PIER Buildings Residential Research

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• PIER Buildings Residential Research
• Activities and Future Plans
• Norman Bourassa
• PIER Buildings End-use Efficiency Program
• California Energy Commission
• November 14, 2007

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Energy Commission Its Functions

• Energy policy and information advisor to the
  California Governor and Legislature
• Major functions
• License power plants
• Assess current and future energy trends
• Advance energy technologies
• Promote energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Administer building appliance efficiency
  Standards

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What is PIER?
Public Interest Energy Research Program

• Initiated in 1998 as a part of California
  electricity deregulation and funded at 62M/Yr
• Its the research counterpart to the public goods
  energy efficiency program administered by the
  utilities and the Renewables Program administered
  by the CEC
• Natural Gas funding added in 2004, 15M/Yr
• The mission of PIER is to conduct public interest
  energy research that seeks to improve the quality
  of life...by providing environmentally sound,
  safe , reliable and affordable energy services
  and products

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PIER funding by Research Area (historical)
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PIER Buildings ProgramGoals and Outcomes

• More affordable, comfortable, energy efficient
  buildings from improved designs, construction
  methods, and operational strategies
• More reliable electricity systems through lowered
  peak demand
• Healthier, energy efficient indoor environments
• Improved customer choices for affordable, energy
  efficient technologies

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PIER Buildings Program Scope

• Primarily focuses on shorter term, applied
  research in new and existing buildings
• End uses include lighting, HVAC, building
  envelopes, water heating, appliances, office
  equipment
• Research products include design
  information/specifications, technologies
  (hardware), software, controls, and others
• Covers the entire building life cycle from
  component development/design, construction,
  commissioning, operation

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Californias Residential Electricity Use
CA consumption (GWh) State - 250,000, Com
90,000, Res 75,000, Ind 54,000, Other 33,000
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Californias Natural Gas Energy Use
Gas water heating is the largest gas end use in
California with 38 for commercial and
residential or 2,700 million therms/yr
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Multiple market pathways for products developed
through RDD
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Efficiency Standards Path
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Contributions to Current Standards

• PIER Buildings research included in the 2005
  Title-24 Building Energy Standards
• Duct Tape Durability Testing
• Acceptance Test Requirements
• Outdoor Lighting Assessment
• Energy efficiency of Power Supplies addressed in
  2005 Title-20 Appliance Standards

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Outreach toCalifornia Home Builders
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Building EnvelopeResearch
Mold risk reduction is important even in hot-dry
inland areas
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Smart Bathroom Lighting forAssisted Living
Facilities
Vanity lights that use occupancy sensors to
engage LED technology for safety and comfort and
fluorescent technology for high brightness
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Research Centers Collaborative Path
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Lighting for TomorrowDecorative Residential
Light Fixtures
fluorescent fixture families
solid state lighting applications
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Manufacturer Partner Industry Path
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Market Connections
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Residential Kitchens---the opportunity---
Pre-T24/2005 _at_ 700 W Post-T24/2005 _at_ 300-400 W
LED kitchen _at_ 100 - 150 W
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Residential Fan Light KitsCeiling and
Ventilation Fans
LED ceiling fan light kits will be
energy-efficient and dimmable
Energy-efficient LED lights in bathroom
ventilation fans will replace 2 60W incandescent
lamps
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Diffuser Metrics for Tubular Daylighting Devices
The diffuser makes the tubular daylight device a
luminaire
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Tier II Solar Homes Research AKA Zero Energy
Homes (ZEN)

• 3 contracts awarded in 2004 ZENHomes solicitation
• Utility Market Model for ZENHomes
• Architectural Energy Corporation (AEC)
• Affordable Multifamily ZENHomes
• Global Green USA
• Turnkey PV System Delivery for ZENHomes
• PowerLight Corporation
• Another project soon
• Affordable Innovative Business Models for Solar
  Home Communites
• SDGE and SMUD

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New Design Tools for Residential Community
Development

• Subdivision Energy Analysis Tool (SEAT)
• In Process - NREL

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New Design Tools for Residential Community
Development

• Subdivision Energy Analysis Tool (SEAT)
• In Process - NREL

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Future Research Topics
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Future Research Topics

• Building Envelope
• Efficient components, retrofit techniques and
  building systems
• Cost-effective remediation and retrofit systems
  for envelopes of existing buildings to improve
  R-values, reduce air infiltration, facilitate
  moisture control, and enhance durability.
• Improved methods, materials and systems for
  building envelopes, with consideration of
  environmental impacts, life-cycle energy,
  durability and performance.
• Daylighting and fenestration systems components,
  systems, test procedures, and design integration.

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Future Research Topics

• Building Envelope
• Design and analysis tools
• Software tools and standards-related analysis to
  facilitate adoption of cool exteriors, passive
  solar, thermal mass, and building orientation.
• Field studies of envelope performance of existing
  buildings in regards to energy use, durability,
  and performance.

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Future Research Topics

• HVAC Controls
• Design and analysis tools
• Integration of natural ventilation with
  complementary thermal comfort systems, which
  require design guidance
• Advanced simulation tools for thermal, visual and
  acoustic comfort analysis
• Ventilation standards and indoor air quality in
  residential buildings

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Future Research Topics

• HVAC Controls
• Monitoring and characterization
• Monitoring actual AC loads for demand analysis
  and standards validation, with respect to SEER,
  thermal distribution systems, refrigerant charge
  and airflow programs, automated fault detection,
  thermostats and demand shedding programs
• Air conditioner and heat pump database analysis
  with respect to actual performance in hot/dry
  conditions
• Use and effectiveness of in-home feedback display
  devices for energy management

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Future Research Topics

• HVAC Controls
• Advanced components, systems and technologies
• Efficient thermal distribution systems, including
  low leakage, low resistance duct systems,
  hydronic systems, refrigerant-based mini-split
  systems.
• Control and Fault-Detection systems, including
  integration of natural ventilation, communicating
  thermostats and demand shedding
• Lower energy cooling technology development,
  including hot-dry optimized components and
  systems, radiant components and systems, and
  conventional mixed air systems

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Future Research Topics

• Lighting
• Advanced components, systems and technologies
• Advanced fenestration design and components
• Daylighting controls
• Continued improvement to Light Emitting Diode
  (LED) technology and product cost
• Systems integration and design tools
• Lighting design software.
• Standardizing user interfaces for lighting
  controls

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Future Research Topics

• Lighting
• Monitoring and characterization
• Evaluation of appropriate lighting levels
• Energy use impact of solid state lighting
  penetration in CA
• Test Procedures and performance standards
• Performance standards for CFLs
• Consumer information on product performance and
  characteristics

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Future Research Topics

• Title 24 Targeted Research
• Residential Duct Systems
• Information on persistence of duct sealing and
  failures of duct systems
• Develop justification to move ducts out of attic
• Performance and cost information on mini-splits
  and other ductless systems
• Evaporative Cooling
• Compare to water use at end-use site vs. water
  use at power plant for cooling towers
• Look at time-of-use and water demand issues. Is
  there a potential to reduce impacts with water
  storage? What about condensate capture and
  storage for evaporative condensing? Need TDV of
  water use.
• Advanced evaporative cooling (indirect and
  direct/indirect) should be considered e.g.
  Indirect DX/ Hybrid unit- (e.g. Coolerado) 1 ½
  ton compressor on 5 ton unit- advanced
  evaporative cooling

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Future Research Topics

• Title 24 Targeted Research
• Thermostats
• Programmable Communicating Thermostats - study
  2008 impacts and recommend any changes to PCT
  regulations. How can industry affect
  information/data model? What are available
  energy use measurements, sensors? Define
  standard information models (connectors for
  example.) Define minimum information which
  sensor/control platforms should provide.
• What are the set points that people really use
  Look at fixed schedule in T-24
• Water Heating
• Solar water heating
• Solar water heating with absorption - integrated
  systems and heat recovery
• Should houses be pre-plumbed for solar and
  condensing water heaters. Making retrofit much
  more cost effective and is not expensive at time
  of construction.
• Solar water heating- Cost to own and operate
  What are the failure issues, solutions?
• Hourly methodology (not solar fraction) modeling
• Better understanding of tankless WHs - energy
  impact reliability
• CHP - Can loads be aggregated with other
  buildings heat storage becomes more viable

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PIER 5 Year Plan
Public Interest Energy Research Program 2007
2011 Electricity Research Investment Plan

• PIER Strategic Objectives
• Reduce energy cost and improve performance of
  efficiency end-use systems (residential,
  commercial, industrial, agricultural).
• Develop energy-efficient technologies for unique
  California conditions and industries.
• Reduce water use and improve efficiency of
  alternative water sources, treatment, and
  delivery.
• Develop end-use cost-effective load management
  and demand response technologies.
• Develop knowledge base for future decision-making
  and informed end-use policy relative to
  electricity.

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Thank You

• njbouras_at_energy.state.ca.us

Norman Bourassa PIER Buildings End-use Efficiency
Program California Energy Commission