Project Summary Retrofit by adding VFD controller to fractional horsepower Hot Water Recirculator in single loop domestic use for apartments and hotels, etc. can save gas 15.6% with a compensating but modest increase in hot water usage of 13.4%; or an average gas savings of about 27 therms per...

The project’s objective is to identify scalable, deployment-ready technologies that can hasten the transition to zero net energy homes in PG&E territory. Four of a total of fourteen existing residential structures, the Domes, at UC Davis were retrofitted with energy efficiency improvements...

Project Summary SoCalGas ETP has conducted a series of home tests for residential hot water recirculator “comfort systems.” The results show water savings for all products, but gas savings will depend on user’s behavior.  Results should be applicable to electric water heaters, too. DIY...

The severe drought underway in California makes water use reduction a high priority. In the case of showering, water use reduction also results in electricity or gas savings which is of direct importance to the Investor Owned Utilities like SDG&E. The technology studied here is mounted in-line with...

Project SummaryThe main objective of this project is to evaluate how well the Honda Smart Home achieves the design goals of reaching zero net energy (ZNE) performance while providing a high level of service to occupants.  The project compares modeled energy use estimates to actual energy...

The Honda Smart Home is a fully functional zero net energy (ZNE) home located in Davis, California, containing many advanced design elements. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) partnered with Honda to monitor the performance and grid integration of the Honda Smart Home. PG&E also...

In 2012, the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), Energy Institute initiated a project funded by the Emerging Technologies Program at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to retrofit existing residential structures through energy efficiency improvements and with ground source...

The goal of this project was to compare the capital costs of a Geothermal Central Utility Plant (CUP) to a Conventional CUP, estimate the energy cost savings, and determine the simple payback at a correctional facility development project in San Mateo County, California. This study was conducted to...

While electric water heaters are less commonplace in PG&E’s residential service territory than natural gas units, where they are used, they can represent a significant portion of a home’s electric demand (up to 5 kW). As a potentially large power user, electric water heaters are likely...

Project SummaryThe purpose of the study described in this report was to assess three examples of recent HPWHs through laboratory and field testing, and to provide energy performance data to the Integrated Demand-Side Management program. The scope of work included conducting laboratory...