Date
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Time
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Name
Advancing Program Evaluation with Measure-Based NEIs
Session ID
B7 - You Don't Always Get What You Measure: The Importance of Non-Energy Benefits
Track
Behavior - based Programs
Ann Gibbs
Description

As energy efficiency programs evolve over time, with new measures introduced and targets shifted, there is a need for more measure-based NEIs to support program NEI estimation. Program-based NEIs have historically been used, but they require new NEI estimation work to be conducted with each new program or program year due to the changing underlying features. Measure-based NEIs can be more easily used with confidence as programs change the ratio of measures within programs, and a measure-based approach can provide NEI values that are more likely to be transferable across programs. This talk explores the differences between measure-based and program-based NEIs, and presents new research on NEI values, as well as the potential for measure-based NEI approaches to go beyond traditional NEI work. The research includes two studies using hundreds of surveys to develop NEI estimates for two types of measures: Wi-Fi and smart thermostats, and next-gen LED lighting technologies. The results of the Wi-Fi and smart thermostat study showed differences in NEI estimates and rankings for older programmable thermostats compared to newer Wi-Fi and smart thermostats. The next-gen LED lighting technology study used labeled scaling methods and added a second approach for comparison, which included ranking and willingness-to-pay (WTP). The research demonstrated strong market value associated with various "next-gen" LED improvements, and showed that NEIs can be used to demonstrate that the market is willing to pay higher costs for specific energy efficiency measure features. Overall, measure-based NEIs offer a more flexible and transferable approach to estimating NEI values as energy efficiency programs evolve over time. The research presented in this paper highlights the importance of considering measure-based NEIs and provides valuable insights into the market value of specific energy efficiency measures.