Q3 2026 Market Research and Evaluation Newsletter

Hello readers,

Each summer, MRE Scientists identify and prioritize the market research and evaluation projects needed to support their program teams in the next calendar year. This involves identifying gaps in knowledge that can be addressed through market research, aligning on the key market progress indicators (MPIs) that should be addressed in upcoming Market Progress Evaluation Reports (MPERs), and collaborating with Market Analysts to identify baseline assumptions and other key savings inputs that are ready for review, among many other opportunities to support the region through rigorous third-party research and evaluation. We look forward to reporting on newly identified projects in the Q4 2026 newsletter.

In the meantime, highlighted below are a few published studies linked in this quarter’s newsletter that demonstrate the breadth of research and evaluation being conducted at NEEA.

• The HVAC Installation Contractor Market Research used focus groups to collect in-depth, qualitative information on residential HVAC installers’ sales and product selection processes and their attitudes toward product features supported by NEEA’s Advanced Heat Pump and Dual-Fuel Residential HVAC programs.
• The Fans Naturally Occurring Baseline Review evaluated data sources and calculation methods that will be used to report savings for the Efficient Fans program and identified opportunities to improve NEEA’s Fan Energy Index baseline estimation methods.
• The Manufactured Homes Market Diffusion Evaluation Report #1 tracked market progress for manufactured homes meeting the Northwest Energy Efficient Manufactured Housing Program™ (NEEM)+ specification now that NEEA is no longer directly engaged in the market.

Meghan Bean, Manager, Market Research & Evaluation