Catalyzing Mass Adoption of High-Efficiency Technologies in the Multifamily Housing Market

Lead Performer: International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology (ICAST) – Lakewood, CO
Partners:
-- Southwest Energy Efficiency Project – Boulder, CO
-- Energy Efficiency Business Coalition – Lakewood, CO
-- Rocky Mountain Power – Salt Lake City, UT
-- Carrier Corp. – Farmington, CT
-- Colorado Energy Office – Denver, CO
DOE Total Funding: $499,646
Cost Share: $167,418
Project Term: July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2023
Funding Type: Advanced Building Construction FOA Award Cooperative Agreement

Project Objective

Multifamily properties typically install HVAC and domestic hot water (DHW) systems to meet minimum code requirements, which often lack significant energy-efficiency targets. However, the high-efficiency HVAC and DHW technologies that are currently available are up to four times more efficient. To address this gap, ICAST will pilot test the installation of high-efficiency heat pump based HVAC and DHW systems to collect key data points on annual energy and cost savings. The project team will use the collected data to demonstrate the potential return on investment for building owners and promote broad demand for high-efficiency technologies throughout the multifamily market.

Project Impact

By driving very high-efficiency technology use in multifamily properties, this project will accelerate the introduction of combined high-efficiency HVAC and DHW systems that are not currently available in the U.S. ICAST estimates total energy savings of approximately 362 million kWh and total utility cost savings of about $540 million for every 100,000 such systems installed as a result of this project.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Charles Llenza, Charles.Llenza@ee.doe.gov  
Lead Performer: Ravi Malhotra, ICAST