In anticipation of this year’s IEPEC, we’re spotlighting teammates who will travel to Denver this October to present their findings. This month, we chatted with Vice President Lisa Wilson-Wright about “Leading the Charge with State Standards for Products and Appliances,” co-authored with fellow NMR teammates and collaborators from Prahl & Associates, NYSERDA, and DNV.

Can you give me a brief summary on your paper’s topic and findings?

This paper presents research into three aspects of the state-level appliance and product energy-efficiency standards: (1) What are the gross savings? (2) Who should be credited with causing these savings? (3) To what extent might compliance issues threaten the reliability of the savings estimates?

Why does the this topic excite you?

States have stepped up to fill gaps in federal energy-efficiency standards. Very little data exists to help states determine if these standards are having the desired impact on appliance and product sales and adoption rates. This research describes various approaches by which evaluators have sought to help states more accurately determine those impacts.

Can you share a bit about yourself, your time at NMR, and your history in energy efficiency?

I joined NMR in the fall of 2003. My first project addressed whether utility incentive programs for energy-efficient appliances truly boosted the sales of those products. This project brings me full circle back to the importance of appliance and products in reducing energy use and helping states meet their greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Check back through the summer for more spotlights and after the conference in October for the full paper!