Bundle-Based Energy Efficiency Technology Solutions for California (BEETS for California)
Innovative energy efficiency bundles at a local government building.
Willdan Energy Solutions
Recipient
Anaheim, CA
Recipient Location
34th
Senate District
68th
Assembly District
$3,985,111
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project is complete and consisted of three technology “bundles,” each of which demonstrated energy savings in some of the highest energy-consuming areas: chilled water plants, office and exterior spaces, and laboratory/critical environments. The existing chilled water plant was entirely replaced and now uses low global warming potential refrigerant in high-efficiency chillers, using an advanced automation system. A combination lighting/HVAC retrofit was conducted in the office space, which increased the level of zone control by occupancy. In the laboratory, constant-volume ventilation was converted to variable volume, and lighting is now powered with DC power from an existing solar photovoltaic installation.
The Issue
Much of California's existing buildings stock is old and inefficient. An estimated 50% of the state's existing buildings were built before California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards went into effect in 1978. Commercial facilities consume 37% of the state's electricity, more than any other sector. Yet there remains significant energy reduction potential for this sector. Adoption of comprehensive energy efficiency packages has been limited. Market barriers such as lack of stakeholder knowledge, fear of early adoption, and the high cost of emerging technologies means significant energy savings opportunities remain.
Project Innovation
This project demonstrates three innovative bundles of pre-commercial technologies. The technology bundles were strategically developed through a systems-level approach to address the most energy-intensive areas in commercial buildings. These include: (1) Chilled Water Plants: Optimized all-variable-speed chilled-water (CHW) plants utilizing alternative refrigerant chillers. (2) Office and Exterior Space LED fixtures with integrated advanced controls, advanced building management system (BMS), and plug load controls controllable for demand response (DR), and lastly (3) Advanced laboratory ventilation, fume hood exhaust, and direct current (DC) lighting systems.
Project Benefits
The demonstration project offers an innovative approach applicable to a range of commercial buildings through packages of energy-efficiency measures. This strategy will accelerate adoption of energy savings technologies, contributing to reaching the state's energy efficiency and GHG reduction goals. It is projected that these technologies will reduce commercial building energy consumption by 20% annually.
Affordability
Energy savings achieved through implementation of these technologies could generate cost savings for building owners and operators. It is projected that these technologies will save an estimated 20% of building energy consumption. Future adopters will benefit from lower costs associated with economies of scale as production increases.
Environmental Sustainability
In addition to GHG emission (CO2) reductions associated with the energy savings of the project, the project includes chillers that utilize low global warming potential (GWP) alternative refrigerant that contain no stratospheric ozone depletion compounds. It also supports the California Air Resources Board target to reduce short lived climate pollutants.
Key Project Members
Gwen Strickland
Subrecipients
ASWB Engineering
Aris Wind
EMCOR
Goss Engineering, Inc.
Match Partners
Trane U.S., Inc.
ASWB Engineering
Willdan Energy Solutions
Aris Wind
