M&V 2.0

Sitting in a workshop hosted by NEEP last month, I found myself on a stepping stone towards the reality of the “grid of the future” and enjoying thought provoking presentations and discourse on a seemingly esoteric topic - the role of advanced measurement and verification in grid modernization.

This post was written by Jeremy Eddy, Managing Director/V.P. of Opinion Dynamics, as part of its membership in NEEP’s Allies Program.

Bob Dylan nails what we are experiencing in the energy industry today with the title of his classic ballad, The Times They Are A’Changin’. In that song, he notes “The slow one now will later be fast, as the present now will later be past.” He may as well be singing to evaluators of energy efficiency programs, since evaluators have a lot of experience looking back at the past to explain the present – and also using that information to inform future plans, by the way.

Fellow energy enthusiasts, I have some innovations to share with you! But, before I do, a couple of questions:

• Have you ever heard of EM&V?
• Are you familiar with its processes?

Let me provide a bit of background before discussing some recent advancements.

When I think of today’s changing energy efficiency landscape, I feel as though I am riding a rollercoaster. The paradigm-shifting developments in New York and California for example, are turning my preconceived notions of energy efficiency upside down – as if I was on some Universal Studios thrill ride.  

This post was written by Ellen Franconi, PhD who is a manager at the Rocky Mountain Institute.