Best Practices in Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Program Design

Welcome to NASEO's online training, Best Practices in Energy Savings Performance Contracting (EPSC) Program Design. This webpage contains the resources that you will need to complete each portion of this training: Part 1 - Self-Paced Review of Training Materials; Part 2 - Online Training Session; and Part 3 - State Program Analysis and Strategy Development. Please review the below information and contact Chris Wagner, NASEO Project Manager, with any questions (cwagner@naseo.org; 703.299.8800, ex. 12)

NASEO is partnering with the Energy Services Coalition (ESC) to provide this training.

Part 1: Self-Paced Review of Training Materials - Deadline of February 1, 2013

In Part 1 of the training, the participants will review a series of ESPC resources at their own pace. These materials will help the participants develop foundational knowledge of ESPC or refresh their memories on specific topics. Ensuring that the participants have foundational knowledge of ESPC will facilitate greater learning during the live training session (Part 2) and help the participants identify questions that the course instructor can address through the live training or office hours. Course participants have the option to skip materials if they are already familiar with the content. Several of the resources are marked specifically for course participants that have pre-existing knowledge of ESPC. However, if course participants that are new to ESPC have time following a review of the other training materials, you are encouraged to review the advanced materials as well.

In order to help the training organizers assess which materials are most helpful, please complete the following Part 1 Tracking Sheet after completing your review of the materials. Please submit this sheet to Chris Wagner (cwagner@naseo.org) before the live training session on February 1. It is expected that each participant will spend a minimum of 2 hours reviewing the materials in Part 1. However, you are encouraged to spend more time, especially if you are new to ESPC.

Part 1 Training Materials

Videos

  1. ESPC Executive Summary (5 minutes)
    This video provides an overview of how the ESPC process works.
  2. ESPC Success Stories (participants are encouraged to review videos in particular areas of interest)
    These videos provide specific success stories of ESPC projects in a variety of sectors.
    1. Municipal Success Stories (9 minutes)
    2. University Success Stories (9 minutes)
    3. School Success Stories (5 minutes)
    4. Healthcare Success Stories (5 minutes)

Web Resources and Documents

  1. Energy Services Coalition (ESC) - website
    1. Self-Funded ESPC Programs
      This document provides an overview of several models that state programs have taken to create self-sustaining financing.
    2. Accelerating ESPC through Model Statewide Programs
      This ESC webpage provides an overview of the resources that the ESC can provide to states.
    3. If you would benefit from conducting some preparatory work ahead of the online training in Part 2 (or if you have pre-existing knowledge of ESPC), you are encouraged to review the Statewide Program Best Practices resources available on the ESC website.
  2. National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) - website
    1. NAESCO Background
      NAESCO is a national trade association that sponsors a rigorous accreditation program for Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), which are key partners in ESPC programs. This website provides background knowledge on NAESCO.
    2. What is an Energy Service Company (ESCO)
      This website provides background knowledge on ESCOs
    3. Project Case Studies
      Training participants are encouraged to review 2-3 case studies for each sector in which your state program is active or could become more active (Municipal; Commercial; Industrial; K-12 Schools; Universities; Hospitals).
  3. "Evolution of the U.S. Service Company Industry: Market Size and Project Performance from 1990-2008" - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
    1. Report
      This report provides an analysis of trends in the energy service company (ESCO) industry from 1990 to 2008.
    2. Presentation
      This slide deck is a summary of the above report, and was presented at the 2012 ESC Conference in Nashville, TN.
  4. Model ESPC Instruments (for training participants with pre-existing knowledge of ESPC)
    ESC has collected a set of template instruments and evaluation tools that can be adapted by states to help streamline their ESPC programs. Please review the list of model instruments to become familiar with what is available. Time permitting, please read any instruments of specific interest.

Part 2: Online Training Session - February 1, 2013, 3:00-4:30pm EST

Following completion of Part I, all course participants will engage in a live, instructor-facilitated discussion of ESPC program design best practices. This section will provide an opportunity for participants to learn from successful ESPC programs and ask questions relevant to their state's program. The online training session will help prepare the course participants for the written assignments in Part 3.

Part 3: State Program Analysis and Strategy Development - Due by February 20, 2013

During Part 3, participants will develop an analysis of their state's ESPC program based on the materials from Parts 1 and 2. Following this analysis, participants will prepare a short (2-3 page) summary of strategies for improving their state's ESPC program. This program analysis and strategy document will serve as a roadmap for the training participant to refer to following the course.

The two written assignment documents are available below: