ArticleHVAC Hits the Road: NEEA Staff and Stakeholders Visit Daikin Experience Center
Commercial + Industrial|Heating and Cooling|Residential
Earlier this summer, Daikin Comfort Technologies North America brought together staff from the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), utility staff, implementation partners, and employees from regional installation companies for a site visit to the Daikin Seattle Experience Center in Tukwila, Washington. The visit supported ongoing efforts for utility and NEEA staff to engage directly with the market and deepen collective understanding of high-efficiency HVAC technologies in real-world settings.
Hands-On Learning Opportunity for Utilities and NEEA Staff
Staff representing Chelan PUD, Clark PUD, Energy Trust of Oregon, Portland General Electric, Puget Sound Energy, and Seattle City Light participated in this unique, hands-on opportunity to see, hear, and feel how heat pumps operate in a controlled, consumer-facing environment.
The visit provided a valuable opportunity for the attendees to step into the field and interact directly with the equipment and systems they support through program design and market engagement. The event also created space for informal conversations and shared observations among participants, helping to deepen understanding of these technologies and their potential applications in regional energy efficiency programs.
Exploring Technology in Action
Opened in July 2024, the center was designed to educate consumers through hands-on demonstrations of heat pump systems. Attendees explored the center’s heat pump operation chamber, observed real-time performance metrics, and experienced the quiet operation and energy efficiency of modern heat pumps. The visit also provided insights into the refrigerant transition, inverter-driven systems, and Daikin’s cloud-based software for connected commissioning. These demonstrations added practical context to the group’s existing knowledge base.
“The Daikin Seattle Experience Center was created to bridge the gap between advanced HVAC technology and everyday understanding,” said Jonathan Moscatello, Utility Relations Manager at Daikin, who led the planning and execution of this event. “Having utility representatives, NEEA staff, and other market partners visit the center was incredibly valuable. It gave them a chance to experience the systems firsthand, ask questions, and consider how this space can support their efforts to educate consumers and trade allies. That kind of direct engagement is exactly what the center was built for.”
Collaboration as the Cornerstone of Market Transformation
Beyond the technical takeaways, the event underscored the importance of collaboration across the region’s energy efficiency ecosystem. The region’s utility programs are uniquely positioned to connect homeowners with resources like the Daikin Seattle Experience Center. By attending the event, utility representatives were able to evaluate the center’s potential as a tool for consumer education, and engagement and outreach strategies. This could include encouraging customers and installers to visit the center themselves to learn more about heat pump technology in a tangible, accessible way.
This type of collaboration is essential to successful Market Transformation. It requires the combined efforts of Northwest utilities, NEEA, manufacturers like Daikin, installers like The Heat Pump Store, and distributors such as Thermal Supply. Heat pumps are a nuanced technology that require strong manufacturer training, informed installer practices, and effective consumer education to achieve their energy savings potential. Events like this help align the market, build trust, and accelerate the adoption of efficient solutions across the region.
Looking Ahead: A Resource for the Region
While the center is primarily designed for homeowners, the visit proved highly relevant for professionals as well. The immersive environment offered a unique perspective on how these systems operate and how they are presented to consumers. These insights support NEEA’s efforts to align market actors and accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient solutions.
“This is the kind of regional consumer resource I’ve wished for since I first started as an HVAC program manager at NEEA,” said Suzi Asmus, senior program manager for NEEA’s residential HVAC programs. “Installer-focused training centers have taken off in the Northwest over the past 10 years, but the Daikin Seattle Experience Center is uniquely consumer-focused. It invites them in to see, hear, and feel how heat pumps work in real-world settings, making the technology more accessible and understandable.”
Learn more about NEEA’s Market Transformation programs and how the alliance engages with the market to deepen its collective understanding of high-efficiency technologies.