Market Facilitation for Accelerated Adoption of Climate Appropriate HVAC

Investigate problems and assess the feasibility of proposed solutions for distribution and sales of HVAC energy efficiency products. Observe and interview key stakeholders involved, including decision-makers and facilities personnel. Develop specifications and best practices for creating a market facilitation strategy to encourage rapid adoption of emerging technologies. Document best practices in a manual which shall include strategies to address market readiness, stakeholder coordination, alignment of incentives, cost effectiveness, customer segmentation and demonstration of value, sales and purchase decision-making processes, customer resistance to adoption (e.g., water use), and persistence of savings.

Many stakeholder groups in the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry have negative views of Evaporative Cooling Technologies (ECTs), due to past (and some current) low-quality products. Prior WCEC research on market barriers to adopting climate-appropriate HVAC technologies identified a lack of good information and communication about current high-quality evaporative cooling products as significant challenges (Outcault, et. al., 2015).