Cost-Effective Technologies and Strategies to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Emissions of Direct Heating Equipment in California with Health Benefits
Cost-Effective Technologies and Strategies to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Emissions of Direct Heating Equipment in California with Health Benefits
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Recipient
Berkeley, CA
Recipient Location
9th
Senate District
14th
Assembly District
$1,716,232
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2024, the project team accomplished the following milestones:
1. Calibrated a survey of CA households to accurately reflect household distributions in the state, and analyze survey results; 2. Completed a survey of direct heating equipment (DHE) market actors in CA and summarized main findings; 3. Installed monitoring equipment in 10 homes and collected data for ~7-8 months; 4. Evaluated four high-efficiency DHE models in LBNL's combustion laboratory.
The Issue
Installation of natural gas, ductless, inefficient direct heating equipment (DHE) has adverse energy, economic, environmental, and health implications. Inefficient heaters cause increased energy costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. They pose safety and health risks by using combustion air directly from the living space with inadequate ventilation of combustion products. An estimated 9% of California households rely on DHE for heating needs. The installation, performance, and operational characteristics of DHE remains poorly understood. This is a barrier for the design of targeted policies that avoids the adverse impacts of this equipment.
Project Innovation
This project will develop cost-effective strategies to increase adoption of high-efficiency direct heating equipment (DHE) in California, which will reduce natural gas use, environmental impacts, and safety and health risks from this equipment. Newer models of DHE include advanced technologies such as: electronic ignition, improved burners, improved heat exchanger designs, induced draft designs, condensing heat exchanger units, direct vent or sealed combustion, two-stage or modulating controls, improved air distribution, and improved controls. The team will develop strategies based on an assessment of the DHE market in California, laboratory and field evaluations, and policy and program modeling and analysis.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The project develops cost-effective strategies to increase the adoption of higher-efficiency DHE in the state and contribute to reducing natural gas use and GHG emissions to meet the state's carbon and efficiency goals along with strategies to reduce environmental impacts and safety and health risks. The DHE will be evaluated in 12 households.
Affordability
Improvements in the energy efficiency of DHEs will result in lower energy costs. This will benefit households in low-income and disadvantaged communities where a large fraction of DHE is installed.
Safety
There is potential to reduce safety risks posed by old and inefficient DHE models currently operating in California.
Key Project Members
Helcio Blum
Sarah Price
Subrecipients
TRC Engineers, Inc.
Schlesinger Group
Match Partners
Senseware Inc.
