A disciplined approach to getting results
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is an alliance of more than 140 utilities and energy efficiency organizations working on behalf of more than 13 million energy consumers to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. NEEA leverages the collective market power of the region and its more than 25 years of Market Transformation experience to create lasting market change.
To do this, NEEA manages a diversified portfolio of Market Transformation initiatives. For each initiative, NEEA identifies market barriers to efficiency and then strategically intervenes to influence decision-makers throughout the supply chain, thereby removing those barriers. Ultimately, this work ensures that Northwest customers have greater access to efficient products at increasingly affordable prices, and market actors have opportunities for skills training and job creation. And, by identifying market barriers and then strategically intervening to remove them, NEEA’s work delivers permanent market change and verified energy savings.
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Celebrating 25 Years of Market Transformation
To celebrate the alliance's 25th year, NEEA's Board and staff got together to share milestones and impacts of the alliance since the its inception. Check out this video to learn more about how last 25-years of collaboration have moved the needle on energy efficiency efforts to the benefit of consumers throughout the region and beyond.
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Supporting Regional Goals with Market Transformation
Michael Colgrove, Executive Director of the Energy Trust of Oregon and NEEA Board member, shares his optimism for the alliance’s ability to drive energy efficiency forward and support regional decarbonization goals using the proven approach of Market Transformation.
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Enabling Efficiency for all Northwest Consumers
NEEA Board member Holly Braun of NW Natural shares the one major achievement of the alliance that for her, stands out above the rest: the fact that the Northwest had the vision, and the courage, to come together to make energy efficiency products and services accessible for consumers in the Northwest.
All Programs
Advanced Commercial Gas Water Heating
Gas heat pumps offer efficiency and decarbonization benefits to multifamily and commercial buildings with existing natural gas central water heating systems. NEEA will leverage its existing relationships to improve product specifications, guidelines and design practices that encourage wide adoption of these products by designers, installers, and building operators.
Advanced Heat Pumps
The Advanced Heat Pump Program, formerly the Variable Speed Heat Pump program, aims to identify and drive adoption of product features, capabilities and ratings that will deliver higher efficiency in all residential two-stage and variable speed heat pumps installed in the Northwest.
Efficient Fans
The Efficient Fans program works upstream with manufacturers to produce and promote efficient fan systems. Adoption of more efficient fan products in the commercial and industrial sectors could bring the region 176 aMW in estimated energy savings. Information collected throughout the program may be used to inform new codes and standards set by both industry associations and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Efficient Gas Water Heating
Efficient Rooftop Units
The Efficient Rooftop Unit (RTU) program works to increase the efficiency of RTUs through product differentiation and increased Federal Standards. Motivated by emerging opportunities from evolving test procedures, the Efficient RTU program transitioned from an exclusive focus on condensing rooftop units (C-RTUs) to a broader rooftop unit approach in 2020. Updated modeling demonstrates a significant energy-saving potential among Efficient RTUs through low-cost efficiency measures, offering a strong opportunity to differentiate these products in the market.
Extended Motor Products (XMP)
Accelerates the adoption of more efficient motor driven products, such as pumps, fans, and compressors in end markets with significant savings potential.
Heat Pump Water Heaters
Fifty-five percent of Northwest homes have electric water heaters. The alliance is increasing availability of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) specifically designed for the Northern climate, with a goal of influencing the passage of a federal standard requiring HPWHs for all electric storage tanks greater than 45 gallons by 2025.
High-Performance HVAC
The High-Performance HVAC program is a recent addition to NEEA’s portfolio, and will focus on Very High Efficiency Dedicated Outside Air Systems (VHE DOAS) as its first technology. Building on the DOAS concept of separating the ventilation from the heating and cooling system, VHE DOAS includes heat recovery ventilation and focuses on increased equipment efficiency and optimized system design. This combination yields significant whole building energy savings in new and existing small and medium commercial buildings while providing better indoor air quality and greater occupant comfort.
High-Performance Windows
High-Performance Windows is a dual-fuel program in the alliance's portfolio that aims to accelerate the adoption of high performing windows that reach 0.22 U value, or lower. Motivated by national interest in the products, the program is focusing on increasing builder demand, influencing leading manufacturers to scale production and advancing the ENERGY STAR criteria to reach the large existing home and multifamily window replacement market.
Luminaire Level Lighting Controls
Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC) combine LEDs, controls, connectivity, and data to create a lighting product that is both efficient and easy to install, and offers improved occupant comfort and space utilization. NEEA is working with its partners to accelerate market adoption of LLLC technology by developing best practice specifications and increasing market awareness of the benefits of LLLCs in retrofit applications.
Manufactured Homes
The region is working together to demonstrate success for a new voluntary above code specification (NEEM 2.0) in the market prior to a HUD code change, providing manufacturers/retailers with the tools and resources they need to drive consumer demand.
Retail Product Portfolio
NEEA and its partners are engaged in a “Retail Product Portfolio” initiative that uses mid-stream incentives to influence retail stocking practices, making more qualified products available on store shelves.
Strategic Energy Management
The region has identified the need for a set of common resources and best practices to guide businesses in strategically managing their energy. NEEA is working to address this need by developing a holistic set of tools and an online community, SEM Hub, that support utilities and the market in building market capability, awareness and demand for Strategic Energy Management (SEM).