Shared RCM

The WSU Energy Program, in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Commerce, completed a Shared Resource Conservation Manager (RCM) program in June 2012 that helped cities and counties establish and implement long-term energy efficiency strategies.

Many local governments would like to have an RCM program but do not have utility bills large enough to warrant an RCM position. The Shared RCM program helped create shared RCM positions that served co-located government entities across Washington.

The goals of the program were to:

Reduce energy use in building and facilities operated by cities and counties
Increase the ability of cities and counties to manage their energy and resource expenses
Establish shared programs that support smaller cities and counties
Establish programs that could sustain savings beyond program start-up years
Create jobs by establishing programs that employ RCMs

Shared RCM Partnerships

Local government partnerships formed in seven locales across Washington, and an existing partnership also received support. The RCMs hired in each of these regions assessed, tracked, and analyzed resource use in facilities owned and operated by the 35 public agencies that comprised the eight partnerships. The public agencies included cities, counties, public school districts, and ports. These RCMs worked with all levels of agency staff to reduce consumption and resource expenditures.

The Shared Resource Conservation Manager Program Report, completed in March 2013, describes the background and implementation of the program, provides a summary of estimated results from the individual programs, and discusses challenges and insights gleaned from the program. The report concludes with recommendations and advice.

Each Shared RCM partnership was unique. The following reports describe the individual programs: