View a Case Study of the RCM Program for the Bellevue Collection
View a Case Study of the RCM Program for The Evergreen State College
View a Case Study of the RCM Program for the Lake Washington School District
Hire a Resource Conservation Manager (RCM) to increase efficiency by focusing on improvements to operations and maintenance practices and instituting best practices for resource usage in your organization. Puget Sound Energy provides funding and support to get your program started. You'll reduce costs of all utilities (electric, natural gas, water, sewer and waste) by 10 to 15 percent over several years.
The RCM program is available to school districts, government agencies and commercial or industrial customers, focusing on larger customers with multiple facilities. The program takes an all resource approach. PSE will work with the customer's designated Resource Conservation Manager whose assigned responsibilities include increasing efficiency and reducing costs of:
- Electricity
- Natural gas
- Water and sewer
- Solid waste and recycling programs
Typical program participants have at least one million square feet of conditioned space and an annual utility/resource budget of over two million dollars to support a full time RCM.
Smaller organizations can also benefit from the program by using a part time position or incorporating RCM tasks into an existing position.
- The RCM is hired as a regular employee of the participating organization.
- The RCM can also be hired under contract through third party if necessary due to staffing limitations or preference to use contracted services
The RCM is retained by the customer and is accountable for bill savings attributable to efficiency improvements in:
- Occupant behavioral practices by building occupants
- Operations and maintenance practices by administrators and operations personnel
Most of the savings are from changes in practices, and do not require major investments in equipment. RCMs also help identify and champion projects which qualify for additional Puget Sound Energy incentives such as:
- Lighting system improvements
- HVAC systems and controls
- Building thermal improvements
- Water heating system improvements
- Retro commissioning
Menu of services
Puget Sound Energy's Resource Conservation Manager program is comprised of a menu of service features which can be negotiated to meet the specific needs of your organization. Typical services include:
- Assisting in the design and implementation of your RCM program
- Assisting in the hiring or contracting a Resource Conservation Manager
- Providing assistance in developing baselines, resource policy and facility plans
- Assisting in analyzing and reporting savings relative to an established baseline
- Providing training for Resource Manager and other facility personnel such as custodians and maintenance staff
- Providing educational materials for classroom or building occupant use
- Providing electronic PSE billing data for import into resource accounting software
- Providing cash incentive programs for specific actions by occupants and staff in individual facilities that reduce energy consumption
- Providing metering solutions for viewing of facility natural gas and electric meter data
Incentives
Initial cash incentive
For qualifying organizations, Puget Sound Energy will pay a cash incentive determined as a percentage of the typical RCM salary to help get program started with initial set-up of utility database and program organization. Typically, PSE will fund 25 percent of the first year salary.
Salary guarantee
PSE will provide a salary guarantee that the customers' total resource bill savings achieved by RCM activities relating to occupant and behavioral practices and improvements in operational and maintenance (O&M) practices, exceed the salary of the RCM. If not, the difference will be paid to the customer up to the value of the natural gas and electrical savings achieved, as determined by weather corrected reduction of the customer's utility bills or by single measure calculations agreed to by PSE. (Requires fulltime RCM position.)
Resource accounting software
PSE will assist in selection, purchase, and set-up a resource accounting system software and support maintenance fees.
Application and agreement
PSE will work with the customer to make a preliminary estimate of the cost-effectiveness of the program. Typically, most organizations can reduce annual costs from 10 percent to 15 percent over a three-year period.
PSE will need additional information on natural gas and electricity consumption and costs (PSE accounts); utility costs and budgets for water, wastewater, solid waste; total square footage of all facilities; and estimated RCM salary to finalize incentive amount. An application form is available below.
Customers typically enter into a three-year agreement and the salary guarantee is paid, if necessary, at the end of that period. PSE can also work with other utilities to coordinate program support and salary guarantees offered by supporting organizations.
Resource Conservation Manager program forms
Below find program information about PSE's Resource Conservation Manager program and the required application.