Q3 2026 Emerging Technology Newsletter

The Q3 2026 Emerging Technology Newsletter showcases the product management team’s impactful work supporting the emerging technology program at NEEA, including:

• Locating new field test sites to study Luminaire Level Lighting Controls (LLLC) integration with HVAC control in small commercial buildings that lack a central building automation system. These field studies will help refine savings estimates and begin developing the technology as a load flexibility resource. System modeling will be conducted in parallel to help analyze technical potential of this emerging technology.
• Working with NEEA’s partners on the Hot Water Innovation Prize, utilities and other stakeholders to explore demonstrations and other market development opportunities.
  • Midea Wins Innovation Prize to Expand Access to Efficient Water Heating.
• Continuing research on digital display technology with a focus on commercial displays and monitors. This new phase of work will launch into a technology landscape assessment, examine key product features and include integrated system testing. This effort will help develop guidance on policy and test methodology for this product segment.
• Conducting field studies on:
  • Integrated dual fuel residential water heaters to assess user experience
  • Residential tri-mode heat pump to understand the current capability of controls
  • Gas high-efficiency dedicated outdoor air system to study system performance

NEEA staff scan for emerging technologies for all sectors and end uses. Please let us know if you have a product or research idea—we would love to hear from you by submitting your energy-efficient idea on our website or contacting any NEEA product managers with questions or suggestions on the organization’s emerging technology work.

NEEA’s emerging technology team also has several interesting Product Councils scheduled and is always looking for more topic ideas and presenters. Information on upcoming Product Councils is available on neea.org.

RECENT AND UPCOMING PRODUCT COUNCILS

• July 14, 2026 – HVAC Thermal Storage for Enhanced Heating & Cooling
• July 28, 2026 – Financing Market Transformation
• August 11, 2026 – Commercial Secondary Windows – A Solution for Existing Buildings
• September 22, 2026 – Lab Test Findings – Navien Residential Dual-Fuel Water Heater
• September 29, 2026 – A Design Tool for Early Carbon Assessment in Small-Scale Residential Buildings (DARA)

To view recordings from any past session, visit our Materials Library. To register for an upcoming session, visit our Event Calendar.