Drop-in Rooftop VRF Retrofit Field Demonstration

This project will address barriers to heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) electrification in non-residential buildings using rooftop units for space heating and cooling. TRC Engineers Inc. and Energy Resources Integration (“ERI”) (collectively referred to herein as the “Project Team”) will install and demonstrate a fully rooftop-based variable refrigerant flow (“VRF”) heat-pump system that is a one-for-one replacement for the industry standard packaged rooftop unit (“RTU(s)”) at a single commercial building site in California. Unlike conventional VRF retrofits, this new class of rooftop VRF retrofit uniquely eliminates the need for dedicated outdoor air systems (“DOAS”), lengthy refrigerant piping, high refrigerant charge volumes, and complex interior retrofits, thereby enabling cost-effective electrification and ultra-high-efficiency space conditioning and can serve single or multiple zones with optional heat recovery. Independent, instrumented measurement and verification (“M&V”) will measure power and energy to calculate weather-normalized energy savings, confirm capacity and coefficient of performance (“COP”), assess comfort, and quantify energy savings, peak electric demand reductions, install time and cost, and statewide market potential. The results of the project will support the future development of a new measure package for drop-in RTU(s) VRF retrofit technology (or the “Technology”).  The Project Team will conduct stakeholder interviews and/or surveys with building owners, vendors, installers, and Investor-Owned Utility (“IOU(s)”) program implementers (collectively the “Stakeholder(s)”) to identify adoption barriers, cost drivers, and installation challenges. The number of interviews and surveys will be determined iteratively based on when sufficient information has been collected to support clear, consistent, and well-substantiated findings, with flexibility to adjust outreach as needed based on initial results. The knowledge gained will help shape field demonstration design and inform measure development priorities. Throughout the field demonstration phase, key market actors, particularly building owners and facility managers participating as the single field site, will provide feedback on installation feasibility, cost, and customer experience. Trade associations will be consulted for input on retrofit practices and dissemination of results. To support workforce development, the Project Team will explore engagement with HVAC trade schools and professional training organizations to observe installations and integrate lessons into technician curricula, addressing one of the major barriers to large-scale adoption. The goal of these engagements is to generate actionable, field-informed insights that accelerate the inclusion of rooftop air-to-air heat pumps in statewide energy efficiency portfolios. Engagement is expected to occur throughout the project lifecycle to ensure that field data, market insights, and lessons learned align with portfolio needs and support eventual Technology transfer.The results from this project will benefit IOU(s) programs by providing the technical and market foundation for a new statewide measure package supporting cost-effective electrification of gas-fired RTU(s). The project will deliver metered, weather-normalized performance data and verified savings values that enable direct inclusion of packaged rooftop air-to-air heat pumps in IOU(s) energy efficiency portfolios.Because VRF heat pump systems are designed as drop-in replacements, they represent a high-volume, near-term opportunity for large energy and demand savings across small and medium commercial buildings, one of the IOU(s) most energy-intensive segments. The vendor has demonstrated savings of 45–54% HVAC energy and 38–51% peak-demand reduction* which translate to strong Total Resource Cost (“TRC”) and Total System Benefit (“TSB”) values. Energy savings vary based on the incumbent technology being replaced, climate zone, and space utilization. The results from this project will inform utility energy efficiency and electrification program design, incentive levels, and load-management strategies, supporting IOU(s) decarbonization, demand-flexibility, and cost-effectiveness goals.*Savings based on technology partner case study for a 2025 restaurant installation in northern California.