California Energy Product Evaluation Hub

Building Decarbonization Smart Industry and Agriculture Precision Irrigation Plug Loads Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Electric Heat Pumps Advanced Window Technologies

Western Cooling Efficiency Center - UC Davis

Recipient

Davis, CA

Recipient Location

3rd

Senate District

4th

Assembly District

beenhere

$6,836,061

Amount Spent

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Active

Project Status

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Project Update

2022-2023 Update
The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub website currently contains evaluations for heat pumps, window films, carbon dioxide sensors, demand control ventilation controls, personal comfort systems, advanced power strips and smart plugs. Product testing and populating the website with information will continue into 2024. Dissemination efforts will be ramped up over the next 18 months. The Product Evaluation webpage is available at: https://energyproductevaluations.org/

2021 Update
In 2021, the recipient continued with product testing, including the Phase 1 and Phase 2 product categories. A key highlight from this past year has been the soft launch of the Cal-EPE Hub website. The website currently features results for plug loads and CO2 sensor products. In 2022 the project team looks to wrap up some of the Phase 2 product testing, and to continue to update the Hub website with completed results for other technologies as they become available. The team will also work to begin on their Phase 3 evaluations, which is expected to include Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment and Lighting.

The Issue

Large customers responsible for procurement contracting are often times overwhelmed by the many choices and uncertainties surrounding advanced distributed energy resource (DER) technologies. New technologies entering the marketplace often lack rigorous, real-world evaluations that prioritize customer needs, leaving customers without pertinent details required to make better, more informed purchase decisions. This can add significant time and costs to the procurement process and deter customers from pursuing advanced DER solutions.

Project Innovation

This project will develop the California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub to conduct and disseminate evaluations of advanced DER products relevant to large commercial and institutional customers through a web-based buyer's guide. To accomplish this, the recipient will: (1) determine Cal-EPE Hub user (i.e. large commercial and institutional customers) needs; (2) develop a list of product categories to evaluate based on user needs; (3) develop evaluation guidelines and methodologies; (4) acquire (through purchase or donation) and evaluate products from product categories; and (5) develop a web-based Buyer's Guide, which will contain the results of product evaluations and related information and documentation.

Project Benefits

The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will increase the adoption of advanced DER technology products in the marketplace by disseminating reliable and independent product evaluations to large commercial and institutional customers, through a web-based buyer's guide, which will help these customers more confidently select the DER technology they require with their procurement process.

Consumer Appeal

The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will increase consumer confidence that the DER technology solutions they are procuring are "best-in-class".

Affordability

The California Energy Product Evaluation (Cal-EPE) Hub will reduce vendor noise that can add significant time and cost to procurement of DER solutions.

Key Project Members

Theresa Pistochini

Engineering Manager

Subrecipients

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Berkeley campus

Sheet Metal Workers 104 & Bay Area Industry Training Fund

Collaborative for High Performance Schools

Local Government Commission

Cohen Ventures, Inc. dba Energy Solutions

Logical Inc.

Match Partners