On the Threshold of Energy Efficiency in California: A Nationwide Best Practices Study of Energy Efficiency Programs

摘要

Energy efficiency programs and those who are responsible for designing, implementing and managing these programs with Energy Efficiency Public Purpose Program (EEPPP) funds stand on the threshold of a new era. Deregulation and restructuring events in California have thrown energy efficiency into a state of disrepair since the mid-1990s. These events, coupled with the energy crisis of 2000-2001, heighten the need for developing the most effective energy efficiency (EE) programs possible. In response to this need, many solutions were proposed to enhance California's EE portfolio. One solution has been to broaden the skills and capabilities of energy efficiency practitioners by developing a database of EE best practices that can be used as a resource to enhance the design, implementation, and management of energy efficiency programs in California. In particular, program practitioners supported through EEPPP funds will be able to reference the database and apply the information towards the development of more successful energy efficiency programs. The focus of this paper is to describe the scope, process, and the intended use of this best practices research. This study will develop an EE program decomposition model containing building blocks of programmatic components and sub-components. This study will evaluate energy efficiency programs within 22 program categories across the nation at the component and sub-component level; assess applicable best practices at each level, and deliver the analysis and data in hierarchical structure to meet the varied needs and experience of the energy efficiency community. The research will explore best practices for the residential, nonresidential, and new construction energy efficiency program sectors. To accomplish this research, the study includes process and performance benchmarking. Process benchmarking defines the best approach to use in implementing a particular energy efficiency program. Performance benchmarking measures the performance of one energy efficiency program at the component level against those of other programs. By employing these approaches together, the study provides a comprehensive means to assess the best process and performance approaches for designing and implementing energy efficiency programs.