The Rhode Island Public Energy Partnership (RIPEP) aims to reduce energy consumption in state and municipal facilities by 20% through implementing efficiency measures in 100 facilities. RIPEP establishes working groups of experts to identify barriers to efficiency improvements. Barriers are categorized into capacity, motivation, and procurement issues and action teams develop solutions. Solutions will be prioritized based on impact and effort required for implementation to establish an ongoing process for mitigating barriers to energy efficiency in the public sector.

1. Identify, Streamline, and Save
Breaking down Barriers to Energy Efficiency
Ethan Rix, College of Business
Energy Efficiency offers deep benefits for municipalities and state agencies to decrease energy expenditure and produce comfortable and productive spaces. This resource lowers our energy consumption, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and improves air quality. The
Rhode Island Public Energy Partnership (RIPEP) is a cooperative effort led by the RI Office of Energy Resources to obtain deep energy savings in state and municipal facilities and build a sustained, effective infrastructure for ongoing savings. Goals include:
(1)Establishing a comprehensive inventory of energy consumption in RI’s public sector (2) Implementing efficiency measures in approximately 100 facilities to attain 20% energy reductions
(3) Identifying and mitigating barriers to efficiency improvements in the public sector
Working Groups For each of RIPEP’s target sectors
(state, municipal, drinking water, and schools),
stakeholder working groups are established to support
RIPEP efforts. Groups are assembled to consist of key
industry experts to provide high-level, strategic
guidance on identifying barriers to implementing
energy efficiency measures.
Municipal
Action Teams Identified barriers are synthesized
into “cross-sector” buckets that span across all of
RIPEP’s target sectors to better understand
collective challenges faced by RI’s public sector.
Action Teams are developed to confirm barrier
definitions, prioritize barriers based on impact and
urgency, and brainstorm solutions.
Procurement
Implement Solutions Once identified barriers are
prioritized and the team understands viable solutions and
required tools, the RIPEP team will work to implement
solutions within the RIPEP scope. The team will develop a
guideline to implement those solutions outside of the
current RIPEP scope.
• Our methods and progress to date can provide guidance to other states working on
market research projects in energy efficiency
• Exploring statewide budgeting and policy are essential for barrier mitigation
• There is value in having the right professionals and decision makers in working group
and action teams to identify the most pertinent barriers and possible solutions
• Residents play an important role in this work; they can take action by supporting
energy management in their town
• Focusing on the value proposition to stakeholders increases awareness and
participation in process
• Internal prioritization of barriers
• Continuously streamline barriers and develop barrier mitigation guide
• Segment and target energy professionals, utility, and policy makers for Action Teams
• Create timeline for the end of grant period
• Market Research into workforce development in the energy management field
• Needs assessment on energy efficiency awareness and education to low income
homes
• Incentivizing energy efficiency through renewable energy interest
Capacity
MotivationWater
SchoolsState
Acknowledgements
This project would not be possible without the guidance and training provided by the following:
College of the Environment and Life Sciences;
URI Outreach Center: Kate Venturini, Kristina DiSanto, and Sarah Martin; Energy Fellows Program;
RI Office of Energy Resources: Marion Gold, Rachel Sholly; Rethinking Power Management: Ilene Mason
Phase 2
Prioritize and confirm solutions;
brainstorm for feasibility and scope
Phase 1
Identify and define barriers
through stakeholder engagement
Phase 3
Implement and develop solutions and
guidelines for continuous barrier mitigation
Figure 1. Four RIPEP Sector Working Groups Figure 2: Three cross-sector barrier
categories
DO
CHECKACT
PLAN
Barrier
Streamline
Guide
Solutions Implemented to date
• Drafted Executive Order to gain top
down support
• Formalizing Master Price
Agreement (MPA) to aid in
procurement process
• Trained facility managers to utilize
EPA’s Portfolio Manager Tool
To prioritize identified solutions, action team
participants will rate solutions based on impact and
effort.
Impact refers to the perceived benefit of
implementing the defined solution. Participants
should consider the positive direct and indirect
benefits
Effort refers as the amount of resources we need to
expend in order to develop and implement the
solution.
• Upfront capital
• Bidding process
• Low bid selection
criteria
Procurement Motivation
Identified Cross-Sector Barriers
After our stakeholders reported over 20 barriers, we explored common themes
and synthesized the barriers into three segments for all target sectors. Definitions
were confirmed by working group members.
• Competing
priorities
• No incentives
• Top down support
• Staff & time
• Occupant education
• Technical expertise
• Communication and
messaging
Capacity
Figure 4. Solution prioritization quadrant graph
Figure 3: The four-step management
process the RIPEP team will use to
sustain the barrier streamline process.
Results
Solution Prioritization Expected Outcomes
Impact
Effort
Methods to Identify and Mitigate Barriers
Short Term
• Knowledge of scope
Intermediate
• Barrier Implementation Guide
• Measureable consumption
reductions
Long Term
• Deep Energy Savings Infrastructure
• Lowered GHG emissions
• Increased awareness of energy
efficiency needs
Discussion Future Research
Introduction
This is a desc
Activities to Date