During the past quarter, we saw significant progress made on state policies for connected water heaters. This has been an area of considerable confusion regarding the details of each state’s requirements. Staff from NEEA, Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and Portland General Electric (PGE) conducted technical assessments of the different approaches, and in the end Washington, Oregon and California are on a path to similar requirements for connected water heaters. The adoption of a standard approach to connecting water heaters increases the value of these appliances for energy storage and demand response.
A new project was started last quarter to assess the performance of paired washer and dryer appliances. Evidence from past research on washers and dryers, as individual appliances, suggests there are additional savings available for washers and dryers that have been paired by the manufacturers. This research will help determine the extent of the savings and if there is a benefit to rating products as a pair.
Finally, COVID-19 is resulting in robust conversations about how to lower infectious risk in commercial buildings. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has established an Epidemic Task Force to provide guidance on preparing buildings to resume occupancy. NEEA staff are tracking these developments in HVAC and lighting and the potential energy impact.
Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions. We’d love to hear from you.
~ Mark Rehley, Sr. Manager ~
