Charrette Strategies
This is a collaborative design and planning workshop/session that is held on-site and includes all affected stakeholders at critical decision-making points. The WHPA EBEE Work Product II Pathway-to-Implementation (WPII) has either challenging design constraints and/or political situations. The product of the charrette is comprehensive, plan-enabling and supportive documentation that represents a feasible “Pathway to Implementation” for the following CEC Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plans listed above.
Using current WHPA EBEE WPII worksheets as a baseline, the multidisciplinary charrette team works as a large group and in break-out groups to create a supportive plan by testing and refining the framework with the goal of producing a feasible preferred “Pathway to Implementation” plan for the specified Sub-Strategies.
The deliverable of the WHPA EBEE Committee Charrette is a feasible “Pathway to Implementation” plan that benefits from the support of all stakeholders throughout its implementation.
Charrette Framework
NOTE: Some of the following steps are being done at the WHPA EBEE-EWG and “Community” Committee level to develop the baseline worksheets prior to the Charrette.
1. Work Collaboratively
It is important to involve Industry stakeholders early and throughout development of the EBEE-Action Plan “Pathway to Implementation” where it is possible to integrate their specific input. True collaboration is based on valuing each individual’s unique contribution. Therefore, the stakeholders involved in building, approving, and supporting the CA EBEE-AP “Pathway to Implementation” are actively involved at the start of the design and throughout the design process.
2. Compress Work Sessions
Time compression facilitates creative problem solving by accelerating decision making and reducing unconstructive negotiation tactics. A time-compressed design charrette session allows uninterrupted focus on a problem and often results in unexpected solutions to difficult problems. This strategy can be particularly useful in a negotiation when it becomes obvious that a decision must be made quickly for progress to continue.
3. Design Cross-functionally
Holistic solutions require holistic approaches to a problem. This means that during the charrette all relevant disciplines are represented and working together to achieve the same goals. Multidisciplinary teams of market experts, public agency staff, and others work concurrently to build a feasible solution to stakeholders’ development problems from the onset of the charrette. When an important area of expertise is excluded from the process, changes and rework are likely to emerge in the process.
4. Communicate in Short Feedback Loops
Regular stakeholder reviews build trust in the process, foster true understanding and support of the project, and minimize rework. A feedback loop occurs when a design is proposed, reviewed, changed, and re-presented for further review. Stakeholders are continually educated about the project process and plan’s progress. They are brought into the process early and at proper intervals throughout so that their input can have an impact on the outcome.
5. Study the Details and the Whole
Designs at varying scales inform each other and reduce the likelihood that a fatal flaw will be overlooked that could result in costly rework. Looking at the details also supports shared learning by providing the information necessary for a well-rounded discussion about the EBEE-AP “Pathway to Implementation” proposal.
6. Produce a Feasible Plan
A focus of the discussion is to generate feasibility, which brings a level of seriousness and rigor to the process for everyone involved.
7. Use Design to Achieve a Shared Vision and Create Holistic Solutions
Design is a powerful tool for inspiring stakeholders to establish and achieve a shared vision. The charrette process illustrates the complexity of the problem and can be used to resolve conflict by proposing previously unexplored solutions that represent win/win outcomes. A capable designer can change people’s positions by altering their perception of the possible solutions.
8. Conduct a 1-day Charrette
The goal of a charrette is to take the WHPA EBEE Committee WPII from a vision form through alternative concepts, to a preferred Pathway-to-Implementation framework, and finally to a developed feasible plan to present to the WHPA Executive Committee for approval and before delivery to the CEC EBEE-AP Staff.
9. Hold the Charrette Near the Activity Center for Pathway to Implementation
Working on-site at California Energy Commission will provide necessary ease-of-access to Industry stakeholders and allows relationships to be built. Centering activities at the CEC gives stakeholders access to participating agency staff - CEC, CPUC, IOUs and other stakeholders providing the opportunity for someone with a busy schedule to become engaged to attend a scheduled charrette process.