Optimal Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Energy Efficiency Portfolio

The optimal design, definition, implementation, and evaluation of energy efficiency portfolios and programs requires clear understanding of the current and future context in which portfolio offerings operate, identification of opportunities and definition of short, medium and long-term goals. This paper draws upon the California experience to clarify key information that is needed by regulators and program administrators to foster attainment of maximal societal benefits from a publicly funded energy efficiency portfolio. The intent is to identify and show how information and goals are linked within the portfolio to ensure that the portfolio is in alignment with contextual constraints and opportunities, and that it balances immediate and longer term societal needs and benefits. The findings of this paper should help other energy efficiency efforts better identify and clarify the information needs for designing, defining, implementing and evaluating a portfolio of energy efficiency programs. The focus is on the data needed at each step and how evaluation efforts can help collect and analyze these data to maximize portfolio effectiveness. The paper begins by describing a theory for the design of an energy-efficiency portfolio that optimizes societal benefits in both the short and longer term. This theoretical construct leads to a clarification of key data needs to support programs that address short and longer term portfolio goals.