Energy Efficiency

Electricity Markets & Policy’s Energy Efficiency area conducts unbiased research, analysis, and technical assistance on energy efficiency markets and policies, as well as planning, designing, financing, implementing, and evaluating utility customer- and publicly funded programs. We also conduct research on the performance and market trends of the energy service company (ESCO) industry.

See the Projects tab for more information on the areas in which we work. 

Utility Customer-Funded Programs

The breadth and number of energy efficiency programs for utility customers continue to increase in response to policy and economic drivers. EMP analyzes trends in these utility programs and enabling policies and provides technical and policy support to regional authorities, state regulatory commissions, and program administrators.

    U.S. ESCO Industry Research

    Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) have proven their ability to achieve significant energy and water savings for their clients. EMP supports this work by assessing ESCO industry performance and market trends and by managing the largest database of ESCO projects in the world.

    Financing Energy Efficiency

    Rapid deployment of energy efficiency resources rests on a sound understanding and application of financing options. To support that understanding, EMP provides independent, interdisciplinary analysis of critical issues in energy efficiency financing.

    Determining Program Impacts (EM&V)

    EMP provides a range of technical and policy assistance to build state-level capacity and develop new and standardized methods for evaluation, measurement, and verification (EM&V) of energy efficiency programs.

    Technical and Policy Support for SEE Action Network

    Electricity Markets & Policy staff provide technical and policy support for the State Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action), a state and local effort facilitated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency working to advance policy support and markets for energy efficiency.

    Technical Assistance to States

    The Office of Electricity (OE) provides independent and unbiased technical support to states, regions, and Tribes on their electricity-related policies through its Electricity Policy Technical Assistance Program. Types of assistance offered and activities supported include: analysis assistance; stakeholder-convened discussions; education and training through workshops and webinars; consultations with technical experts. Technical assistance is provided through national laboratories, regional and national associations of state decision-makers, and federal government staff. OE provides technical assistance in response to requests from eligible entities.

    Time- and Locational-Sensitive Value

    Distributed energy resources (DERs) — energy efficiency, demand response, distributed generation and storage — are beginning to displace the need for some traditional utility infrastructure investments in some U.S. regions. However, the value of DERs to the electric system depends in part on DER characteristics — including where they are sited, when they generate or save energy, and their cost-effectiveness compared to traditional grid investments. The EMP Group has researched the time-sensitive value of energy efficiency in several states and regions.

    eProject Builder

    LBNL developed and maintains eProject Builder (ePB), a secure web-based data standardization and tracking system for energy projects across the United States. ePB was the recipient of a 2018 R&D 100 award.

    2023

    2022

    Deason, Jeff, Sean Murphy, and Greg Leventis. "Customer outcomes in Pay-As-You-Save programs." 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 2022.
    Pigman, Margaret, Jeff Deason, Nancy Wallace, and Paulo Issler. "How Does Home Energy Score Affect Home Value and Mortgage Performance?." 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 2022.
    Satchwell, Andrew, and Ryan Hledik. "Making Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings a “Win” for Both Customers and Utilities." 2022 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings 2022.

    2021

    Pages

    LBNL developed and maintains eProject Builder (ePB), a secure web-based data standardization and tracking system for energy projects across the United States. ePB was the recipient of a 2018 R&D 100 award.

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