History of Success
More than 30 years ago, the energy efficiency community in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington created the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) based on a shared belief that together, the region can accomplish far more than any one organization can Alone.
Celebrating Three Decades of Market Transformation
Since 1996, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance has worked alongside utilities and regional partners to advance energy efficiency through research, collaboration and market-based solutions.
Explore the timeline below to discover the people, programs and pivotal moments that have helped shape the alliance’s history and the Northwest’s energy future.
2020 – 2024
A pivotal chapter in NEEA’s ongoing efforts to expand efficiency options and opportunities for Northwest consumers and businesses, this period sees the alliance fine-tune its proven, dual-fuel approach by continually adapting to new circumstances and changing data. With a focus on strengthening the Northwest energy grid, the alliance launches the first regionwide load-flexibility collaboration alongside 10 Northwest utilities while continuing to serve the region as a neutral, unbiased support to the market.
Empowering the Northwest with resilient flexibility.
In 2024, the alliance launched the first-ever regional end-use load flexibility collaboration with 10 Northwest utilities. Accelerating the integration of load flexibility features in the region’s power grid will bolster the reliability of the energy system serving every resident and business in the Northwest
The Strategic Energy Management program graduates with top honors (and accomplishments).
For nearly two decades, NEEA leads the region’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) efforts, in part by pioneering industry-leading practices and techniques and convening utilities and practitioners from inside and outside the region. In this period alone, the alliance’s whole building and human-centric approach to eliminating energy waste delivers approximately 50 aMW of energy savings throughout the Northwest. With SEM established and embraced throughout the region and country, NEEA hands the program off to the market in 2024.
32,700 building professionals supported
Codes and standards help ensure that efficiency is embedded into products and buildings so they perform well and save energy. The alliance provides ongoing support for federal appliance standards and regional and federal energy codes by providing building professionals across all four Northwest states code training and technical assistance.
The alliance delivers 823 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
Taking stock of thousands of Northwest homes and businesses.
By surveying more than 2,000 homes and 900 commercial buildings, the alliance creates a valuable database of the physical and energy-use characteristics of our region’s building stock. Known respectively as the Residential Building Stock Assessment (RBSA) and the Commercial Building Stock Assessment (CBSA), these unique studies support and guide the decision-making of Northwest energy planners, researchers and energy efficiency program designers for many years to come.
The alliance pumps up a historically untapped product category.
Throughout this period, NEEA raises awareness and understanding of smart pump technology by facilitating training, educational sessions and customer outreach in all four Northwest states. These efforts, combined with midstream incentives for manufacturer representatives to sell more smart pumps, help drive a 40% increase in smart pump sales from 2020–2024.
The 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.
The ENERGY STAR® Retail Products Platform begins collecting online sales data, further enriching its influence on manufacturers, product specifications and federal standards.
Access to online sales data coincides with a historic spike in online shopping brought on by the pandemic.
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 transitions 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.
To successfully and affordably achieve Oregon’s climate and energy goals we must all work together. Finding innovative and affordable ways to save energy will be critical to meeting our goals. We’re grateful to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for convening the region to advance cost-effective energy-efficient technologies and practices that benefit communities in Oregon and across the entire Northwest.
– Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy Director
2015 – 2019
The alliance makes another Market Transformation leap by ringing in a new era of dual-fuel efforts. Beginning with the debut of a natural gas portfolio in 2015, the end of this period cements the inclusion of both natural gas and electric portfolios moving forward, and for the first time ever, a program funded jointly by electric and gas utilities (Next Step Homes). In addition to delivering more savings for the region, this holistic approach to Market Transformation provides the same value for Northwest gas customers that electric customers have enjoyed for decades.
The alliance delivers 823 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
Everyone 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.
A Look Back at the Leadership in Energy Efficiency Awards
Explore photos from past Leadership Awards events and revisit memorable moments from the event’s history.
These awards reflect the heart of what makes the energy efficiency community so special: collaboration, innovation, and a deep commitment to serving Northwest customers.
Becca Yates, NEEA Executive Director
The alliance provides unprecedented insight into Northwest energy use.
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 one-minute interval data enables more accurate energy resource forecasting and provides insight into real-world Northwest energy use.
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 transformation of the region’s lamp replacement market. These efforts successfully grow the market share of low wattage fluorescent lamps from 13% in 2015 to 52% by 2018.
The country’s first gas-focused Market Transformation effort is launched.
In 2015, a collective of regional gas utilities launches a five-year plan to accelerate natural gas efficiency. After identifying gas heat pump water heaters as promising emerging technology, the alliance partners with utilities across North America to quickly and effectively bring the product to market. These efforts are now integrated into NEEA’s dual-fuel Market Transformation Portfolio.
2010–2014
The alliance pushes its Market Transformation efforts to the next level by deepening the region’s influence with manufacturers, national organizations and government agencies. This work includes a heightened focus on emerging technologies, as well as partnerships with influential organizations outside the region that expand the Northwest’s reach, strengthen its voice and share costs
The alliance exceeds business plan targets by achieving a total of 600 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
Efficiency Connections Northwest conference convenes the region.
Now known as Efficiency Exchange, this annual conference has grown into the Northwest’s premier regional gathering for energy efficiency professionals, creating space for collaboration among utilities and industry experts and the exchange of ideas shaping the region’s energy future.
Efficiency Exchange traces its roots to the inaugural Efficiency Connections Northwest conference in 2010. In 2013, the event evolved into Efficiency Exchange NW, combining Efficiency Connections Northwest and BPA’s Energy Efficiency Utility Summit.
A Look Back at Efficiency Exchange
Take a trip through the archives with photos from Efficiency Exchange events throughout the years.
Energy 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 strategic energy management. The competition motivates more than 180 existing buildings to save 4.7 aMW. This work paved the way for NEEA’s Commercial Whole Building Special Project, a regional effort to accelerate commercial building energy efficiency and load flexibility retrofits by developing market-ready resources, testing scalable strategies, and helping owners of small- and medium-sized building move forward with upgrades in ways that are accessible, affordable and easier to navigate
The alliance influences 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.
Advanced Water Heater Specification is 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 leads to the creation of a heat pump water heater conducive to the Northwest and similar climates. Two years later, Sears conducts a market test of the product, resulting in a 600% increase in sales.
Everyone in our industry understands the need for higher efficiency water heater technology, but we wouldn’t be this far ahead with product development without the support of NEEA and Northwest utilities.
Ankur Maheshwari, Rheem Manufacturing Company Sr. Manager, Product Management
2005 – 2009
An era of growth and scaling, the alliance continues to elevate and expand successful Market Transformation footholds across a variety of industries and markets. This period also sees a broad expansion of the alliance’s data collection efforts, including large-scale building stock assessments that grow to become a significant and valuable aspect of the long-term efforts to influence state codes and product standards and specifications.
The alliance delivers an additional 216 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest for a total of 354 aMW.
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.
The ductless heat pump (DHP) pilot gains traction.
Beginning its first year with 47 trainings for more than 500 contractors, the pilot becomes a highly successful Market Transformation program spurring 19,000 DHP installations and a sprawling network of nearly 1,000 contractors.
CFLs 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®. This early success “lights the way” for NEEA’s work across the commercial lighting market to ensure that Northwest homes and businesses see the benefits of energy-efficient lighting technologies.
Northwest utilities partner with ENERGY STAR® to launch 80 PLUS.
This national program successfully elevates the market share of efficient power sources for desktop PCs and servers from 0% to 70%.
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 increases SEM use in regional hospitals from 0% to 60% in 10 years. Based on this success, the alliance evolves the SEM concept into a utility program model, enabling utilities to offer SEM programs directly to their commercial and industrial customers.
Energy efficiency saves money, creates family-waged jobs and is the cornerstone of a low-carbon economic development strategy. Those who work in Oregon’s energy efficiency industry are critical to ensuring we have an affordable and resilient energy system that is robust for our future. Thank you to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for its leadership in advancing energy efficiency in Oregon and across the Northwest.
Kate Brown, former Governor of Oregon
2001 – 2005
Empowered by successes and lessons learned in its first three years, the alliance begins to develop its unique approach to Market Transformation that will sow the seeds of permanent change across the Northwest and the nation at large. Throughout this era, the alliance works to influence the products and behaviors of a variety of mid- and upstream market partners to set the stage for many of its long-term Market Transformation efforts.
The alliance delivers 138 aMW of co-created savings across the Northwest.
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 is just the beginning of the alliance’s efforts to influence state codes by advancing practices and proving market readiness.
The alliance develops its first residential sector plan.
Continuing to benefit the region to this day, the comprehensive plan leverages the widely known and trusted ENERGY STAR® platform and becomes the starting point for two of the alliance’s most successful Market Transformation efforts: the Ductless Heat Pump and Heat Pump Water Heater initiatives, which launched long-term efforts to transform both the HVAC and Water Heating markets.
BetterBricks launches as the alliance’s first-ever Market Transformation initiative.
The platform helps make the business case for energy efficient renovations, motivating decision makers in the healthcare, grocery and office real estate markets to rethink their practices around energy.
Over time, BetterBricks has developed a targeted, content-led strategy, prioritizing real-world examples, technical guidance, and trusted industry voices.
Efficient Residential Windows initiative debuts, achieving 75% market share in just four years.
The initiative will go on to win the ENERGY STAR® and ACEEE Innovative Program awards. Windows is one of the alliance’s first fuel-neutral efforts, giving homeowners more ways to improve comfort and save energy regardless of how their homes are powered.
To successfully and affordably achieve Oregon’s climate and energy goals we must all work together. Finding innovative and affordable ways to save energy will be critical to meeting our goals. We’re grateful to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance for convening the region to advance cost-effective energy-efficient technologies and practices that benefit communities in Oregon and across the entire Northwest.
Janine Benner, Director, Oregon Department of Energy
1997–2000
The newly formed organization begins with a challenging objective: they are tasked with developing strategies to guide, affect and disrupt markets, then proving those strategies out, all in three years. The alliance quickly begins identifying opportunities for region-wide savings, pooling resources to achieve more with less, and partnering with regional partners and the market to marshal in a new era of energy efficiency in the Northwest.
The alliance helps create the Building Commissioning Association.
To this day, the international organization that began as expansion of the Northwest Building Commissioning Collaborative continues training and certifying commissioning providers to optimize the safety, efficiency and resilience of buildings.
The alliance drives 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.
Permanently elevating clothes washer efficiency.
In 1997, the alliance begins 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 transform the market by dramatically increasing efficient-washer market share and influencing a new federal standard requiring a 35% increase in product efficiency.
NEEA’s ENERGY STAR® Grimiest Soccer Team Contest invited 15,000 youth soccer coaches to submit photos of their teams at their grimiest.
NEEA hosted clinics with U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team celebrity Tiffeny Milbrett, challenging participants to “Get Dirty, Score Big, and Clean Up with ENERGY STAR®.”
This is the first of NEEA’s many successes in transforming the consumer products market to ensure that efficient products are widely available for consumers across the Northwest and beyond.
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, Puget Sound Energy Former VP Energy Efficiency Services
Founded in 1996
In 1996, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council (the Council) calls 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 join 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 represent all primary stakeholders across Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington, including regulators, public and privately owned utilities, energy efficiency businesses and government representatives.
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 30-year commitment of working with market partners and stakeholders to strive for a more energy-efficient future.
Becca Yates, NEEA Executive Director
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.
