You may have heard of NEEA, or you might be more familiar with NEEP. Different names, but they both share the same vision as part of a larger network, the Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOS). These organizations are all working together to advance energy-efficient initiatives in across the U.S. With the growing importance (and complexity) of energy codes, the work of these groups is becoming more impactful every year.
Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOS)
The six REEOS provide technical support to states and municipalities to assist with energy efficiency policy development and adoption. They also help with planning and execution, critical elements of success. A number of organizations support the work of REEOS, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), utilities, third‐party program administrators, public officials, advocacy groups, businesses and foundations. To determine which REEOS is advocating for your region, take a look at the states that comprise each organization.
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance – NEEA
NEEA is comprised of more than 140 Northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations, serving 13 million energy consumers. Based in Portland, Oregon since it’s inception in 1997, this region (through the work of NEEA) has increased energy efficiency significantly enough to power more than 900,000 homes annually. neea.org
- Idaho
- Montana
- Washington
- Oregon
Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance – MEEA
Chicago, Illinois is the home of MEEA, which is focused on increasing and sustaining the level of energy efficiency across 13 states. MEEA designs and/or facilitates a number of regional energy efficiency programs, such as the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program. Upcoming events for MEEA include The 8th Annual Midwest Building Energy Codes Conference, November 15th-16th in Ann Arbor, MI. mwalliance.org
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- Wisconsin
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership – NEEP
NEEP was founded in 1996, in Lexington, Massachusetts. Their long-term goal is to assist the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Region in reducing carbon emissions 80% by 2050 (relative to 2001). One of the many initiatives NEEP has led the development is the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (NE-CHPS) Criteria, available as a standard for school construction & major renovation projects throughout the Northeast. neep.org
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project – SWEEP
Based in Boulder, Colorado, the region served by SWEEP had traditionally not kept pace with energy-efficiency efforts of other parts of the U.S. However, significant progress in improving energy-efficiency in the industrial sector was made in 2010, bringing the region in line with the efforts of other REEOS. Funding for electric utility energy efficiency and demand-side management programs in the region has grown significantly – from $21 million in 2001 to approximately $390 million as of 2016. swenergy.org
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Wyoming
Southcentral Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource – SPEER
Austin, Texas is the home to SPEER headquarters, which just announced it’s distinction as a 2030 District city this past January. SPEER has has prior success with Dallas and San Antonio as 2030 Districts as well. Although SPEER only serves two states, that includes over 30 million people. SPEER is focused on increasing the adoption of advanced building systems, as well as energy-efficient products and services. eepartnership.org
- Texas
- Oklahoma
Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance – SEEA
Founded in 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia, SEEA is the most recently established of the six REEOS. It specifically advocates for energy efficiency as a way of encouraging economic growth & workforce development, as well as the optimization of energy use for security. SEEA hosts a multitude of webinars and breakfast series throughout the year, and an annual conference each fall. seealliance.org
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Each of these organizations is a great resource for energy efficiency stakeholders, providing resources, training, and a number of initiatives and events. Check out the websites for each of the organizations, and learn more about how they can help you achieve your energy efficiency goals.
