High Performance Schools & Public Buildings
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
NEEP increasingly functions as a critical resource for sponsors in developing regional, coordinated program strategies. As the energy efficiency industry responds to rapidly evolving policy and market guidance, it is more important than ever that industry players pursue regional uniformity so that the large upstream market actors, whose businesses extend beyond any sponsor's geographic boundaries, can easily and effectively collaborate with the region.
By leveraging new opportunities that extend beyond the typical types of products and program strategies in play, NEEP generates greater energy savings for end users, broader energy savings for efficiency programs and increased sales for the region's HVAC industry.
Emerging Technologies
Two HVAC technologies have emerged that come with significant opportunities for energy savings and are ready for regional consideration.
Heat Pump Water Heater market and program development
Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in the average home.
A select group of water heater and heat pump manufacturers are bringing heat pump water heaters (HPWH) to market in the US. HPHWs can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional water heaters.
An HPHW operates much like a refrigerator, but in reverse. While a refrigerator pulls heat from inside a box and pushes it into the surrounding room, a stand-alone HPWH pulls heat from the surrounding air and uses it to heat water.
NEEP coordinates with these manufacturers to be able to educate its efficiency program sponsors about the product lines and to facilitate bringing products to the region for field testing and pilot programs at low costs to the utilities.
NEEP Parnters with Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to educate HPWH manufacturers on the unique needs to consider when developing products for cold weather climates. Read specs here.
Ductless Heat Pumps
This exciting technoloyg combines the flexibility of room air conditioners with the whole house cooling of central systems. Ductless heat pump sytems need only little space for pipes to move refrigerant to indiviudal coils thorughout the house rather than delivering cold air through ductwork.
Ductless mini-split systems have the ability to reduce load and demand but to date are under utilized in the northeast HVAC market.
NEEP is working with manufacturers of Ductless Split Heat Pump (DSHP) systems and initiative Sponsors from the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund to develop a creative promotion to increase the market share of this under utilized technology.
By leveraging resources throughout the ductless mini-split distribution stream, efficiency programs will be better outfitted to gain deep energy savings with their high-use customers and avoid missed opportunities by dispatching reputable contractors to sell and install the systems.
The Region's Voice on Federal Specs
Participation in ENERGY STAR Specification vetting
On behalf of its sponsors, NEEP participates in the vetting processes of the ENERGY STAR criteria for technologies affecting whole home efficiency, such as water heaters and advanced water heating technologies like ‘tankless', furnaces and boilers, central air conditioners, windows, quality installation practices, and solid state lighting and other lighting technologies. During these processes, NEEP balances the needs of the efficiency programs with the capabilities and willingness of the relevant industries, as well as consumer demand and market penetration data.
More Information
For more information, please contact NEEP's Residential Programs Manager, Matt D'Alessio at 781-860-9177, ext. 116 or at mdalessio@neep.org.
| Resource | Description | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Water Heater Market Profile: New Technologies, New Savings | On October 15th, DOE released this document which answers: what is the current state of the water heater market and installed base, what is the energy savings potential, and how can efficiency programs capture those savings? |  | |
| American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy | The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. | | |
| Association of Energy Services Professionals | AESP provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience. Our members work in the energy services industry and represent electric and natural gas utilities, public benefits associations, regulatory and non-profit entities, vendors, manufacturers and consulting firms. | | |
| Consortium for Energy Efficiency | CEE is a consortium of efficiency program administrators from across the U.S. and Canada who work together on common approaches to advancing efficiency. | | |
| DOE Heat Pump Water Heaters |  Water heating can account for 14%-25% of the energy consumed in your home. This information for the Department of Energy gives a comprehensive description of heat pump water heaters and how the technology can save significant energy use. | | |
| ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder | To encourage customers to buy energy efficient products, ENERGY STAR partners occasionally sponsor special offers, such as sales tax exemptions or credits, or rebates on qualified products. Partners also occasionally sponsor recycling incentives for the proper disposal of old products. The search on this page is provided as a service to consumers to find such special offers or rebates where they exist, based on information that partners submit to ENERGY STAR. | | |
| Home Performance with Energy Star | Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a national program from the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, offers a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort at home, while helping to protect the environment. | | |
| Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance | The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a private non-profit organization funded by Northwest utilities, the Energy Trust of Oregon and the Bonneville Power Administration. NEEA works in collaboration with its stakeholders and strategic market partners to accelerate the sustained market adoption of energy-efficient products, technologies and practices. NEEA's market transformation efforts address energy efficiency in homes, businesses and industry. | |