For SEMHub.com and Resources Ownership Transition | Last updated: July 17, 2024
This FAQ addresses the transition of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA’s) Strategic Energy Management (SEM) website (SEMHub.com) and its tools and resources to new organizational ownership and/or management. Throughout 2024, SEMHub.com, its online learning courses, and the Energy Management Assessment (EMA) tool will be transitioning to new management and continue to be made available at no cost. Effective January 1, 2025, the SEM website, EMA tool, and Northwest Strategic Energy Management Collaborative will be under new ownership and/or management.
To stay up to date on what you need to know about this transition, including what’s changing, what’s staying the same, and when resources will move to new locations and owners, read the frequently asked questions below.
Please contact us at info@semhub.com with any additional questions.
Why is SEMHub transitioning ownership of its website and tools?
SEMHub has been part of a program administered by NEEA using limited-duration funding from participating Northwest utilities. The program sunsets on December 31, 2024. The limited-duration funding has helped position the Northwest region as early pioneers of SEM and has helped the practice gain traction across North America. Now, the Northwest SEM community will continue this work by transitioning the resources to existing organizations who will continue building a stronger and more robust SEM community.
What will happen to the current SEMHub website, tools, and resources?
As part of this transition, NEEA has identified new owners who will host SEMHub.com, and its tools and resources. The transition efforts will be complete by January 1, 2025. To support a seamless transition, NEEA will provide periodic updates to help website and tool users know what to expect and what actions they should take.
Which organizations are taking ownership of the SEMHub website, tools, and resources?
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) will own and host the EMA Tool, and continue to offer free access to the SEM community—alongside their 50001 Ready | Navigator (lbl.gov) content—for at least two years.
American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) will own and operate SEMHub.com. North American SEM Collaborative (NASEMC) is sponsored by ACEEE and will have an active role in supporting the website. Most of the site’s recent and relevant resources will remain available to site users for the foreseeable future. Minimal disruption is anticipated during the transition process.
BetterBricks, NEEA’s platform for commercial and industrial audiences, will host the online learning courses and the Commercial and Industrial Energy Talk Cards. Stay tuned on how to access these resources after the transition.
What is the timing for the transition?
NEEA’s program administration and limited-duration funding ends December 31, 2024. Transition efforts are underway and new ownership will be effective January 1, 2025. We will keep you informed on transition milestones and important dates that impact your use of the website, its tools, and the EMA tool.
Will I still be able to access the Commercial and Industrial Energy Talk Cards?
Yes. NEEA will continue to own and host the Commercial and Industrial Energy Talk Cards, which will be available for digital download on BetterBricks.com.
How will I be notified of important milestones and dates throughout the transition?
You will be notified of important transition milestones and key dates via the SEMHub quarterly newsletter, periodic email updates, and SEMHub and EMA tool website pop-up messages.
If you’re not already subscribed to the newsletter, sign up here. Bookmark this FAQ page which will be regularly updated as new information is available.
Note: As of January 1, 2025, SEMHub.com communications will come from ACEEE, on behalf of North American SEM Collaborative. Your subscription will continue unless you unsubscribe.
What will happen to the annual NWSEMC Fall Workshop?
The annual NWSEMC Fall Workshop will continue to be held in the Northwest, but NEEA will hand off the role of event organizer to the North American SEM Collaborative’s Northwest chapter's leadership team and volunteer workshop committee, with administrative support provided by ACEEE and the NASEMC.
What will happen to the NWSEMC Working Groups?
Working Groups will continue. While Working Groups have always been open to anyone interested in volunteering their time, they have recently made a more concerted effort to invite members from the broader NASEMC community to join, lead, and propose new topics. The North American SEM Collaborative will manage the Work Groups with the support of a Working Group committee comprised of NW members.
Can I still use the EMA Tool?
Yes, you can still use the EMA Tool. All current user accounts will be closed on December 31, 2024.
The new owner as of January 1, 2025, LBNL, will offer free access to the SEM community—alongside their 50001 Ready | Navigator (lbl.gov) content—for at least two years. Instructions to register for a new account on the LBNL platform will be sent to current users.
What happens if I don’t finish my assessment by December 31, 2024?
Historical data in the EMA Tool, such as user email addresses, assessment responses, and final reports, will not be shared or transferred from NEEA to LBNL. As this will impact programs that do comparative assessments over time for customers, we recommend that these programs pay special attention to manage this data within the available timeframe. For assistance retaining historical data, contact EMATool@neea.org before December 31, 2024.
What will happen to my assessment information associated with my EMA user account?
For security purposes, all user data will be deleted on December 31, 2024. For NEEA’s funding utilities with white-labeled EMA accounts, NEEA will export your data and send it to utility account owners in a secure, encrypted file. New user accounts on the LBNL platform will not contain any historical data.
Who do I contact for help with preserving user assessments?
For support with preserving your user assessments, contact EMATool@neea.org.
Will I still be able to access SEMHub’s online learning courses?
You will be able to access your coursework until December 31,2024. After December 31, 2024, SEMHub’s self-paced online courses will no longer be hosted on the current LMS platform. These courses will instead be converted from self-paced and interactive modules to static videos that will be accessible through BetterBricks.com. All user accounts will be closed on December 31, 2024.
What happens if I don’t finish my current learning module, course of study, or utility certification course?
For users fulfilling a course of study or requirements, please complete your course of study before December 31, 2024. Your account will be inaccessible, and your data deleted, after this date.
What will happen to my coursework and progress information associated with my LMS user account?
Your coursework and progress will be deleted. For data security compliance purposes, all user data will be deleted. Please note: For NEEA’s funding utilities with white-labeled LMS accounts, NEEA will export your data and send it to utility account owners in a secure, encrypted file.
Who do I contact for help with preserving course progress data?
For support with preserving your course progress data, contact SEMCourses@neea.org as early as possible.