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News and Updates

2023 Annual Report

  • Mon, Mar 25, 2024
  • Chad Madron

The report details the RTF’s many accomplishments in 2023. This includes maintaining and updating its measure library; expanding the measure library; and refining the RTF’s tools to further support energy efficiency and demand response work. In looking to continue to develop energy efficiency measures applicable to the region, the RTF spent time in 2023 researching the electric vehicle market with a specific lens on identifying energy savings opportunities.

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 53 July-September 2023

  • Wed, Sep 20, 2023
  • Laura Thomas

During this quarter, the RTF expanded the measure portfolio by adding the Efficient Portable Electric Spas UES and deactivated some applications in the Residential Lighting UES. These deactivations were celebrated as they represent the significant accomplishments in past residential lighting programs. In addition, the RTF looked ahead to 2024 by discussing the RTF 2024 Work Plan and adding performance metrics to the residential HVAC measures to support programs offering air conditioning and heat pump measures next year. Please reach out to Laura Thomas with any questions.

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 52 April-June 2023

  • Fri, Jul 7, 2023
  • Laura Thomas

The RTF spent the second quarter of 2023 primarily focused on considering updates to existing measures, approving changes to nine UES measures. These measures covered a broad range of technologies from pumps to thermostatic shower restriction values to the majority of the RTF's suite of weatherization measures. The RTF also reviewed the completion of the first calibration task of the new Residential Energy Efficiency and Demand Response (REEDR) tool. Two of the non-measure specific subcommittees, the Implementers Group and Small and Rural Utilities, also convened this quarterly to discuss recent RTF decisions and share member priorities.

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 51 January-March 2023

  • Tue, Mar 14, 2023
  • Laura Thomas

The RTF had a busy start to 2023 updating three UES measures and one standard protocol, deactivating one UES measure, and adding two new measures to the portfolio. In addition, the RTF reviewed the results of a number of studies and projects completed last year, including explorations on the impacts of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants on energy efficiency, methodology to value building resilience, and a framework for assessing energy efficiency and demand response wholistically. The RTF also advanced the development and maintenance of its commercial and residential models and completed commercial model alignment for a number of building …

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 50 October-December 2022

  • Thu, Jan 12, 2023
  • Laura Thomas

With the last quarter of the year, the RTF was able to accomplish a great deal to wrap up 2022. Members adopted updates to two existing UES measures, Green Motor Rewind and Non-Residential Midstream Lighting. The RTF tackled some challenging non measure work, including providing insights on how to advance commercial whole building performance-based approaches and identifying a path forward for considering dual fuel heat pumps. Members provided valuable perspective on important measure updates, particularly Weatherization and Air Source Heat Pumps for single family and manufactured homes, providing additional time to dig into key aspects of these measures for updates …

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 49 July-September 2022

  • Fri, Oct 28, 2022
  • Annika Roberts

The third quarter of 2022 has come and gone and the RTF was able to get a lot done over the summer. Members adopted a few new standard protocols, a new gas measures, and revisited an old standard in residential lighting. They even had time to focus on some extra-measure work getting updates from contract analysts on ongoing regional end use load research, the development of a new residential analysis model, and a study on extreme weather impacts.

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 48 April-June 2022

  • Wed, Aug 17, 2022
  • Annika Roberts

With another quarter in the books, the newest class of RTF members is hitting their stride and keeping the RTF running seamlessly. This quarter members were able to update some long standing measures, approve some new ones, and even tackled updating some underlying supporting materials that RTF measures are built on. With the year halfway done we’re enjoying the fresh eyes and perspectives this new group is bringing to the RTF and we’re excited to continue our work together. 

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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 47 January-March 2022

  • Thu, May 5, 2022
  • Annika Roberts
2022 marks the start of a fresh term for a new class of RTF members. We were excited to welcome the new group with a member orientation in January, which laid the groundwork for being a successful RTF member and hopefully got them excited for their role. Since then, the new cohort has stepped into their membership seamlessly and have already gotten so much accomplished in this first quarter. You can stay up to date on all RTF decision and news as it happens through the RTF website which is updated throughout the quarter.
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Findings from the 2021 Power Plan

  • Thu, Apr 28, 2022
  • Annika Roberts
At their February 2022 meeting the Council voted to approve the 2021 Northwest Power Plan. This culmination of years of work by staff, Council members, and many participants from around the region reveals very different results than we have seen in Plans past. Since the start of the year, the RTF has been having discussions about what the new 2021 Power Plan is telling us about energy efficiency and how these findings will affect the RTF’s work going forward. Starting with a larger discussion of energy efficiency cost effectiveness criteria from the 2021 Power Plan and then diving deeper at …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 46 October-December 2021

  • Wed, Feb 2, 2022
In the fourth and final quarter of the year the RTF stayed as busy as ever. We were able to approve some new measures, restructure some old ones, and plan for the coming year thanks to the hard work of our tireless members in the last quarter of their service term. This quarter we said goodbye to one member class, prepared to welcome a whole new slate of members starting in 2022, and set ourselves up to take on new exciting projects in the new year. You can stay up to date on all RTF decision and news as it …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 45 July-September 2021

  • Fri, Oct 22, 2021
The third quarter of the year has wrapped up and the RTF has been hard at work throughout. Members in the third and final year of their service term spent the summer developing some new HVAC measures, exploring new avenues for the RTF to provide value outside of measure level guidance, scoped new measures to add to the measure portfolio, and helped plan for 2022. You can stay up to date on all RTF decision and news as it happens through the RTF website which is updated throughout the quarter.
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 43 January-March 2021

  • Thu, Apr 29, 2021
2021 started with a bang as the RTF continued to work hard updating and developing measures, providing technical support to Council Staff as they close in on releasing the 2021 plan, and aiding the region’s EE programs with the best available data and analysis.  Meetings have remained all virtual and despite missing the energy and camaraderie of a full room, members have stayed productive and engaged.  The quarter has been all about heat pump water heaters, with major changes to some of the previously adopted residential HPWH measure applications and discussions spanning many subcommittee meetings and two RTF meetings. This …
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Air Source Heat Pump White Paper

  • Tue, Apr 13, 2021
In January of 2021 RTF staff made available a white paper summarizing the energy impacts of installation practices on single-speed air-source heat pumps installed in residences in the Pacific Northwest Region. The goal of the paper was to provide a technical explanation of the impact of installation practice to help identify promising directions for program evolution. It was written with energy efficiency program operators in mind with the energy impacts presented as recommendations for consideration in program designs.
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 42 October-December 2020

  • Thu, Jan 14, 2021
As the final quarter of a challenging year wraps up, we are left to reflect on all of the work the RTF has accomplished as a group in spite of the barriers and complications 2020 has thrown at us. The fourth quarter of 2020 was as productive as the three that preceded it, the RTF approved its first gas only measure, spent some time revisiting the many moving parts of the new homes standard protocol, made regularly scheduled updates to the RTF guidelines, and spent the last meeting of the year focused on residential washers and dryers. We can’t know …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 40 April-June 2020

  • Fri, Jul 10, 2020
This quarter has seen the RTF into uncharted territory, we had our first all remote meeting in March and haven’t met in person since. We can’t know how the rest of the year is going to go, but in light of this uncertainty, the RTF has shifted all meetings until the end of the year to a webinar format. So far this new arrangement has proven effective and meetings this quarter have been productive and engaging. The RTF is still updating measures, developing new measures, conferring with subcommittees and supporting our members and stakeholders as best we can.  You can …
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June RTF Meeting Recap

  • Mon, Jul 6, 2020
Here at the RTF we’re adapting to our new all remote reality as best we can with a number of changes to the traditional RTF meeting structure.  All meetings through the end of the year have now been shifted to a webinar format.  To accommodate virtual participation as best we can, all remaining meetings have been shortened to half days (9:00am to 1:00pm) and a second meeting day has been added to July, September and October in hopes of getting through more of the work plan. As the first meeting since adopting this new format, June’s RTF meeting served as …
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April RTF Meeting Recap

  • Fri, May 1, 2020
April’s meeting was the second time the RTF has convened in an all remote format and it went pretty well, all things considered.  While we’re continuing to learn and adapt to this new reality, the few changes we’ve made from last month have already made a big difference. Things are moving a little slower than they would in-person, but the group is still having good conversation and working through important measures. May’s meeting will also be held remotely and we’re working with members to learn from previous meetings to make the experience as effective and productive as we can. If …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 39 January-March 2020

  • Fri, Apr 3, 2020
It’s a new year and the RTF has been keeping busy. 2020 marks the start of a new funding cycle, which sees the RTF opening its doors to new funders and natural gas measure work. This year has already proved eventful. As the Council barrels towards the deadline for the draft 2021 Power Plan, the RTF has stepped up to offer technical support to the development of the energy efficiency supply curves and has spent time considering the ways in which this new Plan will affect future RTF work. Beyond Plan work, the RTF has found the time to develop …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 38 October-December 2019

  • Fri, Jan 31, 2020
Now that SEEM has been calibrated, the contract analysts moved on to updating the many measures that rely on SEEM for estimating savings.  Updating measures like DHPs, ASHPs and Weatherization, took up a bulk of the quarter, but the RTF managed to get a few other things done, like the annual Non-residential midstream lighting UES update as well as a look at allocating resources to developing some new measures in the new year.  2020 will see a few changes in the RTF, having added both natural gas and demand response to the charter earlier this year and entering a new …
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RTF December 2019 Meeting Recap

  • Wed, Jan 8, 2020
The RTF ended its year with a bang, dedicating most December’s meeting to understanding and improving Air Source Heat Pump measures. The group spent the remaining meeting time getting an update on Commissioning, Controls and Sizing, a measure that will be discussed early this year, and considering the second batch of potential measures to develop in 2020. If you weren’t able to make the final meeting of the year, here’s what you missed.
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 37 July-September 2019

  • Wed, Nov 20, 2019
The RTF crossed the mid-way point of the year with a bang. The third quarter of 2019 saw the conclusion of a number of important projects carrying through from earlier quarters and set the RTF up to finish out the year strong. Starting with the conclusion of SEEM calibration, the completion of the annual Regional Conservation Progress Report and the approval of the 2020 Work Plan and Charter. The RTF also made some updates to some regionally important UES measures, chief among them Residential Lighting and Single-Family Weatherization. Decisions, news and updates are posted on the RTF website as they …
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RTF October 2019 Meeting Recap

  • Fri, Oct 25, 2019
October’s RTF Meeting was jam-packed with content, excitement, and a lot of amendments. Members were presented with the first measure to incorporate the recently completed SEEM Calibration updates, Single Family Weatherization, and also tackled DHPs in electrically heated zonal homes.  Discussions on these complex measures that are facing a lot of change were nuanced and productive.  If you couldn’t make the meeting, here’s what you missed.
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RTF July and August 2019 Meeting Recap

  • Sat, Aug 31, 2019
The summer’s coming to a close with July and August’s RTF Meetings quickly passing us by. The last two months have been packed with the SEEM calibration effort, and a few other work items squeezed in as well.  Members took time away from their summer fun to dig in to the many phases of SEEM calibration, Air Source Heat Pumps, Long Term Measure Interaction and more. On top of that, in July the RTF turned 20, which was celebrated with stories of the good old days, promise for the future, and lots of cake. If you missed July or August’s …
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 35 January-March

  • Wed, Apr 24, 2019
The first quarter of the year has come and gone and the RTF has been super busy.  On the new schedule, adopted at the end of last year, there have been three RTF meetings this quarter and many more subcommittee meetings.  The new class of RTF members, who started at the beginning of the quarter, have been learning the ropes and really delving into appraising measures, asking important questions and making difficult decisions.  RTF meetings have been lively with almost all members in attendance and fully engaged.  Since January, the group has dug into a new technology, approved a new …
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Request for Proposals: Contractor for Regional Conservation Progress Survey

  • Wed, Feb 13, 2019
The RTF is issuing a request for proposal to support the Regional Conservation Progress (RCP) report. Every year, the RTF conducts a survey of the region’s utilities, NEEA, and the Energy Trust of Oregon to gather information on energy savings and expenditures. This year, the RTF is seeking data for 2018 program savings and expenditures. The findings of this data collection will be reported to the Council as part of the annual RCP report.
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 34, October – December 2018

  • Fri, Jan 11, 2019
The final quarter of the year was a busy one for the RTF. This quarter hosted a productive November RTF meeting, approving updates to lighting and other measures to the region and convened a number of important subcommittee meetings to support those updates.  Between October and December the RTF prepared for the new year, implementing a new meeting schedule, selecting new membership, hiring new staff and approving a new workplan for 2019.
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RTF Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter No. 33, July - September 2018

  • Wed, Oct 10, 2018
The third quarter of 2018 passed as a productive one for the RTF. This quarter the RTF made progress on a number of marquee items, as well as continuation of core RTF competencies. Between July and September of 2018, the RTF convened a number of subcommittees, approved new measure analyses, released the results of the annual Regional Conservation Progress Report, and recommended a new Work Plan for 2019 for Council approval.
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Request for Proposals: Development of Hourly Profiles for Energy Efficiency Measures

  • Fri, Aug 31, 2018
The RTF is currently soliciting proposals for the development of hourly load profiles for select energy efficiency measures. The RTF has identified several priority hourly profiles that require updates to improve the reliability of RTF work.The work is anticipated to be completed over two different RTF Work Plan years, with some portion of the tasks occurring in the remainder of 2018, and the rest in 2019. All submissions are due to jlight@nwcouncil.org by COB September 28th, 2018.
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White Paper “Methodology for Estimating Energy Efficiency Savings in the Northwest” for Public Comment

  • Mon, Aug 20, 2018
At the August 14th meeting of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the Council voted unanimously to release a white paper for public comment, which details how the Regional Technical Form (rtf.nwcouncil.org) generates estimates of energy savings from efficiency measures. This paper also provides information on how those estimates support the work performed by organizations throughout the region, including the Council itself, the region’s public and investor owned utilities, and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.
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RTF Seeking Comment on Capacity Benefits of Efficiency Load Shape Recommendation Memos

  • Wed, May 23, 2018
The RTF is seeking public comment on the proposed framework for assessing the load shapes associated with the development of capacity contribution esitmates, as well as the review and recommendations for each RTF measure, as completed by Cadmus. The RTF will use the feedback gathered during this period to improve the process and support the identification of next steps. All comments should be provided to Jennifer Light (jlight@nwcouncil.org) by Friday, June 6, 2018.
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Request for Proposals: Regional Conservation Progress Survey

  • Wed, Jan 31, 2018
The RTF is seeking a contractor to complete data collection and analysis for its annual Regional Conservation Progress (RCP) report. Every year, the RTF conducts a survey of the region's utilities, NEEA, and the Energy Trust of Oregon on energy savings and expenditures. The RTF is seeking data for 2017 program savings and expenditures. The findings of this data collection inform the Council on the region's progress against the Seventh Power Plan conservation goals.
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