iee at work Where innovation and efficient technologies meet.

The Next Big Thing in Energy Efficiency By Lisa V. Wood, executive director of iee and vice president of The Edison Foundation.

tilities are on the cusp of the “next big thing” in shop- “I think of Dreamstreet as the Kayak.com of energy effi- ping. With smart meters now deployed to 46 million cient products,” said Ross Chanin, ceo of American Efficient. U.S. households, shopping for energy efficient prod- By creating a customized energy efficiency shopping expe- ucts is undergoing a revolution. rience, Dreamstreet has the potential to expand utility energy Today, 80 percent of American consumers research efficiency programs in two important ways. Uenergy-consuming products online before they actually buy. n First, using Dreamstreet’s information and engagement The opportunity to influence purchasing decisions during technology platform, utilities can encourage their custom- the online search process is an excit- ers to make efficient product ing new way for utilities to engage purchases at the information- their customers. gathering stage—thus providing As part of the Empower utilities with a new way to gener- initiative, the state’s five utilities Dreamstreet ate energy efficiency. Pamela Tate, offer many programs to help busi- Pepco’s and Delmarva’s coordinator nesses and homes save money. But for this initiative, noted that “the Maryland utilities now are taking the web-based tool will save customers program a step further. With the ap- time, money, and energy when they proval of a statewide rollout from select new lighting and appliance the Maryland Public Service Com- products for their homes.” mission, Baltimore Gas & Electric, n Second, using the Dreamstreet Pepco, , FirstEnergy, platform, utilities are able to iden- and Electric Co- tify a clear point of influence on a operative are experimenting with a specific customer product purchase new approach. “Dreamstreet” di- before the purchase is made. Once rectly engages thousands of custom- the purchase is made and the re- ers as they actively search for energy bate is claimed, the influence-to- efficient product information online Using Dreamstreet to find efficient appliances. purchase cycle is complete. This via each utility’s website. has a direct tie to calculating energy savings and improving net-to-gross Innovation in Product Choices ratios and the cost effectiveness of American Efficient’s Dreamstreet software, slated to launch utility energy efficiency programs. In a nutshell, linking util- statewide in November, is an open platform embedded in ity-provided information to actual customer purchase deci- each utility’s website that presents pricing, availability, pho- sions could completely change the equation for measuring tographs, and expert reviews for energy efficient products energy efficiency savings in a very positive way. from local and online retailers in real-time in a visually com- While it’s still early for Dreamstreet, it is not hard to imag- pelling and interactive way. ine possible next steps where Based on a customer’s zip utilities will be enabled by code, Dreamstreet combines Dreamstreet to push action- retail product availabil- Today, 80 percent of American able information out to cus- ity data with energy star tomers, including energy product specs and leverages consumers research energy- use and maintenance tips, household consumption data consuming products online reminders about savings as from smart meters to pro- a result of efficient product vide utility customers with before they actually buy. purchases, and recommen- information on a range of in- dations for additional effi- dividual products that meet cient products. These types their needs. Customers can “clip and save” the products of reminders will spur customers to become even more they like, then take their “clip list” to the store or purchase energy efficient. the product through an online retailer discovered through Empower Maryland started as a major collaborative stake- Dreamstreet. Dreamstreet also helps customers discover holder process to reduce the state’s energy consumption by available utility rebates and complete the application forms 15 percent by 2015. It might now lead to the next generation online. of energy efficiency innovation. Stay tuned.u

8 ELECTRIC PERSPECTIVES | WWW.EEI.ORG/EP

4_EP_novdec_IEE.indd 8 10/29/13 8:35 AM ELECTRIC PERSPECTIVES NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

Duke Energy’s Lynn Good: Leading in a Complex New Era

When Rates Take off Quantifying Electricity’s Value