Customer-Centric Approach to Scaling IDSM Retrofits

Retrofitting Multifamily Properties for Sustainable and Persistence Savings

Building Decarbonization Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Electric Heat Pumps

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.

Recipient

Palo Alto, CA

Recipient Location

13th

Senate District

24th

Assembly District

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$3,883,487

Amount Spent

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Active

Project Status

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Project Update

The project completed in June 2021 and a final report is pending publication. The key outcomes of the project include achieving deep decarbonization in 140 homes through comprehensive rehabilitation through energy efficiency and electrification measures. The team also identified significant barriers to the electrification of existing buildings such as electrical panel limitations. To solve this, the team evaluated the first-of-its-kind implementation of emerging technologies such as a 120V space conditioning heat pump for electrification, achieved triple net benefits of 40% GHG reduction, tenant and owner bill reduction with indoor health benefits, and developed financing scenarios with tax credit refinance and programmatic coordination to scale deep retrofits in affordable housing.

The Issue

The California retrofit goal is to reduce 50% of existing buildings' energy use by 2030. Disadvantaged, low-income, multifamily communities are one of the most important retrofit targets, yet have no cost-effective pathways to achieve these goals. Multifamily housing is a very difficult market segment to address due to split incentives as retrofits are the responsibility of a property owner but he/she does not pay the energy bill. Limited technical and financial knowledge for owners also plays a role.

Project Innovation

This project developed and demonstrated an approach to scale residential retrofits for disadvantaged communities that will focus on customer-centric solutions. This project develops and demonstrates an innovative approach, focusing on energy efficient integrated demand side management (IDSM) retrofit packages that are non-intrusive or do not displace occupants for long periods of time. To achieve full electrification, the team demonstrated a 120V heat pump for space conditioning and a CO2 refrigerant heat pump for water heating. The measures showed a greenhouse gas reduction of 40%.

Project Goals

Demonstrate how retrofits can be scaled with an “occupant first” approach to help drive down costs

Develop and demonstrate retrofits that can be minimally intrusive to occupants, while maximizing energy efficiency benefit

Establish measurement and verification (M&V) models that can lead to “pay-for-performance”

Demonstrate how various types of distributed energy resources can be integrated with the electric grid

Project Benefits

The project provides new data, analysis, and designs for cost-effective integrated demand side management retrofits that addresses some of the infrastructure challenges with existing multifamily buildings. The recipient has identified advanced technologies associated with HVAC and water heating that hope to overcome the infrastructure challenges, along with other innovations including smart thermostats, plug load controls, and LED lighting. The project results and monitoring and verification data will determine whether these portfolio of projects can achieve the goal of 30-40% reduction in energy use while minimizing tenant disruptions.

Affordability

The 120V heat pump solution reduces the cost of electrical panel upgrade which can cost up to $10,000 per unit.

Environmental Sustainability

This project has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 40% due to the reduction or elimination of natural gas use for space heating, water heating, and cooking.

Consumer Appeal

The 120V heat pump for space conditioning provides an inexpensive solution that is small and does not require an outdoor unit or upgraded electrical panel

Equity

The retrofits demonstrated in this project were in low-income disadvantaged communities. The success of further adoption of these technologies will benefit more communities like these through comfroability and costs.