Summit Blue professionals have conducted impact, process, and market evaluations of over 500 utility demand-side management (DSM) programs for more than 50 utilities and energy agencies across North America. The firm's engineers, economists, and business experts work on the full range of evaluation, measurement, and verification (EM&V) engagements, from targeted, program-specific assignments to comprehensive, multi-year portfolio evaluations. Summit Blue's diverse technical and analytic resources allow us to use evaluation methods tailored to fit the specific needs and objectives of client assignments.

Impact evaluations involve a range of monitoring and estimation protocols, including engineering reviews of deemed savings, end-use monitoring, calibrated building simulation models, and energy use analysis using advanced econometric methods. Impact evaluation approaches are designed to fit the level of rigor required by clients for reporting gross or net savings, as well as benefit-cost analysis including non-energy benefits and monetizing the benefits from greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

Process evaluations identify effective ways to improve the design, marketing, and implementation of DSM programs and to increase participant satisfaction with the programs. Summit Blue uses participant and nonparticipant surveys, in-depth interviews, focus groups, field observations, and various sources of secondary data to assess program processes from a variety of perspectives. Summit Blue's evaluations cover the full range of program processes and features, including program theory and logic, coordination between program actors, program delivery, marketing practices, incentive levels, application procedures, market barriers, technical barriers, data tracking systems, and information flows.

Market evaluations characterize energy markets and assess spatial and temporal changes in market structure and function in response to program interventions and other external influences (e.g., codes and standards, fuel price volatility, environmental concerns, etc.).  The evaluations use longitudinal tracking of market indicators, equipment stocking and sales data, and interviews with relevant market actor groups to generate information that allows program administrators to consider the implications of evolving market realities on DSM programs. Summit Blue has developed innovative methods and frameworks to perform market change analysis through market snapshots over time and the identification of market trends important for DSM programs.

To learn more about Summit Blue's evaluation practice area, please contact practice area lead Floyd Keneipp at fkeneipp@summitblue.com.