Independent Colleges of Washington
Request for Research Proposal: PSE Energy Efficiency and Sustainability Research Grant
What: Undergraduate and/or Graduate Student Managed Research Project
Topic: “Energy Efficiency and Sustainability"
Maximum Budget: $10,000
Time Frame: To be completed by April 16, 2007
Eligible Institutions: Pacific Lutheran University, Saint Martin’s College, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle
University, University of Puget Sound (all located in Puget Sound Energy territory)
Deadline for submission of proposals: October 27, 2006 – October 24 to Jane Kenyon in University Relations
Sponsor: Puget Sound Energy, Inc., through Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW)
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Puget Sound Energy has provided Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) with a research grant of $10,000 to
fund one undergraduate or graduate (or combined) research project.
Subject: “Energy Efficiency and Sustainability" Proposals should address energy efficiency or conservation
challenges and opportunities facing the electrical or natural gas industry. This may include research on generation,
distribution or innovation in the residential, commercial or industrial sectors.
Past winning proposals: 2005-06 – “An Empirical Electricity Conservation Study in the Pacific Northwest” by Jason
Kelley ‘06, PLU. 2004-05—“Understanding Energy Use and Conservation: An Econometrics Approach” by Jim
Adams ’06 and Caroline Weber ’06, University of Puget Sound.
Budget: $10,000 inclusive of all equipment, travel, materials, stipends and other requirements. The budget may
include taxable stipends for participating student(s). Funds not required by the budget will be retained by the
institution whose proposal is selected with the chief academic officer determining its allocation.
Commitment: Project results, in whatever form presented, must include reference to Puget Sound Energy, Inc. of
Bellevue, WA as the exclusive sponsor of the project. Further reference should be made to the fact that no person
affiliated with the company was involved in the selection or conduct of the research.
Guidelines:
 Research must be conducted and managed by students, with faculty guidance, enrolled at
applying college or university. Visit NW Energy Efficiency Alliance Web site for samples of research studies
underway in this area as a reference source for topic ideas, http://www.nwalliance.org
 Research may focus on any individual or interdisciplinary academic subject(s) relevant to the topic
 Proposal should include (weight of response on final selection):
o A clear statement of the need(s), issue(s), or problem(s) to be addressed (30%)
o Strategy and description of research process (20%)
o Timeline (10%)
o Results you expect from your project (25%)
o How you will determine if your project is successful (10%)
o Project budget (5%)
o Academic status (class year, major, minor, etc.) of research individual or team members
Results: Research results and conclusions should be provided to Independent Colleges of Washington by a date
specified in the proposal, but no later than April 16, 2007. An interim one-page report is requested at the half-way
point of the timeline. Final results will be shared with the donor as a stewardship exercise and may be reported on
by the donor to its audiences. No requirement is made by the donor to see the research and no control over the
research or results may be exercised by the donor or by Independent Colleges of Washington. Results remain the
intellectual property of the researchers and their institution for all purposes of publication or other dissemination.
If you have questions about this research award, please contact Independent Colleges of Washington (206-623-4494)
or Jim@ICWashington.org.