1. Efficient Homes (NWESH)/Next Step Home
2015 Operations Plan
This template is intended to be an outline for your plan. Some content may be n/a for your area and there may be some additional content that is relevant to your area that should be included. In particular, there may be some metrics charts or tables that summarize the story for market ops or emerging technologies.
You may need more than one slide to address some of these topics but overall you should keep the slide count low and keep the information at an “outline” level.
Efficient Homes (NWESH)/Next Step Home

2. Efficient Homes Overview – Current state
Launched Quality Oversight (QO) for Providers to ensure all requirements for NWESH are met.
Performance Path became the sole method for certifying NWESH after Prescriptive Builder Option Packages (BOPs) expired on 7/1/2014.
Identified Advanced Energy to take over NW HVAC oversight for NWESH and began transition planning.
Re-engaged with the EPA to define the national oversight role and timeline for transition.
This overview should set the stage for 2013 planning in your respective areas
and provide a very high level summary of your key focus items for next year.
Are there significant market changes occurring now or expected to occur?
Is your spending increasing or decreasing and why?

3. Next Step Home Overview – Current state
Recruited 30 additional Pilot projects, ensuring regional, builders, and home spec diversity.
Analyzed 12 months performance data from first 12 Pilot homes.
Completed project reports that summarize; builder challenges and best practice, homeowner/builder interviews, cost and performance data.
Held kick-off meeting with RTF to begin exploring an energy savings methodology based on performance ratings.
This overview should set the stage for 2013 planning in your respective areas
and provide a very high level summary of your key focus items for next year.
Are there significant market changes occurring now or expected to occur?
Is your spending increasing or decreasing and why?

4. 2015 Key Focus Areas Northwest ENEGY STAR Homes Key Focus
Complete NWESH transition to market by 2016
Solidify new construction infrastructure that supports NWESH, NSH, and other green building programs.
Risks and Dependencies
National Oversight
Timelines
Alignment challenges
Builders drop NWESH due to increased cost/complexity

5. 2015 Key Focus Areas Next Step Home Key Focus
Continue to validate Next Step Home specification through Phase II Pilot Projects
Establish an RTF approved performance rating based energy savings methodology
Risks and Dependencies
NSH specification fails to achieve estimated savings targets
Performance rating analysis
RTF scheduling and resources
Performance rating outputs are unacceptable

6. 2015 Near-term progress indicators
Next Step Home
Complete 12 months data collection and analysis on 30+ projects to achieve savings estimates and establish best practice pathways (Phase II)
Create research plan and technical workgroup to inform performance based energy savings approach
Execute outreach plan to green building organizations for potential adoption of the NSH specification
Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes
Align the NW performance path homes with National oversight
Identify and transition NWESH roles under EPA/RESNET/market partners
Communication plan to market partners
Develop NWESH spec for states that adopt 2012 IECC

7. 2015 ILC milestones Northwest ENERGY STAR Homes Next Step Home
None in 2015
Transition Complete – Q1 2016
Next Step Home
Scale-Up Approval – Q2 2016

8. Dependencies & Interactions – Efficient Homes
EPA
Aligning specifications to leverage oversight, technical support and marketing
Agreement on roles and responsibilities in a transition plan
Coordination Strategy
Monthly meetings to track process/change in market conditions
RESNET
Align NW certification/QA requirements
‘Legal’ NW HERS scores
Continue participation on RESNET task force; quarterly check-in’s to monitor progress
This is where you would discuss any internal or external dependencies, support or critical interactions that need to occur in order to accomplish your goals and objectives for 2013.
For infrastructure support, consider needs for hiring support, training & professional development, software or hardware needs, reporting requirements, etc.
You should also discuss your plan for how you intend to clarify expectations, generate shared objectives (if necessary) and coordinate activities to achieve cross-functional or cross-organizational success.

9. Dependencies & Interactions – Efficient Homes
RTF
Timelines for new spec approvals
Coordination Strategy
Continued communication with RTF subcommittee on spec changes
NWESH Participation
Builders remain engaged through NWESH
Provider/Rater/Verifier services are available throughout the region.
Leverage NWESH market partners to introduce NSH
Provide a level of market support including; technical assistance, training, market development, and marketing
Communicate program changes/opportunities regularly in monthly news letters, webinars, and call downs
This is where you would discuss any internal or external dependencies, support or critical interactions that need to occur in order to accomplish your goals and objectives for 2013.
For infrastructure support, consider needs for hiring support, training & professional development, software or hardware needs, reporting requirements, etc.
You should also discuss your plan for how you intend to clarify expectations, generate shared objectives (if necessary) and coordinate activities to achieve cross-functional or cross-organizational success.

10. Dependencies & Interactions – Next Step Home
RTF
Acceptance toward a new performance based savings methodology
Coordination Strategy
Create a technical work group to inform and conduct research plan
Utilities
Informing implementation plan and offering incentives
Provider/Rater/Verifier services are available throughout the region.
Monthly Work Group meetings
Utility visits
This is where you would discuss any internal or external dependencies, support or critical interactions that need to occur in order to accomplish your goals and objectives for 2013.
For infrastructure support, consider needs for hiring support, training & professional development, software or hardware needs, reporting requirements, etc.
You should also discuss your plan for how you intend to clarify expectations, generate shared objectives (if necessary) and coordinate activities to achieve cross-functional or cross-organizational success.

11. Dependencies & Interactions – Next Step Home
Green Building Programs
Adopting NSH specification
Coordination Strategy
Outreach plan to engage green building programs and work towards specification alignment
Leveraging NEEA’s new construction infrastructure
Identifying data needs
Leveraging NWESH relationships with market partners
Building training curriculums to deliver through market based organizations
Strengthen existing relationships with NWESH partners
Solidify new construction infrastructure to support NWESH and NSH
This is where you would discuss any internal or external dependencies, support or critical interactions that need to occur in order to accomplish your goals and objectives for 2013.
For infrastructure support, consider needs for hiring support, training & professional development, software or hardware needs, reporting requirements, etc.
You should also discuss your plan for how you intend to clarify expectations, generate shared objectives (if necessary) and coordinate activities to achieve cross-functional or cross-organizational success.

12. Challenges, Major risks & Contingencies
Builders drop NWESH due to increased certification costs and requirements
Response Plan:
Increase builder flexibility in meeting spec
Provide Verifiers/Raters assistance to establish cost effective best practice
EPA does not provide technical support for NW specs
NEEA continues minimal investment to provide technical support
Work with Providers through QO process to identify common pain points for Verifiers/Raters; enable Providers to find resolutions
This should include any areas where you have concerns about your ability to achieve any pieces of your plan:
Are there concerns related to staffing stability, levels or skills?
Are there elements beyond your control with regard to external forces?
Are your timelines or schedules aggressive?
Are there capacity or capability concerns re critical contractor resources?
Are there concerns about ability to measure progress or results?
Are there concerns about internal infrastructure, process or support that create risk?
What actions are you planning to mitigate risks or provide for contingencies?

13. Challenges, Major risks & Contingencies
Next Step Pilot Homes do not produce expected savings
Response Plan:
Revise specifications and identify alternate efficiency measures
Add additional Pilot homes with different mix of measures; continue energy monitoring to assess performance
RTF will not accept performance based savings methodology
NEEA prepares measure packages within the NSH spec for RTF savings approval ??
This should include any areas where you have concerns about your ability to achieve any pieces of your plan:
Are there concerns related to staffing stability, levels or skills?
Are there elements beyond your control with regard to external forces?
Are your timelines or schedules aggressive?
Are there capacity or capability concerns re critical contractor resources?
Are there concerns about ability to measure progress or results?
Are there concerns about internal infrastructure, process or support that create risk?
What actions are you planning to mitigate risks or provide for contingencies?

14. Questions Thank you Neil Grigsby 503-688-5417 ngrigsby@neea.org
This should include any areas where you have concerns about your ability to achieve any pieces of your plan:
Are there concerns related to staffing stability, levels or skills?
Are there elements beyond your control with regard to external forces?
Are your timelines or schedules aggressive?
Are there capacity or capability concerns re critical contractor resources?
Are there concerns about ability to measure progress or results?
Are there concerns about internal infrastructure, process or support that create risk?
What actions are you planning to mitigate risks or provide for contingencies?