Low-GWP Mechanical Modules for Rapid Deployment Project (LG-MM)
The project is targeting rapid deployment through pre-fabricated and packaged end uses.
Association for Energy Affordability
Recipient
Emeryville, CA
Recipient Location
9th
Senate District
15th
Assembly District
$1,133,476
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The team continued to coordinate with the REALIZE research team at the Southern California demonstration site. At the second demonstration site, in Central California the Villara AquaThermAire systems were installed. The Team continues to work on project coordination, data collection, and M&V troubleshooting.
The project team determined that the R32 Systemair Genius module would not be feasible for demonstration. However, the Team continues to keep in touch with Systemair on potential resolutions to Genius unit issues to troubleshoot the performance issues.
The Issue
Significant advances in the retrofit market are needed to reach California's building decarbonization goal, there is a strong need for innovative emerging HVAC and Hot water technologies in the retrofit market. The decarbonization of California’s building sector has fostered the need for demonstration and design modifications that can help to adopt these solutions. and become commercially available.
Project Innovation
To address a critical gap in the US market, the team will develop and demonstrate that there is a market for mechanical modules using a refrigerant under 750 GWP for multifamily retrofits in California. The field tests will serve as a proof of concept to manufacturers, potential fabricators, and technology startups. The mechanical modules will include heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), domestic hot water, and real time energy use monitoring, control and feedback for multifamily buildings. The compact, lightweight, packages will be designed to be mass produced offsite and installed quickly.
Project Benefits
The project develops at least 3 unique, low GWP heating, ventilation and air conditioning prototypes for multifamily buildings in California. This will serve as an example to American manufacturers, potential fabricators, and technology startups for the retrofit industry.
Affordability
The annual energy savings are estimated to reduce utility bills by $80-$155 per year per apartment. If all 6 million single family homes with natural gas space and water heating and 1.6 million apartments with natural gas space and water heating installed a system, it could result in an estimated $600 million or more savings in customer utility bill savings per year.
Safety
The conversion from natural gas to electric will reduce gas piping and infrastructure which could result in improved safety,as well as reduced risk of indoor air quality hazards.
Key Project Members
Andrew Brooks
Subrecipients
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Rocky Mountain Institute
SmithGroup
Emanant Systems, LLC
Match Partners
SystemAir
