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An alliance forms to guide regional efficiency, resilience and collaboration.
In 1996, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (the Council) called for the creation of a regional organization committed to encouraging local markets to favor energy-efficient products and services. To answer this call, six Northwest investor-owned utilities joined forces with the publicly owned utilities represented by the Bonneville Power Administration to form the nonprofit Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA).
NEEA’s first Board of Directors represented all primary stakeholders across Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Washington, including regulators, public and privately-owned utilities, energy efficiency businesses and government representatives.
Permanently elevating clothes washer efficiency.
In 1997, the alliance began to shift consumer behavior and increase the demand for ENERGY STAR® certified washers. The alliance’s tactics—including manufacturer incentive programs and consumer awareness campaigns—successfully transformed the market by dramatically increasing efficient-washer market share and influencing a new federal standard requiring a 35% increase in product efficiency.
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The alliance drives the market adoption of a new industrial product.
Cutting industrial energy consumption by up to 60%, the alliance drives innovation and market adoption of a revolutionary product: the magnetic adjustable speed drive.
The alliance helps create the Building Commissioning Association.
An expansion of the Northwest Building Commissioning Collaborative, this international organization continues to this day training and certifying commissioning providers to optimize the safety, efficiency and resilience of buildings.
NEEA serves as a great arbiter and a great mobilizer to have great results. Being energy efficient isn’t just about saving energy, it’s about making people more comfortable, making a product look more appealing, and making people’s lives better at the end of the day.
- Cal Shirley
Former VP Energy Efficiency Services, Puget Sound Energy
Efficient Residential Windows initiative debuts, achieving 75% market share in just four years.
The initiative went on to win the ENERGY STAR and ACEEE Innovative Program awards.
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BetterBricks launches as the alliance’s first-ever Market Transformation initiative.
The platform motivates decision-makers in the healthcare, grocery, office and real estate markets to rethink their business practices around energy.
Visit BetterBricks.comThe alliance develops its first residential sector plan.
Continuing to benefit the region to this day, the comprehensive plan leveraged the widely known and trusted ENERGY STAR platform and became the starting point for two of the alliance’s most successful Market Transformation efforts: the Ductless Heat Pump and Heat Pump Water Heater initiatives.
The Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes program is born.
Guiding the residential new construction market to build 15% more energy-efficient than state energy code requirements, this program was just the beginning of the alliance’s efforts to influence state codes by advancing practices and proving market readiness.
Visit BetterBuiltNW.com
The alliance delivers 138 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
10-year Hospitals and Healthcare Strategic Energy Management (SEM) initiative launches.
Designed to foster energy management integration into standard hospital business practice, this alliance initiative increased SEM use in regional hospitals from 0% to 60% within ten years.
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Northwest utilities partner with ENERGY STAR to launch 80 PLUS.
This national program successfully elevated the market share of efficient power sources for desktop PCs and servers from 0% to 70%.
Learn MoreCFLs eclipse 24 million units in sales in 2008.
This milestone is the result of a comprehensive campaign launched by the alliance in 1997 in partnership with the region’s utilities, manufacturers, laboratories, government agencies, retailers and ENERGY STAR.
Learn MoreThe ductless heat pump (DHP) pilot greets the market.
Beginning its first year with 47 trainings for more than 500 contractors, the pilot became a highly successful Market Transformation program spurring 19,000 DHP installations and a sprawling network of nearly 1,000 contractors.
Regional building stock assessments begin.
While most of the country relies on phone surveys, the alliance’s building stock assessments provide incredible insight for regional planning efforts. By completing these assessments every five years, the region can uncover trends and progress while pooling resources to collectively save a significant amount of money and resources.
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The alliance delivers an additional 216 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest for a total of 354 aMW.
Advanced Water Heater Specification developed.
The Advanced Water Heater Specification (AWHS) provides energy efficiency guidance to manufacturers developing products that thrive in the Northwest and beyond. Developed by the alliance and a host of partners, the AWHS led to the creation of a heat pump water heater conducive to the Northwest and similar climates. Two years later, Sears conducted a market test of the product, resulting in a 600% increase in sales.
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Influencing a national leap in TV efficiency.
In coordination with major California utilities and ENERGY STAR, the alliance’s Energy Forward program elevates ENERGY STAR specifications and state and federal standards for energy-efficient TVs. These efforts result in a 55% efficiency increase for nearly 90% of TVs sold in the Northwest.
Learn MoreEnergy efficiency proves to be a competitive advantage for the commercial real estate market.
The alliance initiates the Kilowatt Crackdown, an energy efficiency competition designed to help large portfolio management firms understand the business benefits of wise energy management. The competition motivated more than 180 existing buildings to save 4.7 aMW.
Learn MoreEfficiency Connections Northwest conference convenes the region.
Now known as Efficiency Exchange, this annual conference provides a platform for regional collaboration among utilities and industry experts.
Learn MoreSEM efforts expanded into the commercial sector and beyond.
In addition to sector expansion, this era of the alliance's SEM advancements include debuting the nation’s first energy efficiency certification for industrial energy specialists, and the nationwide adoption of the alliance’s SEM framework.
Visit SEMHub.com
The alliance exceeds business plan targets by achieving a total of 600 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
The country’s first gas-focused Market Transformation effort.
In 2015, a collective of regional gas utilities launched a five-year plan to accelerate natural gas efficiency. After identifying gas heat pump water heaters as an opportune emerging technology, the alliance partnered with utilities across North America to quickly and effectively bring the product to market.
The alliance influences T8 lamp stocking practices.
Building on the successes of elevating TV efficiency, the alliance works with 275 distributor branches representing 40% of the region’s T8 sales to influence T8 lamp stocking practices. These efforts increased the market share of 28-watt T8 lamps from 8% to 52% by 2018.
Learn MoreEveryone wins with energy efficiency.
In an ongoing effort to enhance collaboration and innovation within the region, the alliance unveils the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards—an annual, formal recognition of individuals and teams for exemplary dedication and performance in energy efficiency.
View the 2020 WinnersUnprecedented insight into how the Northwest uses energy.
Replacing 30-year-old data, the Northwest End Use Load Research project (EULR) reveals how people use energy today. Among a variety of uses, EULR’s commercial and residential 1-minute interval data will allow for more accurate energy resource forecasting and provide insight into how the pandemic affected Northwest energy use.
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The alliance delivers 823 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
Washington state adopts a Total System Performance Ratio (TSPR) requirement into code.
The alliance-driven TSPR requirement requires building designers to evaluate commercial HVAC systems on whole-system performance rather than the performance of individual HVAC components. This approach will significantly increase energy savings in buildings throughout Washington.
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The Ductless Heat Pump initiative continues a legacy of lasting change.
After almost two decades of Market Transformation interventions working closely with utilities and the supply chain, the initiative will transition to monitor continued market progress while setting its sights on new heat pump technologies and solutions to further support all customers and climate zones in the Northwest.
Keep ReadingIn partnership with the Attachments Energy Rating Council, the alliance shepherds in the nation’s first certification program for commercial secondary windows.
Learn MoreThe ENERGY STAR Retail Products Platform begins collecting online sales data, further enriching its ability to influence manufacturers, product specifications and federal standards.
Access to online sales data coincided with a historic spike in online shopping brought on by the pandemic.
Keep ReadingThe alliance’s electric hybrid and gas heat pump water heater teams adapt to the pandemic’s changing circumstances, innovating new ways to strengthen partnerships and strategies.
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In only a year the alliance delivers an additional 36 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest for a total of 859 aMW saved since 1997, equivalent to enough to power more than 620,000 homes each year.
Thank You!
To our funders and other stakeholders who volunteer their time, talent and resources toward making energy efficiency a cornerstone of a vibrant and
sustainable Northwest.
The milestones and impacts of the alliance would not be possible without the many hands across the region combining efforts to advance energy-efficient products, practices and services. We remain humbled by the alliance’s 25-year commitment of working with market partners and stakeholders to strive for a more energy-efficient future.
- Susan E. Stratton
Former NEEA Executive Director
With Further Support From
Idaho
City of Albion
City of Bonners Ferry
City of Burley
City of Declo
City of Heyburn
City of Minidoka
City of Plummer
City of Rupert
City of Soda Springs
City of Weiser
Clearwater Power Company
East End Mutual Electric Company, LTD
Fall River Electric Cooperative
Farmers Electric Company, Ltd.
Idaho County Light and Power Cooperative Association, Inc.
Idaho Falls Power
Kootenai Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Lost River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Northern Lights, Inc.
Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Riverside Electric Company, LTD
Salmon River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
South Side Electric Lines, Inc.
United Electric Co-op, Inc
Montana
Big Horn County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Central Montana Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.
City of Troy
Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Glacier Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Mission Valley Power
Missoula Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Ravalli County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Southern Montana Electric G&T Cooperative, Inc.
Vigilante Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Western Montana Electric G&T Cooperative, Inc.
Nevada
Wells Rural Electric Company
Oregon
Blachly-Lane Electric Cooperative
Canby Utility Board
Central Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Central Lincoln People's Utility District
City of Ashland
City of Bandon
City of Cascade Locks
City of Drain
City of Forest Grove
City of Hermiston
City of Monmouth
Clatskanie People's Utility District
Columbia Basin Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Columbia Power Cooperative Association
Columbia River People's Utility District
Consumers Power, Inc.
Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Cowlitz PUD
Douglas Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Emerald People's Utility District
EWEB
Harney Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Hood River Electric Cooperative
Lane Electric Cooperative, Inc.
McMinnville Water and Light Commission
Midstate Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Milton-Freewater Light & Power
Northern Wasco County People's Utility District
Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative, Inc.
Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative
Portland General Electric
Salem Electric
Springfield Utility Board
Tillamook County PUD No. 1
Umatilla Electric Cooperative
Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative
Wasco Electric Cooperative
West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Washington
Alder Mutual Light Co., Inc.
Asotin County PUD No. 1
Benton County PUD No. 1
Benton Rural Electric Association
Big Bend Electric Cooperative, Inc.
City of Blaine
City of Centralia
City of Cheney
City of Chewelah
City of Ellensburg
City of McCleary
City of Milton
City of Port Angeles
City of Sumas
Clallum County PUD No. 1
Columbia Rural Electric Association
Consolidated Irrigation District No. 19
Douglas County PUD No. 1
Elmhurst Mutual Power & Light Company
Energy Northwest
Ferry County PUC No. 1
Franklin County PUD No. 1
Grant County PUD No. 2
Grays Harbor County PUD No. 1
Inland Power and Light Company
Jefferson County PUD No. 1
Kittitas County PUD No. 1
Klickitat County PUD No. 1
Lakeview Light and Power
Lewis County PUD No. 1
Mason County PUD No. 1
Mason County PUD No. 3
Modern Electric Water Company
Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Ohop Mutual Light Company
Okanogan County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Okanogan County PUD No. 1
Orcas Power and Light Cooperative
Pacific County PUD No. 2
Parkland Light & Water Company
Pend Oreille County PUD No. 1
Peninsula Light Company
Richland, City of
Skamania County PUD No. 1
South Columbia Basin Irrigation District
Tanner Electric Cooperative
Town of Coulee Dam
Town of Eatonville
Town of Steilacoom
Vera Water and Power
Wahkiahum County PUD No. 1
Whatcom County PUD No. 1
Yakama Power
Outlying
Surprise Valley Electrification Corporation
Sierra Pacific Power Company dba NV Energy
Wells Rural Electric Company
Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems
Lower Valley Energy, Inc.