Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

According to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the Northwest has saved nearly 3300 aMW through energy efficiency over the past 30 years, which is like powering the city of Seattle three times over. They estimate that 20 percent of this energy savings results from building code upgrades alone.

NEEA'S PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CODES

Raising energy codes for residential and commercial buildings is a strategic area of focus for NEEA and its partners because of the long-term energy savings higher codes provide. But codes cannot work without a holistic approach -- a comprehensive market strategy that provides the push of markets with the pull of codes. Better codes provide the most value when they follow from voluntary energy efficiency programs. These voluntary programs introduce building professionals to improved technologies and business practices and help them see first-hand the value in energy efficiency. As these voluntary approaches become widely practiced in the region, an improved code can then be permanently “locked in”, thus driving market penetration to 100% for a state, region, or beyond.

NEEA’s work in codes over the years includes education and training for building professionals and officials on existing codes as well as participation in the state code adoption processes across the region. Over the past 10 years thousands of builders and architects have received NEEA’s energy code training, most of which is not available from any other source.

NEEA’s participation in state code adoption in the region has helped deliver significant results as well. The region’s support in NEEA’s code efforts now delivers approximately 5 aMW of cumulative savings each year in the commercial sector alone. It’s important to note that without the region’s participation through NEEA’s voluntary sector-based initiatives this kind of progress would not be possible.

RAISING STANDARDS

NEEA has had several major successes in raising standards. Its participation and sales data were major factors in establishing a higher federal standard for clothes washers. NEEA also played an important, long-term role in both establishing and then increasing the specification for ENERGY STAR CFLs and negotiated the Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes specification, which exceeds the specification for the rest of the country by approximately 15%. In addition, about 15% of the energy codes budget funds participation on national standards committees that affect codes such as ASHRAE 90.1, the National Fenestration Rating Council and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America.