Research & Evaluation Projects

The purpose of the research and evaluation projects is to inform the development and use of common EM&V protocols and savings assumptions, to provide cost efficiencies for states' EM&V activities, and to help ensure consistent, robust results in assessing the quality and quantity of demand-side resource impacts. The Research & Evaluation Committee is lead by co-chairs that each serve a one-year term guiding the range of projects.

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

Loadshape Study Project

This project determined the impact of electric energy efficiency programs in reducing energy use, and associated emissions, during specific hours of the year.  This project included two studies: 1) Unitary HVAC loadshape study, and 2) Commercial Lighting loadshape study.  Both of these studies were completed in mid-2011. The project is continuing with a new phase of primary loadshape research in 2012.

C&I Lighting Measure Life and Persistence

This project provided estimates of multi-year measure persistence based on on-site inspections and surveys of a sample of lighting measures installed by commercial and industrial lighting programs in the region.

Net Savings Scoping Paper

This project generated a white paper based on secondary research, in-depth interviews with experts, and input from subcommittee members. The goal of the paper was to inform and support the EM&V Forum goals of understanding the reasons for measuring net savings, increasing the consistency and quality in EM&V practices with respect to defining and estimating energy efficiency program net savings, and identifying the needs of some related stakeholders (e.g. air regulators) vis-à-vis net savings.  For more information, see the Project Summary.

Codes and Standards Workshop

The scope for this project, originally envisioned as a brief white paper on the impact of building codes on advancing energy efficiency, evolved to a one-day workshop that was held on September 28, 2010 in Marlborough, MA.  The workshop was a day-long opportunity for regulatory, program administration, and other stakeholders to explore the following:

• Getting more savings by improving codes and standards
• Claiming the savings attributable to such activities
• What states are doing or planning to do, and what some regulators, experts, and other Forum colleagues think about realizing the savings opportunities from codes and standards

Incremental Cost Study

The purpose of this project is to develop common, up-to-date, documented electric and gas efficient measure incremental cost assumptions for priority measures. Forum participants informing this project have noted there is a strong regional need for a comprehensive update of incremental cost information. This project is continuing in 2012 with further incremental cost research on additional measures.

Residential Lighting Sales Market Lift Project

This project will provide insight into emerging and regional lighting sales trends developed over 12 months that allow for adjustments to lighting incentive design and execution. The project will include developing pilot projects in 2-3 states to test the efficacy of the "market lift" model in promoting sales of efficient lighting, using acquired full category retail lighting sales data for evaluating residential lighting sales trends and shifts in the baseline wattage of inefficient lamps.

More Information

For more information, contact a 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