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Energy audit impacts delivering sustained savings

Panel: 1. Programmes to promote industrial energy efficiency

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Jeffrey Perkins
Jonathan B. Maxwell, ERS, USA

Abstract

A recent evaluation performed by the authors revealed energy efficiency measure adoption rates of over 65% at accounts that received investment grade energy audits. These results contradict the belief that energy audit programs do not sufficiently support efficiency implementation goals.

While audits remain part of some service portfolios, there is a tendency to regard them as expensive, inefficient marketing devices used to introduce the concept of energy efficiency. The findings show, however, that audit programs are an independent source of savings and an extremely cost-effective resource acquisition program in their own right.

This presentation will share the evaluation results and, more importantly, will identify the program design characteristics of the NYSERDA FlexTech program that make it so successful. Specifically:

• The program requires 50% cost sharing, which screens out uncommitted customers.

• The program targets larger customers, who may be better positioned to invest in efficiency measures.

• There are no audit completion goals that encourage ineffective audits.

• Audit quality is high, as the pool of providers is seasoned, and applicants can select their own audit firm.

• The program design encourages a market-driven process connecting customers and vendors.

A particularly surprising result is that measure adoption continues long after audit completion—up to 7 years, with much of the adoption occurring without additional NYSERDA incentives. All of these factors point to a conclusion that well-designed audit programs can be a powerful resource acquisition tool.

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