|
|
|
|
CEE and EPRI have signed a memorandum of understanding identifying shared objectives and work areas of mutual interest, with a goal of collaborating to leverage each other’s expertise. One particular advantage would be linking research, development, and deployment (RD&D) work at EPRI with the capacity of CEE members to accelerate market acceptance of high efficiency products and services. CEE could leverage EPRI core research and demonstration projects to speed market introduction and accelerate acceptance of new high efficiency products and services. CEE program committees, in turn, could work with EPRI RD&D projects to provide crucial information and coordination.
Both CEE and EPRI are nonprofit, 501(c)3 organizations, funded by an electric utility membership that largely overlaps; the two also happen to pursue complementary missions. EPRI conducts research and development for the electricity sector, while CEE works with program administrators to bring new, efficient products and services to the market, both with a special focus on energy efficiency.
How shared goals are actually accomplished is a function of the complementary roles each organization would play. For example, CEE brings together the efficiency program administrators of the United States and Canada to develop consensus specifications for high efficiency and product performance criteria. Gathering additional input from affected industries, CEE committees then recommend binational programs. Ultimately, these programs, called CEE Initiatives, are voluntarily introduced by members in their own localized programs. A point of discussion is a plan for sharing information effectively with both memberships, a plan that allows for both EPRI and CEE to respect and abide by the procedures and guidelines of the other.
EPRI brings together experts from academia and industry, as well as its own scientists and engineers, to research challenges in electricity generation, delivery, and use, along with health, safety, and environmental concerns. To do this, EPRI investigates energy efficient devices, equipment and systems—as well as demand response, end use equipment, and smart grid technology and applications. In addition, one of its ongoing programs is an Energy Efficiency Demonstration project.
So, by EPRI adding its research and development prowess to CEE consensus-building, programmatic, and market introduction expertise, the memberships of both organizations will benefit from a more highly integrated, leveraged approach to the entire market cycle.
The joint actions and initiatives that could result from this collaboration will mean greater openness and sharing of data across the board; easier planning and application of RD&D research; a more streamlined access to copyrighted material via licensing; and an improved exchange of information on new ENERGY STAR product categories.
Members could potentially see tangible benefits in program areas like smart grid technologies, internal power supplies, servers and data centers, consumer electronics, solid state street and area lighting, ductless variable refrigerant flow HVAC technology, heat pumps, and hyper efficient home appliances. CEE welcomes EPRI as our newest efficiency partner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2000-2008, Consortium for Energy Efficiency, Inc.
http://www.cee1.org
98 North Washington St., Suite 101, Boston MA 02114-1918
617-589-3949
fax 617-589-3948
All rights reserved. Terms and conditions for use of this Web site.
Send comments about this site to our Webmaster
|
