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Dual-Fuel Domestic Hot Water Feasibility Study
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) contracted with Ecotope to conduct a feasibility study of domestic hot water systems that integrate commercial electric heat pump water heaters and natural gas water heaters, primarily in multifamily buildings. The study examined the technical feasibility, gas savings potential, market opportunity, design considerations, and regulatory requirements associated with these dual-fuel systems. …
Commercial + Industrial|Natural Gas -
Evaluation of the U.S. Test Procedure for Residential Clothes Dryers
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) contracted with Kannah Consulting to evaluate whether the U.S. Department of Energy’s current clothes dryer test procedure (Appendix D2 to 10 CFR Part 430) accurately predicts dryer energy use under real-world operating conditions. The study assessed 12 top-selling electric clothes dryers representing three efficiency groups: non-qualified, ENERGY STAR® qualified, and heat pump models. Each…
Residential -
End-Use Load Flexibility: Connected Water Heater Study
Since 2023 in Washington and 2025 in Oregon, state regulations have required electric storage water heaters with capacities of 40–120 gallons to include an EcoPort®, enabling direct communication with the water heater through the ANSI/CTA-2045 standard. As adoption of EcoPort-enabled water heaters increases, utilities have a growing opportunity to leverage these devices as flexible grid…
Residential -
Variable Speed Heat Pump Load Flexibility Modeling
Variable speed heat pumps (VSHP) and cold climate air source heat pumps (ccASHP) have gained increased attention for their potential to support utility end-use load flexibility programs while maintaining customer comfort. VSHPs can be programmed to respond to grid signals, adjusting unit energy consumption by varying the compressor and fan speeds. Very limited data are available to quantify VSHP…
Residential -
Recommendations for Adapting the TV Policy Approach for Computer Monitors and Digital Signage Displays
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) contracted with Pacific Crest Labs (PCL) to conduct a study on the energy performance of computer monitors and digital signage displays (DSDs). This study extends the regulatory and testing framework, originally developed for televisions, to arrive at a unified approach to regulating all three display types under common test…
Commercial + Industrial|Residential -
Gas High Efficiency DOAS Energy Savings Analysis
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is exploring the energy savings potential from gas high efficiency dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS) configurations in which the primary heating system for HVAC is a natural gas solution. This report analyzes the energy performance of conventional heating and ventilation approaches compared to high-efficiency system designs across a range…
Commercial + Industrial|Natural Gas -
2023 Residential Laundry Field Study
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) contracted with Kannah Consulting to conduct the 2023 Laundry Field Study, which supplements NEEA’s 2022 Residential Building Stock Assessment (RBSA). The report documents a field study designed to capture typical home laundry equipment characteristics, record consumers’ laundry processing behavior, and collect real-time clothes washer and dryer energy data from homes across the Northwest, deepening NEEA’s understanding of household energy use…
Residential -
Low-Load Efficient Heat Pump Investigation: 2020 – 2025 Summary Report
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA) Advanced Heat Pump program is working to transform the market for high efficiency residential heat pumps. A key focus for the program is improving product differentiation so consumers and industry professionals can easily identify systems that deliver cost-effective performance to make more informed purchase decisions. One important differentiator the…
Residential -
Gas-Fired Absorption Heat Pump: Hybrid System Approach Field Study
Stone Mountain Technologies Inc. (SMTI) has developed a residential-sized gas-fired absorption heat pump designed for broad residential and commercial applications. These prototype systems were tested in the Chicago region at one multifamily building and two single-family homes, either replacing or supplementing existing natural gas heating equipment. The multifamily demonstration, supported by a boiler manufacturer and…
Commercial + Industrial|Natural Gas|Residential -
Dual-Fuel Heat Pump Systems Analysis
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is exploring the potential of dual-fuel heat pumps for residential heating and cooling in the Northwest. To support this work, NEEA contracted with Larson Energy Research to develop a model that compares various technologies. The study used 2022 Residential Building Stock Assessment data to evaluate current and emerging systems,…
Natural Gas|Residential