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A pilot program brought to you by:
NEEA

Q1. What is CEIv2?
A1. “Version 2” of Continuous Energy Improvement, or CEI is a collection of fifteen e-learning modules designed to add the ‘know-how’ of implementing a management system for energy to existing CEI materials. It is an online modular format to serve a diverse target audience in terms of scalability and configurability. Businesses can develop a management system for energy in increments to match their business needs and opt out on support modules depending on their needs and degrees of sophistication.

Q2. When will the CEIv2 Pilot begin?
A2. The pilot begins in April 2012, however collaborative customer recruiting will begin immediately after utility partners are identified.

Q3. What is the duration of the pilot?
A3. The pilot spans approximately 9 months from spring 2012 to winter 2012.
However, one of the key objectives of the pilot is to document how long end-use customers take to complete the curriculum. As such, NEEA is providing estimates only.

Q4. Who is sponsoring the pilot?
A4. NEEA is sponsoring the pilot and will support technical experts, the documentation of key findings, and the marketing and communication costs associated with recruiting end-users.

Q5. How will utilities be selected to participate in the pilot?
A5. NEEA seeks 1-2 utility partners and has posted a brief application on this site. Candidates should meet most of the following criteria:
• Ability to begin co-recruiting diverse end-use customers through February and March
• Ability to begin actual pilot in April and continue through December 2012
• Ability to commit 1 or more hours per week to electronically connect with customers
• Have an interest and desire to deepen SEM practice across the Northwest
• Applications will be reviewed by a five member panel comprised of internal industrial sector members, non-industrial sector members and external members of the pilot design and implementation team.

Q6. How many end-use customers will be within each utility’s territory?
A6: To draw accurate conclusions about participation, each utility should have 10-12 end-use customers in the pilot.

Q7: Will there be documented savings as a result of the pilot?
A7: No. NEEA will determine if the product can embed a scaled down management system for energy, which is believed to lead to savings. NEEA will track all projects resulting from the product pilot, but will formally address savings quantification at the market-ready phase of the small to medium business industrial initiative.

Q8. How will companies be selected to participate in the pilot?
A8. NEEA will provide the resources, time frames, and marketing and communication collateral to reach out to customers through a coordinated customer strategy based strongly on suggestions and approval from our pilot partners. Some candidate criteria include:
• Senior-level commitment
• Between 10 and 250 employees
• Sustainability goals optional
• Companies without extensive experience in management systems such as LEAN or TQM

Q9. What is the time and resource commitment? Who will be involved from my utility?
A9. The key contact or project manager for the utility will participate in a half day workshop and provide regular online comments and customer connection, suggested at one to two hours per week. Because the nature of the pilot requires a light touch to understand the product’s strengths and weaknesses, To gather consistent feedback in a disciplined manner, NEEA wishes to specify interventions and work with our utility co-hosts to an agreed upon satisfactory level of customer interaction. There may be topical webinars scheduled in the future.

Q10: What happens at the end of the project in December 2012?
A10: NEEA will share a formal report of outcomes and key findings. After moving through the appropriate Initiative Life Cycle gate, NEEA will investigate product requirements for market readiness.

Q11. How can I participate?
A11. Download the application from the pilot page, fill it out and save it with your company name. Before February 17th, attach it to an e-mail addressed to:
Sushanah Boston,
Project Manager, Continuous Energy Improvement
sboston@neea.org
503.688.5453

Feel free to call, e-mail or visit with additional questions.