The more energy you use, the more opportunities there are to save. That’s what businesses and organizations that participate in Energy Trust of Oregon’s Strategic Energy Management (SEM) offering learn on day one. With small operational changes and consistent effort, participants can unlock substantial energy and bill savings.

The SEM framework supports participants in planning, executing, improving and reporting new, more efficient procedures and behaviors. SEM participants:

• Have a dedicated energy coach who helps identify potential projects
• Earn incentives for hitting milestones, such as submitting an annual energy plan and completing energy-saving upgrades on site
• Receive guidance while pursuing Building Operator Certifications
• Get support with Building Performance Standards compliance

Participants can also receive up to $10,000 each year they’re enrolled to help cover the cost of hiring an intern to support their SEM activities. Hear from two organizations, Portland Community College (PCC) and the High Desert Museum, whose SEM interns have helped improve operational efficiency:

Portland Community College: Teaching the next generation of facility managers
Since 2020, PCC has participated in SEM and was one of the initial hosts of an SEM intern. After joining the college in 2022, Adam Holzschuh, energy resource manager, first learned about SEM from the college’s intern at the time and has since dove headfirst into the offering. “I find something new every day to keep me and the intern busy,” he said.

SEM interns at PCC have been students, many in HVAC, engineering, or water management career tracks. Holzschuh lets interns approach SEM work using their interests and goals as a guide. One recent intern was interested in data analysis and helped PCC strengthen its data modeling capabilities, supporting preparation for Oregon’s Building Performance Standards and providing insights that could help guide future construction projects. “SEM is key for integrating energy savings into PCC’s operations,” Holzschuh said.

While he works within the facilities department alongside technicians and maintenance staff, Holzschuh is the only one focused solely on energy management. This makes SEM interns even more valuable. “Interns are another set of hands and eyes to look for and solve problems,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for everyone involved as I learn from them as much as they learn from me.” Since 2021, PCC has earned more than $43,000 in SEM intern incentives.

High Desert Museum: Setting interns up for success wherever their careers take them
The High Desert Museum in Bend has participated in SEM since 2020 and was also among the first to host an SEM intern. “We’ve had six interns over the years, and they’ve all brought something unique to the job,” said Patrick Johnson, facilities director. Each intern has a different perspective, which Johnson finds helpful when going on facility walkthroughs or preparing for inspections.

Johnson’s goal when hosting SEM interns is to help them learn how to solve problems, not rely on someone else to find a fix. He teaches them how to make prioritizing efficiency second nature and develop their instincts in this kind of work. While Johnson does assign interns specific projects, he often lets them set their own course and discover unexpected savings opportunities. “The ideas they bring are like seeds,” he said. “They often turn into projects that improve operations.”

The combination of having an intern to help with SEM work and earning an incentive makes this a win-win for Johnson and the museum. “SEM interns have been nothing but beneficial for the museum,” he said. Since 2021, the High Desert Museum has received more than $51,000 in cash incentives for hosting interns.

Enable greater efficiency with an SEM intern
By participating in SEM, facilities teams are already making a big impact on energy use. Going a step further and hiring an SEM intern can lead to an even bigger impact, while earning additional incentives for doing so. “Hosting an SEM intern and encouraging them to be curious can lead to you discovering something that answers questions you didn’t have,” said Holzschuh.

Learn more about Energy Trust’s SEM offering by visiting the Commercial SEM page.