The goal of the regional High Efficiency Commercial Unitary initiative is to change the market for packaged HVAC equipment and services for commercial and industrial facilities to one in which efficient HVAC systems, quality installation and efficiency-oriented maintenance are standard practice in the Northeast.

To learn more about the Commercial HVAC Initiative, browse the following sections:

Initiative Status
Initiative Goals
Initiative Activities

NEEP’s Unitary HVAC activities (staff and contractors) are funded by initiative sponsors and a grant from the EPA's ENERGY STAR Program

Contact Information: Jon Linn is NEEP Commercial Programs Manager. Call him at 207-338-9705, or send him email at jlinn@neep.org.

 

High Efficiency Commercial Unitary HVAC Initiative Status

Begun in 1999, this initiative promotes high efficiency unitary HVAC equipment and controls. Historically the initiative has operated via joint implementation of a common incentive structure and field support services. Through this model initiative sponsors have helped to pull into the Northeast a wider range of products that meet the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) Tier 2 specification. 

Cool Choice, the regional joint implementation model, implemented in New Jersey and New England, encouraged the installation of Tier 2 units when customers replace or install packaged HVAC systems up to 30 tons in capacity, including dual enthalpy economizer controls. Coordinated with the joint implementation model, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), NSTAR, Efficiency Vermont and Efficiency Maine each offered a similar program. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has also served the marketplace with a marketing and training program for HVAC contractors on Demand Control Ventilation for HVAC systems and an Advanced HVAC Diagnostics project for HVAC technicians. Together, these efforts have achieved a market share of at least 12 percent for Tier 2 equipment compared to all unitary HVAC equipment sales, and laid the groundwork to increase savings through best practices in equipment maintenance.

The success of this initiative to increase the market share of high efficiency equipment helped lead to the 2005 establishment of new federal appliance efficiency standard based on the Tier 2 standard beginning in 2010 – a tremendous step towards market transformation for high efficiency equipment.
In 2007, the initiative has seen a shift in which sponsors generally operate individual programs, often under the Cool Choice brand, but without the extent of joint incentive levels and support services as in the past. NEEP continues to coordinate and facilitate information-sharing. NEEP’s efforts in 2007, however, will be largely focused on bringing to the region the recommendations from a series of joint, regional research and evaluation projects that suggested the initiative and its sponsors turn their attention to joint, cooperative activities with upstream market actors such as distributors and manufacturers rather than the traditional target of end-use customers.

[Top of Page]

High Efficiency Commercial Unitary HVAC Goals

The goals of regional initiative activities in 2007 include:

• Significantly increase electric energy and demand savings from increased market share of new high efficient HVAC equipment in the Northeast.

• Research tools and program strategies to substantially improve the in-field energy performance of existing unitary HVAC equipment.

• Begin development of standards and program strategies to promote the availability and sales of advanced unitary HVAC equipment based on specifications that go beyond the new 2010 federal standard by keeping abreast of such activities on the west coast.

• Reflect in building energy code requirements market and federal adoption of high efficiency HVAC equipment.

[Top of Page]

High Efficiency Commercial Unitary HVAC Initiative Activities

Working collaboratively with sponsors, advisors and industry, NEEP will pursue the following activities:

Explore and develop co-promotion opportunities with manufacturers and major regional distributors of packaged HVAC equipment to significantly increase the market share of qualifying efficient equipment, as a complement to sponsor program outreach to customers and contractors. This will include facilitating and coordinating communications and activities with the HVAC industry as a follow-up to a 2006 HVAC industry charrette.

Coordinate Program Strategies: Through the existing working group of sponsors and otherwise, NEEP will coordinate initiative sponsor program strategies across the region including individual and, as applicable, joint program efforts. NEEP will explore opportunities and strategies to incorporate gas-pack rooftop heating into the initiative.  Finally, NEEP will also coordinate initiative activities with relevant national and regional efforts, including participation in conferences and other public forums. 

Strategic Development and Information Exchange: NEEP will coordinate initiative sponsor input to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) High Efficiency Commercial HVAC Committee to develop an advanced specification, including automated fault detection or other elements that assure improved energy performance, to create opportunities to increase energy and demand savings. NEEP will facilitate sponsor information exchange regarding sponsor pilots, programs and research to achieve cost-effective energy savings by improving the in-field energy performance of existing unitary HVAC equipment.

Coordination with Building Energy Codes and Appliance Standards: NEEP will inform initiative sponsors of opportunities and developments regarding regional and national building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards that affect the unitary HVAC equipment market. As appropriate, NEEP will coordinate initiative sponsors input to relevant forums and proceedings to further long-term initiative goals.  

[Top of Page]

Copyright © 2007 Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.
5 Militia Drive • Lexington, MA 02421
Tel 781-860-9177 • Fax 781-860-9178
www.neep.org • info@neep.org