Residential Sector
|
|
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
In support of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Sixth Power Plan, BPA is maximizing savings and penetration of CFLs in all parts of the region and expanding its efforts beyond CFLs in the residential sector. Delivery options now include retail and builder channel coordination, direct mail and direct installation models.
In January of 2010, BPA contracted with Fluid Market Strategies to implement the Simple Steps, Smart Savings™ promotion. This promotion has been active since April of 2010 and replaces the previous Change-a-Light CFL promotion. This new promotion includes CFLs, showerheads, light fixtures, LEDs and other measures.
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.
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.
Ductless heat pumps
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.
Heat pump water heaters
While heat pump water heaters have some great cooling benefits in other regions
of the country and are included in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's
Sixth Power Plan, there are questions about their effectiveness in cold climates
and their savings potential in the Pacific Northwest. In order to document performance,
provide information to the region and to deliver feedback to manufacturers,
BPA is involved in two pilot projects on integrated HPWH. Learn
more about heat pump water heaters and the pilot projects.
EE Home
