2008 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry

---

Informal Sessions Description

Additional Informal Sessions may be organized on-site during the Summer Study.

---

Maximizing Energy Savings with Comprehensive Whole House Performance Programs

Robert Mowris, Ean Jones and Peter Hoffman

Thursday, August 21
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Energy efficiency programs have historically focused on specific end uses or measures without consideration for how end uses and measures interact and affect whole house performance. This informal session will discuss comprehensive whole house performance programs and how these programs can be used to maximize energy and peak demand savings. Evaluation results will be provided for a comprehensive whole house attic insulation program implemented in the PG&E service area under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. The program installed 3.56 million square feet of attic insulation and 78,000 energy efficiency measures at 6,600 residential customer sites and achieved a 50% attic insulation penetration rate which is 5.5 times greater than the average 9% attic insulation penetration rate for California's Low-Income Energy Efficiency programs. The program included lighting, water heating, space cooling and space heating measures to reduce total energy use per home by 15 to 25%. This session will explore the benefits of comprehensive programs to maximize energy efficiency savings. Discussion topics will include:

• How do comprehensive whole house performance programs maximize energy savings compared to end-use specific or measure-specific programs?
• What level of verification is required to ensure comprehensive measures are properly installed?
• What factors have encouraged/discouraged policymakers, program administrators, and implementers to pursue comprehensive programs that include lighting, water heating, attic insulation, cool attics, duct sealing, AC tune-ups, and/or reduced cooling equipment capacity?
• What additional changes are recommended to remove barriers and encourage widespread implementation of comprehensive whole house performance programs?
• Can renewable energy such as solar water heating or solar electric systems be included within comprehensive whole house performance programs?
• Which programs and policies have been most successful in promoting innovative comprehensive whole house cool attic insulation programs?  

For more information, contact:

Robert Mowris
Verified, Inc.
e-mail: robert.mowris@verified-rca.com

Ean Jones
Verified, Inc.
e-mail: ean.jones@verified-rca.com

Peter Hoffman
BO Enterprises, Inc.
e-mail: adiff@aol.com

Top of Page