Our energy consulting practice is diversified, covering evaluation, measurement, economics and program analysis including: non-energy benefits, measure retention, greenhouse gas reductions, program evaluation , and forecasting and modeling.
SERA examines a wide range of options – both traditional and innovative – to develop practical solid waste management systems. We have experience and ready information on programs / policies, collection and processing, demographics, tonnages, cost, rates, funding, outreach, and more.
Dr. Skumatz is the international authority on Pay As You Throw (PAYT), an incentive-based strategy for increasing recycling. SERA's PAYT work includes feasibility, design, outreach, implementation, rates, and toolkits for communities.
SERA has designed, conducted, and/or evaluated behavioral programs in the solid waste and energy fields for residential programs all across the nation, as well as military, school, and commercial programs. The work involves evaluations with quasi experimental design and detailed tracking of impacts, costs and persistence of effects.
SERA is the leading firm nationally in the area of non-energy benefits (NEBs) developing methods of measuring hard to measure benefits, and quantifying important utility, societal, and participant benefits from programs. SERA's ‘NEB-It” model is literally the “state-of-the-art” model and allows us to model and quantify NEBs for a wide variety of residential, low income, and commercial programs.
Our 2022 Presentations
ACEEE - In Person
Topics include Non-Energy Benefits
and Estimated Useful Lifetimes
August 22-26, 2022.
Colorado SWANA Conference - In Person
Topics include how recycling habits have changed since COVID
October 11-13. 2022.
NRC Virtual Congress - Virtual
Topics include contamination reduction and organic recovery
November 9-10, 2022.
IEPEC Energy Optimization - In Person
Topics include NEBs, thermostats, and LEDs
November 1-4, 2022.
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Our staff includes economists and analysts with experience in evaluation, surveys and statistics, quantitative research, and policy analysis.
Skumatz Economic Research Associates, Inc. (SERA) is a research and consulting firm specializing in economic, policy, and evaluation analysis for solid waste and energy clients. We specialize in helping clients develop effective programs and strategies – and we use our expertise in integrated planning, evaluation, and economics to improve program performance and cost-effectiveness. (SERA) works in program design and evaluation in recycling / solid waste integrated materials management, energy efficiency, and sustainability. SERA has a reputation for quantitative, data-based research, and for developing creative approaches to find practical (and affordable) methods to quantify complex or hard-to-measure impacts. We have evaluated single programs, as well as entire utility portfolios.
SERA was established in 1990 by Dr. Lisa Skumatz and incorporated in the State of Washington as an S-Corp in 1995 and still maintains an office on Orcas Island. The main office is now in Boulder Colorado and is now powered by solar energy. SERA has a nationwide client base including utilities, municipalities, counties, authorities, and state and federal agencies. The firm has conducted more than 330 energy and over 200 recycling/solid waste project assignments in the US and internationally, and has published extensively on our project research. SERA is 100% woman owned and has WBE certifications in OR, NY, NYC, CA, and Nationally with WBENC.