Variable air volume (VAV) HVAC systems dominate the commercial building market but have widely varying performance, with a well-documented performance gap between best-practice and typical operation. Two recent studies by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and the California Energy Commission (CEC)...

AESC proposes a market evaluation study of solar assisted heat pumps, a technology that promises to provide supplemental, carbon-free heating to any variable-speed pump air conditioner in the 2-ton to 10-ton range – and thus is applicable to residential split heat pumps and small commercial split...

PG&E’s Code Readiness team conducted field research at two indoor cannabis facilities in Sacramento, California, to gather data on system operational energy use and thermal loads in controlled environment horticulture (CEH) facilities. The research focused on CEH production spaces, including...

This report presents and synthesizes the results of: a.) on-site assessments of Controlled Environment Horticulture (CEH) facilities in California; b.) online grower and industry surveys; and c.) a previously published CEH literature review (ETCC Report #: ET21PGE8205). The report highlights...

One of the greatest underutilized opportunities for energy savings in buildings through retrofits and retro-commissioning is optimized HVAC system sequence of operations (SOO). A recent EPIC Best In Class research project funded by the California Energy Commission showed that implementation of...

The California Air Resources Board and Southern California Edison recognized the need for robust primary research among key decision-makers to help California achieve the state’s ambitious climate goals – specifically through the adoption of zero-emission appliances such as heat pump water heaters,...

The proposed technology is a residential/ small commercial heat pump (~3-5 tons capacity) that cascades a thermoelectric (TE) heat pump with a conventional air-source heat pump. This heat pump will (a) Boost capacity and COP at colder outside air temperatures, (b) Reduce peak demand by eliminating...

Building electrification initiatives are resulting in an explosion of electrified heating and cooling (heat pump) systems being installed in residential and commercial buildings. Electrifying the building sector is a critical step toward meeting California’s decarbonization goals; however, the...

Home space heating, space cooling, and domestic hot water heating loads can be served efficiently by contemporary air to water heat pump technology. Higher operating efficiencies and a shift of loads from peak to non-peak demand periods can be achieved through a shared network of hydronic piping...

University of Maryland (Prime), EPRI, Sunamp, Heat Technologies, ORNL, Rheem is developing a technology consisting of a dual-purpose (heating and cooling) thermal battery with room temperature storage integrated with heat pump(s) (HP’s), for both residential and commercial applications. The thermal...