The Pacific Northwest has spent four decades building one of North America's most ambitious energy-efficiency systems. From heat pump water heaters to ductless heat pumps, from commercial lighting retrofits to behavior-based savings programs, the region treats efficiency as a resource in its own right — the cheapest, cleanest kilowatt is the one no one has to generate. Conduit NW is an independent, plain-language guide to how that system works and how the measures behind it actually save energy.
This site is a reader-facing knowledge resource, not a program portal. We are not affiliated with any utility, agency, or alliance. Our goal is simply to explain the technologies, programs, and terminology that shape efficiency in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, and to point you toward the authoritative sources where you can act.
What You'll Find Here
We organize the Northwest's efficiency landscape into readable guides. Each one summarizes how a measure works, why it matters in the region's cool, hydro-powered grid, and where to learn more from primary sources such as the ENERGY STAR program and the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Technology guides — heat pump water heaters, ductless heat pumps, and PTCS-tested HVAC systems.
- Sector guides — practical efficiency for homes and for commercial buildings.
- Program context — who runs efficiency in the Northwest and how the pieces fit together.
- People and skills — the growing efficiency workforce and how training pipelines work.
Why the Northwest Is Different
Most of the region's electricity comes from hydropower, which makes its grid unusually low-carbon to begin with. That history shaped a distinctive culture: instead of racing to build new power plants, Northwest utilities, states, and nonprofits have invested heavily in efficiency as a planned resource under the region's power plan. The result is a dense ecosystem of programs, technical standards, and field expertise that can be hard for newcomers to navigate.
Conduit NW tries to be the on-ramp. Whether you are a homeowner weighing a heat pump, a facilities manager scoping a lighting retrofit, or someone starting a career in the field, the guides here explain the fundamentals before you dive into official program paperwork.
Start Exploring
Browse the guides library for the full index, read about the organizations and programs that fund Northwest efficiency, or learn how the region trains its efficiency workforce. New to the vocabulary? The glossary defines the acronyms you'll meet everywhere in this field.