(Portland, ORE. – August 11, 2009) Today the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) announced in its 2008 annual report that thanks to the collaboration and commitment of more than 130 electric utilities in four Northwest states, other organizations and natural conservation the region has achieved substantial energy and dollar savings from energy efficiency, enough to power the cities of Tacoma and Spokane for an entire year.
“The Northwest continues to show national leadership in energy efficiency, developing innovative and sustained market-based initiatives that show real energy savings today and well into the future,” said Claire Fulenwider, NEEA executive director. “We wanted to briefly pause to share the success that the region has achieved by coming together to save energy and stimulate the economy through new green jobs.”
NEEA is a non-profit organization working to encourage the development and adoption of energy-efficient products and practices in targeted markets. NEEA is supported by electric utilities, public benefits administrators, state governments, public interest groups and efficiency industry representatives in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The organization’s market transformation efforts encompass the residential, commercial and industrial sectors in the four states and includes efforts such as energy-efficient lighting, increasing market share for ENERGY STAR qualified new homes, and development of more efficient industrial processes. According to NEEA’s 2008 annual report, which was released today, the organization exceeded its 2008 business plan savings goal by 90 percent.
NEEA has been instrumental in helping transform the market for energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), an effort that began in 1998 to boost quality control and testing of CFLs, spur development of a broader array of bulb types, increase retail availability and train staff, and finally, educate consumers. In the Northwest today, CFLs represent approximately 34 percent of the lighting market share, compared to 23 percent market share nationally.
“We are proud to continue our tradition of innovative market transformation projects,” said Fulenwider. “Working together through NEEA, utilities can have a greater influence and lasting impact on the marketplace, helping the region reach its energy efficiency goals while reducing climate change impacts.”
In 2008, NEEA worked with the Northwest Food Processors Association and the U.S. Department of Energy on an industry-wide compact to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent in 10 years and 50 percent in 20 years. Food processing is one of the two most energy intensive industries in the Northwest; NEEA and its partners designed what would become the region’s first comprehensive, industry-led energy efficiency program.
Also in 2008, NEEA kicked off a partnership with 60 Northwest utilities to replace electric baseboard heaters with Ductless Heat Pumps (DHP), which have the potential to save a homeowner 20 to 50 percent of energy use. DHPs have been available in commercial buildings for more than 20 years, are widely used outside the United States, but are nearly non-existent in the Northwest region. Within three months, NEEA and its partner utilities had installed 100 units and trained more than 500 contractors in proper installation of DHPs. Today more than 1000 units have been installed.
By 2014, NEEA estimates that its partner utilities will have saved the region more than two billion dollars through their energy efficiency collaborative efforts.
The 2008 annual report is available on nwalliance.org http://www.nwalliance.org/research/annualreport.aspx
About The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a private non-profit organization funded by Northwest utilities, the Energy Trust of Oregon and the Bonneville Power Administration. NEEA works in collaboration with its stakeholders and strategic market partners to accelerate the sustained market adoption of energy-efficient products, technologies and practices. NEEA’s market transformation efforts address energy efficiency in homes, businesses and industry.
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