The goal of the high efficiency residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) initiative is to permanently change the residential HVAC market in the Northeast to one in which most consumers choose efficient equipment and systems, and most service providers use “quality installation” practices when installing and servicing HVAC equipment and systems.
For more information about the Residential High Efficiency HVAC Initiative, browse the following sections:
- Initiative Status
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- Initiative Goals
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- Initiative Activities
NEEP’s activities (staff, advisors and facilitation services) are funded by initiative sponsors and a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Program.
For more information contact Melissa Lucas, NEEP's Residential Programs Manager (781-860-9177, ext. 15).
Residential High Efficiency HVAC Initiative Status
Beginning in 1999, NEEP has continuously managed research and facilitated information exchange between initiative sponsors about strategies to increase energy efficiency in the rapidly expanding market for central air conditioning systems in new and existing homes in northeast states, and in associated opportunities to increase energy efficiency in gas-fired home heating systems.
Through this exchange, NEEP coordinates program efforts of initiative sponsors to encourage contractor recommendation and customer selection of high efficiency central heating and cooling equipment with a particular focus on best practices for quality installation of central air conditioning systems – a major opportunity to reduce inefficiency in electric usage, especially at summer peak periods. In 2003, initiative sponsor program efforts expanded to promote high efficiency furnace fans including coordination with gas efficiency programs that promote ENERGY STAR boilers and furnaces, and with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Homes (new construction).
Coordination with the ENERGY STAR program is central to the overall effort. On behalf of sponsors, NEEP facilitates recommendations to the ENERGY STAR program to update product specifications, and coordinates the regional initiative with other national efforts. Coordination with the HVAC industry is also a key element of the regional initiative. NEEP convenes regional meetings of initiative sponsors with HVAC equipment manufacturers, distributors and trade associations (i.e., contractors) to provide information about program plans and to encourage industry involvement. NEEP participates in industry events to support development and adoption of quality installation protocols, keeping initiative sponsors informed of relevant developments and opportunities for collaboration.
In 2004-2006, the initiative included coordination with STAC-funded research to address multi-fuel efficiency opportunities in all types of residential HVAC equipment (heating and cooling), including in-field research to assess the savings impacts of high efficiency equipment and best practices; development of duct-sealing protocols and marketing plans; market analysis; and development of a regional market transformation strategy. Results included a recommended Regional Residential HVAC Market Transformation strategy.
NEEP coordinates the initiative with developments in state and national building energy codes and appliance standards with a particular focus on the development of updated appliance efficiency standards for residential boilers and furnaces.
In 2007 and beyond NEEP is poised to lead the initiative to assemble the various research, development and relationship-building activities into a broad, regional platform sponsors will share to execute cooperative activities with upstream market actors and to define regionally accepted quality installation and verification protocols. NEEP will also continue to coordinate sponsor program outreach to and education for customers and contractors.
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Residential High Efficiency HVAC Initiative Goals
- Increase electric energy and demand savings from definition of regionally consistent quality installation practices, or elements thereof, and introduction of them to the market.
- Increase gas and electric energy and demand savings by increasing the market share of heating and cooling equipment that meets or exceed the ENERGY STAR specification.
- Reflect the needs and interests of the Northeast in updated HVAC technical specifications set by federal programs (ENERGY STAR and Department of Energy appliance efficiency standards), noting in particular the decreasing incremental energy savings associated with equipment alone as baseline efficiencies continue to rise.
- Identify new opportunities and program strategies for cost-effective energy savings in residential HVAC including duct sealing, ductless mini-splits, water-heating and oil-fired heating systems.
New for 2007
Working in conjunction with sponsors, the EPA and other organizations, NEEP will pursue:
- Increased opportunities for the HVAC industry to co-promote high efficiency in HVAC systems, potentially including quality installation protocols and consumer awareness efforts.
- Coordination with the High Efficiency Commercial Unitary HVAC initiative on HVAC industry outreach and co-promotions.
- Increased coordination with Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (or other whole house retrofit programs), ENERGY STAR Homes (or other residential new construction programs) and, with respect to room air conditioners, the Retail Products initiative.
- Development of strategies on how Residential HVAC systems and room air conditioning can contribute to peak reduction in the Northeast.
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Residential High Efficiency HVAC Initiative Activities
NEEP will achieve these initiative goals through:
Coordinated Program Strategies: Through the existing working group and otherwise, NEEP will track program activities across the region, and convene and facilitate quarterly meetings of initiative sponsors to coordinate program strategies and activities to promote high efficiency HVAC equipment and systems regionally and in conjunction with national efforts. NEEP will also facilitate initiative sponsor development of regionally coordinated co-promotions with HVAC industry, with a focus on quality installation and verification and consumer education. NEEP will encourage consistency and regional coordination among the electric and gas efficiency programs (residential HVAC programs, Home Performance with ENERGY STAR/retrofit programs, commercial unitary HVAC programs, and ENERGY STAR Homes/new construction programs) to maximize market response and impacts.
Strategic Development and Information Exchange: NEEP will facilitate initiative sponsor consideration of STAC and Residential HVAC Market Transformation Plan recommendations to increase energy and demand savings, and to achieve market transformation goals. In addition, NEEP will work with sponsors to identify and assess new technology and program opportunities to inform revisions to this plan. Likely areas for possible enhancement of activities include duct sealing/whole house programming, coordination with new construction programs, early retirement efforts and ductless mini-splits.NEEP will use its web site for a central location for information sharing among programs.
Regional Quality Installation Protocol and/or Verification Mechanism: Informed by State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC) research, initiative sponsor programs, on-going national developments (e.g., ENERGY STAR, Air Conditioning Contractors of America and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency HVAC Committee discussions), NEEP will facilitate regional definition and initial implementation of a common quality installation protocol, including development of third-party installation verification mechanisms. This will include participation in development of an ENERGY STAR specification for quality installations and monitoring ACCA committee developments.
