MA Energy Efficiency

Client: Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources


Challenge:

In 2008 the State of Massachusetts passed two landmark pieces of legislation: the Green Communities Act (GCA) and theGlobal Warming Solutions Act (GWSA).  With the passage of this energypolicy legislation, Massachusetts reaffirmed its leadership position in the United States. The GCA requires the state'sutilities and municipal power providers – jointly referred to as ProgramAdministrators (PAs) - to pursue all cost-effective means of energy efficiency.  The GWSA further establishes unprecedented carbon reduction goals of 10-25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050 (relative to 1990 levels). Furthermore, the GCA requires that for the first time the eleven Gas and five Electric Program Administrators (PAs) work collaboratively to create coordinated three-year (2010-2012) implementation plans.

Solution:

In order to inform the development ofprograms which will enable successful compliance with this ground-breaking legislation, the GCA established the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) comprised of twelve informed stakeholders and regulators.  VEIC was hiredas an advisor to the EEAC for Residential Programs and renewable integration.  VEIC has played a pivotal role in developing the three-year residential savings goals, program design budgets, and performance metrics.

To attain unprecedented levels of savings, the state’s program administrators, working with the council’s consultants, developed programs that will achieve both significantly broader and deeper savings.  Attaining these savings will require a paradigm shift within many of the current programs, enabling VEIC to play a leadership role in guiding the PAs. VEIC has helped establish several central themes that directed the three-year planning process:

 

  1. A customer focus which significantly simplifies access and more keenly addresses new customer markets and needs; For existing homes, a revamped energy audit process and enhanced direct install measures (air and duct sealing) to achieve deeper savings; 
  2. The adoption of new technologies: efficient products, improved installation practices and induced behavioral changes;
  3. Seamless integration of electric and gas programs from a customer perspective;
  4. A reduced (though still significant) emphasis on lighting (CFL) savings inpreparation for the 2012 higher federal bulb standards.

 

Results:

  • As adopted by the EEAC, the goals developed by VEIC and the other council consultants will require energy savings by 2012 representing 2.4% ofelectricity sales and 1.15% of gas sales.
  • The Massachusetts lifetime cumulative net benefits generated from the three-year plan will exceed $4 billion.
  • Reduction in carbon emissions of 15 million tons over the life of the installed measures; equivalent to removing nearly 2.5 million cars from the road.
  • The PAs estimate that nearly 4,000 jobs will be created directly over the three-year plan time frame.

In order to attain these aggressive goals, VEIC will play a critical on-going role working collaboratively with the PAs in the design and implementation of Massachusetts’ Residential Efficiency Programs.