Residential Sector
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The residential sector team strives to balance program measures that deliver the highest savings potential while providing a diverse offering of measures to meet the needs of BPA utilities. The goal is to significantly increase the penetration of residential energy efficiency measures in the Pacific Northwest. A multi-faceted delivery method is deployed to build on regional collaborations and cross-agency residential opportunities. Below are a few of the residential sector priorities. |
Residential lighting/fixtures/showerheads
Past BPA efforts have focused on promoting CFLs through retail markdowns and large scale distribution. The Sixth Power Plan is expected to include potential for Energy Independence Security Act (EISA)-exempt Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs), Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), showerheads and more. BPA is considering strategies to help utilities maximize savings and penetration in all parts of the region for these measures. The current Change a Light regional CFL promotion has been extended until more information on the Sixth Power Plan is known.
Appliances and consumer electronics
ENERGY STAR appliances have been a successful program offer for many BPA utility
customers and are expected to continue to perform well. Increasing plug loads
from consumer electronics has emerged as a new priority and opportunity. BPA is
working with Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) to identify and maximize
upstream opportunities in consumer electronics to leverage manufacturer and retail
resources to transform the market. Read
more about this initiative.
Weatherization
While weatherization measures have been a core BPA utility focus for decades, market research indicates that too many homes still have poor insulation, single pane windows and major air leakage. Over the next five years BPA will aggressively target these leaky homes with new program approaches designed to empower our utilities to work more effectively with their trade allies and end customers.
HVAC
BPA has invested in the development of a residential HVAC infrastructure aimed
at increasing the market penetration of high efficiency air source heat pumps.
The Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS) protocol is now delivering solid
returns on this investment. With ongoing support BPA expects the PTCS program
to continue delivering yearly increases in energy savings over the next five years.
Learn more about PTCS.
New technologies
BPA has identified ductless heat pumps, Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting and heat pump water heaters as high priority technologies to pursue. BPA is aggressively pursuing and supporting research to move these technologies into the "pilot projects" as soon as reasonably possible.
BPA is a primary sponsor of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) Ductless Heat Pump Single Family Evaluation pilot program launched in fiscal year 2009. BPA Energy Efficiency planning and engineering staff are working to make LED lighting technology available as a deemed measure as soon as cost-effective, quality products are available. BPA has initiated a pilot to conduct lab testing the first heat pump water heaters to determine if they are ready for use in our region.
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