About CEE
How An Initiative is Developed

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A CEE initiative is a specific means of advancing the CEE mission. Initiatives are approved by CEE's Board of Trustees after an open and objective process of development.

CEE initiatives usually take the form of a program template that can be voluntarily adopted by efficiency program administrators for use in local and regional programming. CEE initiatives are designed to influence national markets, using the leverage of consistent programs promoted by multiple local and regional organizations.

CEE initiatives are designed to promote energy-efficient technologies and practices, not specific appliances or equipment. Determinations made during the process are unbiased by economic interest in the outcome, although information and comment are sought from many sources.

There are six basic steps in the development of a CEE initiative:

1.  Identification of opportunity
This is an open process. Ideas for potential initiatives are usually generated by CEE members but recommendations from outside sources - such as industry or government agencies - are also welcome. Through meetings, workshops and conference calls, CEE provides a forum for members to discuss and assess new opportunities for energy efficiency. Based on these discussions, as well as consultations with members and others, CEE staff determine which opportunities to pursue.

2.  Overall Criteria
The overall criteria that determine initiative selection include:

  • Magnitude of savings opportunity
  • Member interest and suitability for member programs
  • Permanency of savings
  • Timing of savings
  • Complexity of marketplace
  • Consistency in markets across regions
  • Complexity of influencing decision-makers
  • Cost and time required to affect market
  • National relevance vs. regionally-concentrated savings
  • Available resources (CEE, partners, related efforts, etc.)
3.  Assessment of member interest, potential impacts
           and feasibility
When a potential initiative is identified, a CEE program manager is assigned to assemble a committee comprising representatives of CEE members to assess the opportunity from the standpoint of the overall criteria, potential market impact, and feasibility.

Potential resources for this assessment are:

  • National laboratories
  • Member expertise and research
  • CEE research and consultation with legal counsel
  • Consultation with manufacturers
  • Input from DOE, EPA and industry associations
  • Advocate studies

4.  Development of a Draft Initiative
Following a period of extensive research, the CEE committee drafts the goals, specific criteria, specifications and guidelines for the initiative. A critical factor is the ability of manufacturers to produce complying products, giving consumers a wide selection.

This information is compiled into a formal document, the Initiative Program Description. In a few instances, funds to study, develop or launch an initiative may be assembled from members and non-members instead of, or in addition to, CEE's funds. In these cases, a business plan, budget, fiscal controls and appropriate financial commitment contracts are developed in addition to the Program Description.

5.  Solicitation of Feedback from Industry
A thorough outreach effort is launched to solicit input from industry, trade associations and other stakeholders. All input and comments receive careful consideration by CEE staff and the initiative's committee. Modifications are often made to the specifications and/or guidelines based on this input, and the modified drafts are again circulated for comment.

6.  Authorization by Board of Trustees
 The final step is approval by the CEE Board of Trustees, who judge the appropriateness and feasibility of the initiative, given CEE's resources and member interest. In addition, the Board checks that input from all affected stakeholders has been solicited and adequately considered.

When the initiative is adopted by the Board of Trustees, CEE members and non-members may participate in the initiative by voluntarily incorporating the specifications and/or guidelines into their own programs.

INITIATIVE LAUNCH AND IMPLEMENTATION
Upon the Board's adoption of an initiative, CEE launches it by notifying all affected stakeholders, including CEE members, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and trade associations. Communication vehicles include e-mail, standard mail and CEE's Web site.

CEE generally does not implement its initiatives. Instead, it acts as a facilitator and an information clearinghouse to help members run their own programs. In addition, CEE actively promotes the initiative to potential participants and stakeholders. Specifications are reviewed periodically and are updated by the Board when market conditions change and/or new technologies are developed.

CEE promotes and supports member programs by distributing industry and energy-efficiency news as well as providing a forum for information exchange at meetings and workshops. CEE also encourages and facilitates joint research projects, including coordination of evaluation to measure the impact of member programs.

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