Welcome to the Q4 2024 newsletter from SEMHub—a community of Northwest practitioners dedicated to saving energy through strategic energy management.
The Northwest’s SEM Legacy Continues
After so many years of innovation, collaboration and progress, the Northwest SEM Collaborative (NWSEMC) is taking its new form as a chapter of the North American SEM Collaborative (NASEMC) in 2025.
The NWSEMC leadership team thanks you, the community members, for your contributions and collaboration over the years, including through Working Group participation, Fall Workshop attendance, and invaluable research and content creation. Alongside NEEA’s support funded by the utilities and efficiency organizations of the Northwest, you and your peers have made enormous strides in improving the SEM practice for years to come.
Join us in celebrating the ongoing legacy of Northwest SEM leadership. For more information on SEM’s deep Northwest roots, take a look at the historical overview document available at SEMHub.com.
View our FAQ for more information on the transition and where to access your SEM resources starting January 1, 2025.
NW SEM Leaders, Represent!
The North American SEM Collaborative is seeking 2025 Leadership Team members. By taking a leadership role on the national stage, members from the Northwest can help shape the national collaborative's future and amplify its impact.
Keep the Northwest’s SEM light shining bright. Don’t wait to reach out to Anna Kelly to learn about eligibility and expectations for upcoming NASEMC leadership roles.
National Working Groups Make a World of Difference
Fueled by the same collaborative spirit as our NWSEMC working groups, the 2025 working groups now provide the opportunity for even greater impact. Sign up now to participate in one of the 2025 working groups listed below.
Beyond the Eidentifies the additional benefits (e.g., engagement, customer service, non-energy-specific resource conservation) that SEM brings to energy management. This working group meets every two months with April Cannon (Ask Energy) and Marti Mendenhall (SEG) serving as leads.
K-12 Schoolsfocuses on strategies to educate future energy consumers within school funding constraints. This working group meets monthly with Wendy Gibson (Stillwater Energy) and Kathleen Belkhayat (Energy Trust of Oregon) serving as leads.
Emissions Reduction/Decarbonization discusses and develops strategies to integrate greenhouse gas reduction strategies with SEM. This working group meets every two weeks with Pam Berkel (Cascade Energy) serving as lead.
Workforce Development focuses on opportunities to enhance the SEM skillset while finding ways to draw people into SEM work. Greg Baker (VEIC) leads this working group.
Building Performance Standardsfocuses on current challenges and areas for alignment for those subject to building performance legislation. Faith Debolt (SBW) leads this working group.
Supersize Scale and Reach of SEMfocuses on ways to design SEM to bring in more customers and savings. Jinsy Oomman (Cascade Energy) leads this working group.
All of SEMHub’s online courses are now available to stream on-demand on the BetterBricks YouTube channel. If you are currently enrolled in the self-paced courses, don’t forget to wrap up your coursework by December 31, 2024. The learning management system will no longer be accessible on January 1, 2025.
The Center for Energy and Environment has released an updated version of their Strategic Energy Management Minimum Elements resource. This document features simple, clear descriptions of what it means to practice SEM, along with new guidance for incorporating decarbonization goals.
You’re invited to join us at the 2025 NW Chapter Fall Workshop in Portland on October 16, 2025. We can’t wait to connect, collaborate, and continue finding innovative ways for our region to take SEM to the next level.
If you missed the 2024 Fall Workshop, check out our event recap to view the presentation slides and resources shared at the event.
