Library: 2003, Currents Consulting

This is the third and final report evaluating the Northwest Energy Education Institute (NEEI). NEEI’s goal is to offer affordable, readily accessible, and well regarded training programs to energy management and building service professionals. It currently offers the following five training programs: Energy Management Certification (EMC), Building Operator Certification (BOC) Levels I and II, Residential Energy Auditor Certification, Residential Inspector Certification, and customized energy efficiency training programs at customers’ facilities. The primary focus of this report is on the EMC program. The report assesses the EMC program’s value to its participants and the region. EMC targets the middle level of facilities and maintenance managers/supervisors at businesses and institutions (engineers, technicians, architects, facilities maintenance personnel, and energy managers), and serves as a critical link between upper management and personnel at the hands-on operations level. Its participants are in a position to affect long-term energy efficiency policies, procedures, and O&M practices, as well as short-term use of energy in their facilities. It is currently presented once a year to a maximum of fifteen students. There are three phases to the program: first, classroom and hands-on training; second, project implementation; and third, project presentation. EMC appears to be particularly valuable to school districts, colleges/universities, and city, county, and state governments where there may be many savings opportunities, but few staff with technical training to identify and address them. Total estimated annual energy savings for just the projects completed for the course in the five case studies were 1,346,000 kWh. Overall, the program was a success, but the report lists several recommendations.

This report evaluates the market effects of the Drive Power Initiative. The Drive Power Initiative has three core areas of service: Electric Motor Management (EMM), motor systems efficiency, and marketing and administration of training for compressed air and pumping systems. The Initiative meets its objectives of increasing overall efficiency of the motor fleet and motor systems, increasing consumer awareness, improving repair practices and marketing the Compressed Air Challenge (CAC) and Pumping System Assessment Tool (PSAT) training through a variety of methods. These methods include implementing a broad end-user education program; deploying field consultants to work one-on-one with end-users; leveraging program success stories and information through publication in various media; helping motor service centers to improve their repair practices, coordinating efforts with trade associations, utilities, and energy-related organizations and agencies; and conducting training for the CAC and PSAT. Analysis of field data indicates that the Initiative is clearly playing a role in motivating and helping end-users to improve their motor management practices.