Commercial Buildings and Technologies Update

Updates - Quarter 3, 2009

NEEP Completes Data Center White Paper, Plans Market Study

NEEP completed its white paper on Data Centers, examining this burgeoning electric load as an opportunity for energy savings. The efficiency community has been keeping an eye on this for some time, as has the power delivery side. The paper highlighted a variety of current program activities promoting software, hardware and HVAC solutions.

Building off the data center study, NEEP is proposing a study to characterize the Data Center market and opportunities for making it more efficient. The proposal is for limiting the initial geography to Boston, a market segment with a density of higher education, healthcare facilities, financial and government infrastructure. Planning for this study will continue in the fourth quarter with a projection to conduct it in early 2010.

NEEP Sponsors Develop Upstream HVAC Programs

Demonstrating promising results in the second year of its pilot program, Efficiency Vermont continues to be the leading administrator of upstream HVAC pursuits. NYSERDA is also making strides in its upstream HVAC efforts, having convened a mid-September meeting with 30 HVAC distributors and manufacturer representatives. At the meeting, focus groups were formed to help develop 2010 programs. Both sides appeared receptive to distributor incentives and creative program solutions.

NEEP Conducts HVAC Incremental Cost Study

In the third quarter, NEEP and HVAC initiative sponsors began work on an informal incremental cost study of packaged HVAC equipment. A few program administrators had indicated that the costs of high-efficiency units had recently skyrocketed and sponsors speculated that this could have been caused by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funds or impending 2010 industry regulations.

In any case, program administrators need to be assured that efficient replacement units are cost effective. NEEP initiated a survey of distributors in the region to determine baseline and qualifying unit costs. Results will be available early in the fourth quarter.

NEEP engages manufacturers with the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund to promote high efficiency ductless mini-split heat pump systems in Connecticut

Working from a small pilot program conducted by Massachusetts and Connecticut efficiency programs in 2008, NEEP is currently facilitating collaboration and information sharing to develop cooperative promotions with industry that seek to accelerate adoption of DSHP technology. The concept includes an enhanced rebate offering for ENERGY STAR qualifying systems with HSPF of 10 or higher to qualifying end users based on current heating fuel and usage, competitive installed system costs price ranges for ENERGY STAR qualifying ductless models with HSPF of 10.0 or higher, and promotion and installation training for elite contractor groups. Subject to regulatory approval, the current efforts will create a platform for replicating these or similar promotions throughout the region with the same industry partners.

NEEP continues research on energy ratings for buildings

NEEP has launched comprehensive research into energy performance rating and labeling for buildings. The goal is to develop a roadmap that efficiency program administrators can use to pursue time-of-transaction rating and labeling on a voluntary basis. It can also be used by policymakers in developing mandatory constructs.

Used voluntarily, building energy rating and labeling creates a tremendous opportunity for the region's home-performance programs to increase awareness, participation and comprehensiveness of projects undertaken by participants.

NEEP Connects Heat Pump Water Heater Manufacturers to Programs in the Northeast
Having received substantial interest from Sponsors earlier in the year, NEEP has been working with major domestic manufacturers of heat pump water heaters (HPWH) to develop 2009-10 HPWH programming opportunities. This equipment has the potential to save 50 percent or more in energy costs, when compared to standard electric resistance water heaters. With manufacturers having launched new HPWH products in 2009 - and more to follow in early 2010 - NEEP is developing industry relationships that will enable field-test installations and pilot programs in the Northeast.

To increase manufacturer interest in the significant potential this technology brings to efficiency programs in the Northeast and other cold climates, NEEP is working with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) to develop recommended guidelines for HPWH manufacturers entering cold climate markets. Next steps include facilitating webinar-based information exchanges between manufacturers and efficiency program administrators throughout NEEP and NEEA territories.

NEEP Participates in New York Contractor Exchange

UtilityExchange.org, a networking group for utilities and allied organizations, presented a two-day forum for New York-based contractors to learn about federal and state home-performance incentives as well as NYSERDA's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program. Titled the New York Contractor Exchange, the event was hosted by NYSERDA Aug. 3-4 in Kingston, N.Y. Attendees heard from successful business owners who encouraged a comprehensive systems approach and the adoption of energy conservation measures in contractors' business plans. NEEP networked with event participants to discuss financial models that can overcome first-cost barriers in whole-home and HVAC energy conservation measures.

GasNetworks Annual Conference stresses Systems Approach

To increase understanding of gas programming and technologies, NEEP participated in September's GasNetworks Annual Conference. As higher-efficiency gas technologies emerge in the market (and are supported by utility incentives), it is becoming apparent that a systems approach must be employed in combination with best-practice installations to optimize unit-based claimed savings and allay systems-based lost opportunities.

NEEP Provides Stakeholder News via TINSSL Flash Distributions

In the third quarter, NEEP provided stakeholders with monthly Technical Information for Solid State Lighting (TINSSL) Flash distributions providing snapshots of timely SSL efforts led by DOE.