards Survey

8 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Overall Findings: What the respondents like: There’s a lot of useful information on the site The information is comprehensive and detailed Many respondents not only appreciate the standards information itself, but the resources like the EERE Style Guide Communication Standards Survey

9 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Overall Findings: What the respondents think could be improved: It’s difficult to find information on the site There’s overlap between the three different Web sections The navigation is too dense and too deep There’s no easy point of entry for new users to the site Sometimes there’s too much information to process The site doesn’t explain why some standards are specifically required Communication Standards Survey

10 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Recommendations for FY11 Re-architect the site to improve the navigation Look into adding horizontal navigation Explore a more topic-focused organization for the site Explore ways to use graphical cues to help users find and understand content Consider new ways to highlight and utilize popular content like the Style Guide and updates to the site Look for ways to shorten and simplify the content Communication Standards Survey

11 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Questions? Communication Standards Survey

12 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Maintaining PIR Pages Maintaining Your Program's PIR Webpage Role of the Plans, Implementation and Results webpage Will monitor new products added to the EERE library, flag those that are 'PIR-worthy,' and bring to attention of program webpage managers Semi-annual calls to EERE programs to review and update their PIR pages

13 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov ITP User Research Survey Results Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Understanding Users of the ITP Web Site April 2010

14 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Agenda ITP User Research Survey Results Purpose Methodology Results - Overview of Results - Results by Role (top user groups)

15 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Purpose ITP User Research Survey Results Gather information about - Who is visiting the ITP Web site - How frequently they visit - What type of information they are looking for Use data collected to help inform our benchmark usability test of the ITP Web site (May)

16 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Methodology ITP User Research Survey Results Number of Respondents - n = 132 (91 complete; 41 partial) Data Collection - Graphic link on every page of the ITP site - Feature graphic on ITP home page Types of Questions - Organization type - Industry - Professional role - Size of company - Why they are visiting the site - If they found what they were looking for - Frequency of use, if the site met their needs - How likely they were to recommend the site

17 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov ITP Web Site Home Page ITP User Research Survey Results

18 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov ITP User Research Survey Results ITP Web Site Survey

19 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Overview of Results ITP User Research Survey Results Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Organization Type Industry Professional Role Size of Company Task Accomplishment Frequency of Use Web Site Ratings User Top Tasks –Improvements Results by Role (top user groups) –Manufacturing –Consulting –Education/Research Institute –Government

20 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Organization Type ITP User Research Survey Results When visiting the Industrial Technologies Program (ITP) site today, what best describes the organization you work for/represent?(ITP ) Web Site Survey Report n = 118

21 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Industry ITP User Research Survey Results What is the principal industry you represent? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 118

22 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Professional Role ITP User Research Survey Results What best describes your professional role? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 20

23 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Size of Company ITP User Research Survey Results How many people are employed at your company, at your location? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 115

24 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Task Accomplishment ITP User Research Survey Results Did you find what you were looking for on the site? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 15

25 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Frequency of Use ITP User Research Survey Results How often do you visit this Web site? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 94

26 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Web Site Ratings ITP User Research Survey Results On a scale of 1-10, how likely are you to recommend the Industrial Technologies Program Web site? ( 1= very unlikely; 10 = very likely) (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 14

27 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Information Users are Looking For ITP User Research Survey Results (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 91 Other 25%

28 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Improvements ITP User Research Survey Results How can the ITP Web site better meet your needs? Comments - n = 51 General Categories (ITP) Web Site Survey Report - Update more frequently (n = 3) Example: “Launch recent documents” - General information on energy efficiency solutions (n = 3) Example: “Any ideas or suggestions on how to save energy in my plant, reduce costs, teach me new methods…” - Improved search function (n = 2) Example: “Improve the search function to provide relevant materials” - Other specific information requests Example: “A quick facts page about energy consumption per sector” Example: “Summarize incentive programs by state” Example: “Resource and research white papers” Example: “List out specific initiatives that ITP is working on” - Nothing (n = 9) Example: “Very efficient and easy to use as is” - Navigation (n = 4) Example: “It is very general and hard to navigate. Not exactly sure where I need to go” - Information architecture (n = 4) Example: “Organization of information is not intuitive for first time users” - Training (n = 3) Example: “Maintain historical training presentations for a long time period, as much of the information is still accurate and needed” - Case studies (n = 3) Example: “More case studies and calculations that start from the very basic assumption”

29 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Results by Role (top user groups) ITP User Research Survey Results Manufacturing Consulting Education/Research Institute Government (ITP) Web Site Survey Report

30 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Manufacturing ITP User Research Survey Results How many employees do you have in your manufacturing plant? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report How many people are employed at your company, at your location? n = 37

31 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Manufacturing continued… ITP User Research Survey Results What is the principal industry you represent? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report What best describes your professional role? n = 37 n = 6

32 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Manufacturing continued… ITP User Research Survey Results How often do you visit this Web site? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Did you find what you were looking for? n = 31 n = 3

33 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Manufacturing continued… ITP User Research Survey Results Why were you visiting the ITP Web site today? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Energy assessments 11.54% Software tools 11.54% Financial 7.69% n = 26 General learning/information on how to save energy 42.31% Other 19.23% Specific information on an energy system 3.85% Projects 3.85%

34 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Consulting ITP User Research Survey Results What is the principal industry you represent? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report What best describes your professional role? n = 27

35 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Consulting continued… ITP User Research Survey Results How many people are employed at your company, at your location? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report How often do you visit the site? n = 27 n = 22

36 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Consulting continued… ITP User Research Survey Results Why were you visiting the ITP Web site today? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Did you find what you were looking for on the site? n = 1 Training 5% n = 20 General learning/information on how to save energy 25% Software tools 15% Energy assessments 10% Financial 10% DOE programs 10% Specific information on an energy system 15% Specific information on an industry 10% Other 5%

37 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Education/Research Institute ITP User Research Survey Results What is the principal industry you represent? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report What best describes your professional role? n = 2 n = 10

38 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Education/Research Institute continued… ITP User Research Survey Results How many people are employed at your company, at your location? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report How often do you visit the site? n = 10 n = 8

39 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Education/Research Institute continued… ITP User Research Survey Results Why were you visiting the ITP Web site today? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Did you find what you were looking for on the site? n = 2 n = 9 Specific information on an energy system 22.22% Specific information on an industry 22.22% Software tools 11.11% General learning/information on how to save energy 11.11% Information on DOE directives 11.11% Other 22.22%

40 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Government ITP User Research Survey Results What level of government? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report What is the principal industry you represent? n = 12

41 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Government continued… ITP User Research Survey Results What best describes your professional role? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report How many people are employed at your company, at your location? n = 12 n = 4

42 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Government continued… ITP User Research Survey Results How often do you visit this Web site? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report Did you find what you were looking for on the site? n = 12 n = 8

43 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Government continued… ITP User Research Survey Results Why were you visiting the ITP Web site today? (ITP) Web Site Survey Report n = 8 Training 12.5% Software tools 37.5% R&D (Impacts) 12.5% Other 37.5%

44 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Contact Information ITP User Research Survey Results Morgan Weir Communications Specialist BCS, Inc Stephens Rd, Ste 200 Laurel, MD P: x 252 F:

45 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Overview Evaluate the top tasks on the DOE Solar Program’s Web site with a select group of target audience members Use feedback as a baseline for future studies Incorporate findings to improve site. Solar Usability Testing

46 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Planning (October-November 2009) Identified goals What did we want to learn? What areas did we want to focus on? What are the priorities of the users? Identified target audiences Who do we want to reach? What relationships are most vital to the success of the Solar Program? Identified tasks What information is important to the target audiences (for us and to them)? Solar Usability

47 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Recruitment (November-December 2009) Goal of 1 to 3 participants from each group: Congressional staff/DOE PBA staff Industry partner Media DOE lab partner Non-profit organization. 10 actual participants: 1 media 2 congressional staffers 3 industry partners 1 non-profit staffer 3 lab managers. Solar Usability

48 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Sessions minutes 8 tasks 6 remote and 4 on-site sessions Minimum staff needed per session: 1 moderator 1 note-taker 1 observer. Solar Usability

49 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Findings: What’s working EERE Solar Program search engine works well. Feature buttons are eye catching, especially those with simple text. Financial opportunities are easy to find. Nearly all comments on the home page were positive when referencing the amount of information and layout. Solar Usability

50 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Findings: What needs improvement Users had difficulty finding publications in the library when using the library’s search engine. Users had difficulty finding projects that were funded by the Solar Program. The rotating features on the home page were eye- catching to some people, but completely ignored by others. Users were confused by some of the terminology on the site. Users expected to see a wide range of information on the site for multiple audiences. Solar Usability

51 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Next Steps Talk with EES about improving library search engine. Create landing page for all projects with a link on the home page. Move the position of the rotating flash feature above the fold. Discuss with HQ a new approach to organizing content. Add landing pages that take visitors to content on industry and other external Web sites. Once changes are made, solicit user feedback every quarter. Solar Usability

52 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Earth Day 2010

53 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov New and Improved Animation This fresh edition of the animation is designed to provide more information, more program consistency, and more fun. The 2010 Earth Day Animation is an interactive tool that enables you to: Discover what you can do to save energy and money in your home Learn how energy is being used more efficiently in communities See the different sources of energy being used across the country Earth Day 2010

54 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov The Earth Day Animation has been expanded for 2010, and includes new features such as: –A new introductory scene –Your Home, Your Community, and Energy Sources scenes –An expanded house scene with more information –Added and updated info on High Efficiency Homes, Government, Alternative Fuels, and more The new look is similar to last year’s release, and will be available on the EERE Earth Day Web page next week. Earth Day 2010

55 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Earth Day 2010

56 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Facebook.com/eeregov “soft launch” We’d like your feedback and suggestions. –Please send your comments and ideas to Drew. –We’ll compile it and make improvements in phase II. We'd like programs to contribute content. –2-3 photos: These photos must include rights to publish to the Web and already be published in programs’ Publication and Product Library. –Notes and wall posts: First receive program approval to publish this information on Facebook and then send request to Drew. –Requests to publish information will be considered as part of a larger editorial calendar. We don’t want to overwhelm our fans by publishing at once a lot of information or on the same day. EERE Facebook Fan Page

57 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov EERE Facebook Fan Page

58 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov WIP Redesign

59 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov New WIP site includes some design elements of the new template—but isn’t in the new template per se. Solar Pilot –Usability testing EERE home page and landing pages also will be usability tested. –Template tweaks –Process and roadmap for migration Landing Pages –Incorporating programs’ feedback –Usability testing –New design Audience Analysis –Findings and recommendations meeting in May or June EERE Redesign Update

60 | Monthly Web Coordinators Meetingeere.energy.gov Wrap Up Next Meeting TBA