Protocol Development Projects

The purpose of the protocol development projects is to move the region towards greater consistency in the methods and assumptions used to calculate energy efficiency savings impacts, and the reporting of energy efficiency savings, costs and emission impacts. The Protocol Development Committee is lead by co-chairs that each serve a one-year term.

View a summary of the Forum's 2009 projects, 2010 projects, 2011 projects, 2012 projects, and the Forum's Project Schedule.

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

The Glossary provides a common base of understanding of terms pertaining to electric and gas efficiency evaluation, along with related terms used by air regulators and common acronyms. It is the first step in building common EM&V protocols and in increasing awareness of the benefits of establishing protocols.  The Version 1 Glossary was completed in 2009. Version 2 added about 60 terms that were not included in Version 1, and was completed in March 2011. Version 2.1 includes several additional environmental terms, and was adopted by the Steering Committee in July 2011 .  For more information, see the Project Summary.


Common EM&V Methods and Savings Assumptions Guidelines

This project developed EM&V methods guidelines for calculating electric and gas energy efficiency savings across the region and surveyed savings assumptions for priority measures to identify where greater consistency is needed or where differences are warranted due to variations in programs.  For more information, see the Project Summary.


Common Statewide Energy Efficiency Reporting Guidelines (2009/2010 Project) and Regional Energy Efficiency Database (2011/2012 Project)

The 2009/2010 project developed Guidelines with state-level reporting templates and several process recommendations that provide for consistent reporting of electric and natural gas energy efficiency program energy and demand savings and associated costs, and their emission and job impacts across the region.  For more information, see the Common Statewide EE Reporting Guidelines and the Project Summary.

The 2011/2012 project supports the implementation of the Guidelines by developing an online Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED) that will allow states to readily use the Guidelines' reporting tables and view resulting comprehensive reports.  Technical assistance for use of the reporting tool and database will also be provided.

M&V Standards in Wholesale Capacity Markets

This project informed the development and any possible amendments to M&V standards in the context of the ISO New England and PJM Interconnection wholesale capacity markets, to ensure that protocols/standards are sufficiently rigorous and reasonable, based on best practice in the evaluation industry.

Forum Participants can log in here to view project materials and subcommittee meeting notes.

(ISO New England M&V Standards)

• View a list of subcommittee members.

(PJM Interconnection M&V Standards)

• View a list of subcommittee members.

Mid-Atlantic Technical Reference Manual (TRM)

In 2009-2010, Version 1 of a technical reference manual (TRM) for the mid-Atlantic states was developed with common savings assumptions, input parameters, and algorithms for priority end-use measures.  The TRM supports calculations of energy efficiency savings for the purpose of planning and tracking against state goals, supporting PJM M&V Plans, and supporting environmental regulations.  Version 1.2, which updates the Version 1 TRM based on a critical review by stakeholders, was completed in March 2011.  Version 2 of the TRM, which includes approximately 20 additional gas and electric measures, was completed in July 2011.  For more information, see the Project Summary.

Net Savings Project

The scope of work for this project responds to several of the recommendations addressed in the Net Savings Scoping Paper as well as guidance provided by the Forum Policy Committee and project subcommittee. The study will begin with a series of webinars that present net savings research conducted in Massachusetts. It will also develop common definitions for the concepts of adjusted gross savings and net savings and catalog and review the roles of net and gross savings in several state, regional or national energy and environmental policies.

  • View this project's RFP.
  • Forum Participants can log in here to view draft project materials and subcommittee meeting notes.

EM&V Methods for Emerging Technologies & Program Designs

The project will provide consistent methods and savings assumptions (where appropriate) to support Forum states program planning and evaluation activities. The guidelines will add a second set of priority measures/program types to the Forum's Regional EM&V Methods & Savings Assumptions Guidelines by recommending EM&V methods and savings algorithms and assumptions to estimate initial gross savings for a set of emerging technologies/program designs. 

  • View this project's RFP.
  • Forum participants can log in here to view draft project materials and meeting notes.

Estimating Building Energy Code Savings Attributable to Energy Efficiency Programs

The purpose of this project is to:
1. Advance knowledge on how to capture and account for energy efficiency benefits available
from policies and utility program activities that advance residential and commercial building
energy codes by building and expanding on the Forum's September, 2010 Workshop.
2. Recommend next steps available to policymakers to help capture energy efficiency benefits
from codes.
3. Encourage quality and consistency in EM&V approaches used or available for use to account for
energy efficiency benefits by interested states within the region and country.

This project is funded by the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT), the Institute for Electric Efficiency (a program of the Edison Foundation), and by NEEP's Northeast States Building Energy Code Project.

View this project's RFP.

More Information

For more information about the EM&V Forum, contact any member of NEEP's EM&V Forum team:

Julie Michals - 781-860-9177 ext. 135, email: jmichals@neep.org
Elizabeth Titus - 781-860-9177 ext. 111, email: etitus@neep.org
Cecily McChalicher - 781-860-9177 ext. 138, email: cmcchalicher@neep.org