CEE initiatives reflect the collective wisdom of CEE members and are designed to assist program administrators in meeting their savings targets by influencing binational markets. Initially, members follow the CEE process to scrutinize an opportunity. Opportunities that survive to become initiatives take the form of a program template that can be voluntarily adopted by efficiency program administrators for use in local programming. In support of an initiative, CEE may develop other resources. While each initiative description is particular to an opportunity, in general it lays out goals, scope, and market conditions.
As an organization, CEE supports initiatives that members adopt in ways that match their own conditions. Through member adoption, the market for more efficient products and services grows. Initiatives are supported in three likely ways.
Within the context of an initiative, CEE specifications set tiers, or definitions of energy performance, for a product or service. The initiative scopes other aspects, such as variation in performance related to weather. The tier strategy becomes the basis for market transformation. An initiative may require more than one specification. For example, the CEESM Residential Heating and Cooling Systems Initiative has specifications for both equipment and quality installation.
While CEE does not test or certify products, manufacturers respond to CEE specifications by submitting lists of products they claim meet CEE tiers. CEE compiles manufacturer submissions into qualifying product lists that CEE members may reference when implementing and administering programs.
Periodically, CEE queries members to gather data about their particular program and how they've adopted the initiative to work within their local goals and conditions. Along with other details, program summaries may include information about rebates and incentives, or which products are supported in which jurisdictions.