What is Market Transformation?
A holistic approach to accelerate the development and adoption of energy-efficient products and technologies over the long term, making homes more comfortable and affordable to power and helping businesses thrive.
Building a Resilient Future Through Market Transformation
Market transformation is a strategic process of intervening in a market to create lasting change. NEEA does this by removing barriers and leveraging opportunities for increased energy efficiency in the Northwest. This makes efficient products and technologies more accessible and affordable for consumers and businesses.
NEEA’s Unique, Proven Approach
NEEA’s mission is to catalyze the most efficient use of energy for a thriving Northwest. This is achieved by identifying barriers that stand in the way of efficiency and working across the supply chain to remove them. NEEA intervenes to drive permanent change through interventions such as product and stocking practice improvements, training and education, and other awareness activities. This approach, rooted in creating long-term, lasting impact, is what we call Market Transformation.
Strategic Interventions to Enable Efficiency
Market Transformation is the strategic process of intervening in a market to create lasting change in market behavior. Each part of that statement matters. ‘Strategic’ means not being locked into a single tactic; thinking broadly and adapting as markets evolve. ‘Intervening in a market’ acknowledges stepping into a complex system that can react in unexpected ways. Remaining flexible, humble and ready to shift course when the market changes is essential. In the end, the ultimate goal is to ensure that consumers have choices when it comes to efficiency.
Dual-Fuel Efficiency
NEEA plays an important role in providing affordable, reliable, and secure energy options across all fuel types, ensuring that Northwest customers benefit from proven energy-efficient technologies and innovative solutions.
One emerging trend in the energy market is the adoption of dual-fuel residential heating and cooling (HVAC) systems. When implemented effectively, these systems offer a flexible, resilient solution that can integrate natural gas and electric systems to meet the growing needs of the Northwest’s energy system. They have the potential to reduce electric demand during peak events by flexibly shifting from one fuel source to the other, while also providing consumers with efficient options for comfort and affordability.
Transforming markets to realize the potential of dual-fuel technologies requires reimagining how electric and natural gas systems work together to meet customer energy needs. This transformation requires innovative collaboration among utilities and manufacturers at every stage of the supply chain to ensure that consumers have access to these new, efficient technologies.
A Proven Model for Transforming Markets
Over the last twenty-five years, the alliance has developed a proven Market Transformation framework built on data, technical expertise, and reciprocal, long-lasting relationships with regional and national market actors and organizations. Since 1997, alliance Market Transformation activities have saved equivalent to enough electricity to power over 700,000 homes each year.
Emerging Technology
NEEA scans the market to identify new energy efficiency opportunities and create a continuous pipeline of long-term energy savings for the region’s utilities. Promising technologies and approaches are vetted through NEEA’s testing and validation process—which may include lab and field testing—to ensure they save energy and meet the needs of customers.
Market Strategy + Execution
NEEA leverages its trusted relationships to work with the entire supply chain. NEEA shares insights on technologies and market opportunities to motivate businesses in the supply chain to invest in efficiency, driving more efficient product options to the market for consumers to choose from.
Codes + Standards
NEEA’s programs secure long-term energy savings by providing technical expertise to regional stakeholders in developing codes and standards. Partnering with experts, NEEA ensures Northwest needs are incorporated into energy codes, equipment standards and test procedures, then helps the region adapt to these changes through training and awareness building.
Analytics, Research + Evaluation
NEEA’s research, data and region-wide studies identify barriers and opportunities for efficiency by providing an up-to-date characterization of markets, building stocks and energy consumption. This informs Market Transformation programs, encourages private sector investment and supports utility and regional energy planning.
Convene + Collaborate
Working together, utilities partners with utilities and energy efficiency organizations partner to pool resources, share risks, and advance energy efficiency more effectively than any single entity could alone. This collaboration fosters long-term, market-based changes that benefit both organizations and all Northwest customers.
Explore NEEA
Success Stories
Explore how NEEA is transforming markets and driving energy efficiency across the region.
Research + Data
Delve into NEEA’s reports and gain insights into the alliance’s Market Transformation progress.
Get Involved
Engage with industry experts and network with peers to get updates on the latest trends.
Transforming the Energy Efficiency Marketplace
The alliance represents the market power of the Northwest’s more than 14.5 million consumers, working to build trust and credibility with regional and national entities.
