Future of EE is Now

Deck: 

Data Creates New Opportunities

Fortnightly Magazine - June 2017
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In prior articles, we focused on the important impact that the energy efficiency industry has had on the current North American energy economy. In this essay, we share our thoughts on the ways this segment will be challenged to drive innovation as it continues to mature. We also discuss the evolving role demand side management will play in the energy industry and the utility of the future.

All Grown Up

Over the course of the past decade, investment in utility-funded energy efficiency programs has grown to nearly ten billion dollars per year. To deliver those programs to customers, utilities added staff to help market, implement, evaluate and manage their investments. As those investments grew, an industry was born.

This industry would grow to serve and support those energy efficiency programs and help utilities meet their regulatory goals and requirements. The demand for energy efficiency expertise brought opportunity. It created organizations that touted their local presence, national and international experience, boutique technical experience, marketing prowess, and ability to apply evaluation techniques to improve program performance. They also touted their ability to satisfy regulators' demands for cost-effective results. And everyone was very busy.

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