ET Summit 2024 Program

OPENING RECEPTION

Join us for hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and conversation.

WELCOME

Welcome by Jose Bodipo-Memba, Chief Diversity Officer, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

OPENING PANEL: How to Accelerate Decarbonization in California, with AHRI, CARB, CEC, and DOE

Accelerating decarbonization in California requires the close coordination of policy design and program design around market realities. Our panelists share their organization's approach to setting aggressive yet achievable objectives, how they coordinate with one another, and the role of utility customer programs. They will also discuss how well the market has responded with regards to both anticipated and unanticipated market challenges, and how these challenges may be met. 

Moderated by Brian Stonerock, Director, Advanced Energy Solutions, Southern California Edison

Speakers:

Samantha Slater, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute

Jennifer Gress, Chief, Sustainable Transportation and Communities Division, California Air Resources Board

J. Andrew McAllister, PhD, Commissioner, California Energy Commission

Ram Narayanamurthy, Deputy Director, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

A Balancing Act: The Precision and Power of Smart Control Tech

The integration of smart control technologies offers a promising solution to transform grid impacts into valuable grid resources. By leveraging behind-the-meter resources and home energy management systems, utilities can optimize energy consumption patterns, enhance grid stability, and promote sustainable energy usage. However, understanding customer behavior, receptiveness, and the impact of automated systems remains a challenge. Learn about studies that address these challenges by monitoring customer behaviors, evaluating load management capabilities, and assessing the effectiveness of emissions reduction messaging. We will share lessons from coordinating demand response events across different end-use measures.

Moderated by Mark Martinez, Senior Portfolio Manager, Southern California Edison

Speakers:

Albert Chiu, Expert Product Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

"DRET–Residential and SMB Load Management Studies"

Home Energy Management system provides the functions and capabilities for residential customers to manage their energy use by way of behavior changes and/or automation through different energy end uses. The study will assess residential customers’ receptiveness and ability to perform load management with the support of a load management app, which serves as a home energy management system.

Jeff Barnes, Emerging Technologies Project Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

"Virtual Power Plant Project"

The presentation will feature San Diego Gas & Electric’s Virtual Power Plant (VPP) project that helped strengthen community resilience and electric reliability in a vulnerable community while showcasing the load management benefits of behind-the-meter technologies. The study tested the real-world impact of signaling distributed energy resources (DER) to benefit the grid in a traditionally hard-to-reach community. SDG&E will provide a comprehensive summary of data analysis, observations, customer insights, and lessons learned from this project.

Avoiding Panel Upsizing: Who Needs an Upgrade, Really?

As we transition to all-electric appliances and embrace electric vehicles, concerns arise about the capacity of residents’ existing electrical panels to handle the additional loads. While some homes may achieve full electrification without panel upgrades, others might need to upsize their panels to meet increased electrical demands. So, who needs an upgrade and who doesn’t? Join our panel discussion to explore pathways to electrification and discover tools that support Californians in this journey.

Moderated by Emma Tome, Air Pollution Specialist, Building Decarbonization and Innovative Strategies, California Air Resources Board

Speakers:

Jenny Low, Senior Program Manager, Build It Green

"The POWER Group’s Overview and Key Projects"

An introduction to the POWER Group’s history, members, past and upcoming projects, and its impact on building relationships and problem-solving for the electrical panel capacity issue within residential electrification.

Eric Daniel Fournier, PhD, Research Director, California Center for Sustainable Communities, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles

"On Panel Sizes and Electrification: Where Engineering Logic Meets Behavioral Psychology"

Michael Mutmansky, Associate Director, TRC (CalNEXT)

"Residential Electrical Service Upgrade Decision Tools: Individual Home Calculation Tool  and Building Stock Assessment Tool"

This is a brief discussion of the purpose and results of a CalNEXT project focused on developing information and software tools to assist contractors and homeowners with the home electrification process and also to collect the potential market impacts of electrification for the existing building stock to aid in program and utility planning purposes.

Gas Heat Pumps

Certain low-carbon gas technologies may provide a bridge for customers that don’t initially electrify. In this session, we will explore three applications of gas absorption heat pumps (GAHP) that could offer significant short-term natural gas and emissions savings using a zero GWP refrigerant. 

Moderated by Merry Sweeney, Project Manager II, Emerging Technologies, San Diego Gas & Electric

Speakers:

Cristalle Mauleon, PE, Engineering Manager, Lincus Inc. (GET)

"Gas Absorption Heat Pumps (GAHPs) in DHW Systems"

This project is a part of a multiphase project for gas-fired heat pump water heaters and combination systems. In this presentation, experiences with integrating a GAHP with an existing gas-fired boiler hot water system will be discussed, along with measured savings.

Madeline Talebi, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

"Heat Pump Performance in California: Fuel-Fired Water Heating Applications"

This study aims to characterize the performance of a GAHP unit to sufficiently populate model inputs in EnergyPlus. The testing will consist of both static performance mapping and transient performance mapping. At the completion of the testing, curve fits will be developed to implement them in the Energy Plus GAHP model.

Saurabh Shekhadar, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

"Pool Heating Analysis"

The objective of this study is to examine the energy savings, benefits, and drawbacks of various types of pool heating equipment. We will conduct an hourly energy, cost, and GHG emissions analysis of gas pool heaters, condensing gas pool heaters, GAHP pool heaters, gas pool heaters supplemented by solar thermal heating, and hybrid electric/heat pump pool heaters.

Low-GWP Refrigerants: New Equipment vs. Retrofits

Current regulations in California require the use of <750 GWP refrigerants in new space conditioning equipment through 2030. Join our discussion on solutions to help customers meet this criteria and on what types of equipment and ultra-low GWP refrigerants are being evaluated for after 2030. Presentations in this session will be on examples of these new systems regarding efficiency and advanced controls.

Moderated by Paul Delaney, Facilitator, ETCC

Speakers:

Ron Domitrovic, PhD, Program Manager, Customer Technologies, EPRI

"Natural Refrigerant Research at EPRI"

Doug Davenport, CEO, ProspectSV

"Technology Demonstrations to Expand the Potential of CO2 Heat Pumps"

The presenter will talk about how ProspectSV is working on two critical technology demonstrations to expand the potential of Flow Environmental Systems’ ANSWR CO2 heat pump for commercial buildings and cold storage systems.

Sean Jarvie, Chief Technology Officer, Flow Environmental Systems

"Decarbonizing Heating and Cooling with CO2 Heat Pumps"

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Modeling and Modulating: Innovative Solutions Enabling Residential/Commercial Customer Flexibility

How might we inform and motivate customers to participate in load management through smart technology? Join us to learn how (1) advanced communication devices and remote activation of demand response resources can provide customer savings and (2) smart panels can enable electrification and load management strategies. We will discuss a laboratory investigation into the added capabilities of smart panels and a software platform that enabled dynamic rate management while educating customers about energy savings, rebates, energy efficiency programs, and California “Flex Alerts.” Solutions will be presented for creating an intuitive interface between the utility, smart appliances, and residents, making it possible for customers to optimize their energy use through messaging, analytics, and end-device integration.

Moderated by Ivy So, Program Manager, APTIM

Speakers:

Marco Pritoni, Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Mark Martinez, Senior Portfolio Manager, Southern California Edison

"A Design, Development, and Testing Framework for Demand Flexible Technologies"

The speaker will present an innovative Design, Development, and Testing Framework for Demand Flexible Technologies. This approach combines LBNL’s advanced integrated building and grid technologies testbed, Flexlab, with energy modeling to test demand flexible technologies in a realistic and scalable way. The framework is demonstrated using a novel control system for small commercial heat pumps, which optimizes energy use based on owner/occupant preferences and responds to dynamic pricing (such as MIDAS) and demand response signals. Utilities can adopt this approach to test new demand flexible technologies, while developers can use it to de-risk and refine their innovations.

Albert Chiu, Expert Product Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

"Smart Electric Panel Lab Test Project"

In recent years, electric panel manufacturers have started to add connected technologies to traditional electric panels. These technologies include integrated or add-on software controls that provide customers with additional information and capabilities beyond a traditional panel. The objectives of the study include: Evaluate smart panel installation difficulty, evaluate smart panel customer app functions, evaluate smart panel utility app functions, and validate that the smart panel is safe to operate for field demonstrations.

Jeff Barnes, Emerging Technologies Project Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

"Smart Panel Demand Response and Load Management Study"

The speaker will provide an overview of San Diego Gas & Electric’s recently initiated Residential Smart Panel Field Demonstrations Study, which will examine the potential demand shed and shift potential of multiple types of smart panels during demand response events. The project leverages a field demonstration study that was initiated by CalNEXT, the Statewide Energy Efficiency Emerging Technologies program. The study seeks to identify the load management benefits with dynamically controlling critical home loads and seeks to understand how smart panels can integrate with rooftop solar and battery storage systems. The research aims to show whether a smart panel’s control of residential circuits is robust enough to respond to changing grid conditions and support load management objectives.

Solutions for Optimizing Electrical Panel Usage and Avoiding Unnecessary Panel Upsizing

Not all households will need panel upgrades in order to electrify. Join our panel of distinguished researchers who will discuss solutions that can provide a pathway to electrification without upsizing existing electrical panels. Our panel will showcase some existing solutions with deep dives on smart panels and circuit splitters. 

Moderated by Yu Hou, Supervisor, California Energy Commission

Speakers:

Rebecca Rothman, Manager, Consulting, VEIC (CalNEXT)

"Household Electric Infrastructure Upsize Alternatives for Electrification: Market Study"

Xin Jin, Group Manager, Grid Edge and Advanced Controls, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

"Affordable and Equitable Residential Electrification Under Electrical Panel Constraints"

In a project funded by the US Department of Energy Building Technologies Office, researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have been working closely to develop publicly available resources and tools to characterize residential electrical panel capacity constraints and advance affordable and equitable solutions to electrify the US housing stock under electrical panel constraints. This presentation will provide a preview of the latest outcomes from our project, including characterization of the electrical panel capacity and breaker space in the US housing stock, least cost solutions for home electrification without panel upsizing, and a novel concept of digital capacity management that has potential to become a future standard for behind-the-meter load management in homes with limited panel capacities.

Spencer Harrison, CEO/Co-Founder, NeoCharge

"Enabling Home Electrification and EV Charging Across the US without Panel Upgrades"

This presentation will showcase NeoCharge’s innovative approach to accelerating home electrification without the need for costly panel upgrades. We’ll introduce the Smart Splitter, the first UL-certified smart splitter that allows homeowners and renters to safely share existing 240V outlets between EVs and appliances, effectively enabling Level 2 EV charging and 240V appliance use without expensive rewiring. The Smart Splitter’s intelligent auto-switching technology optimizes power distribution, while the complementary NeoCharge app provides users with deep insights into their EV energy usage, smart scheduling capabilities, and grid services support. This combination can reduce charging costs by up to 70%. Together, these solutions not only make EV adoption more accessible and affordable for residents but also support grid stability and reduce peak energy demand.

Dual-Fuel/Hybrid Systems for Residential Heating

Dual-fuel systems allow the flexible use of either electric heat pumps or gas-fired furnaces to provide heating for residences. But are they a lower-cost option for reducing emissions without full electrification? Join us as we analyze the feasibility of utilizing dual-fuel heating sources for short-term reductions in natural gas use and emissions in California. 

Moderated by Eric Kirchhoff, Manager, Clean EE Strategies, SoCalGas

Speakers: 

Saurabh Shekhadar, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET), and Cristalle Mauleon, PE, Engineering Manager, Lincus Inc. (GET)

"Energy Modeling and Analysis of Dual Fuel Heating Systems in Single-Family Homes"

The study will model different dual-fuel heating scenarios using DEER EnergyPlus single-family prototype models built around several parameters such as switchover temperature between natural gas and electric, emission factors, outside air temperatures, and utility rates. A combination of EnergyPlus simulations, spreadsheet analysis, and SME interviews will be used. This proposed study will guide utilities, end users, and manufacturers to determine how the dual-fuel heating system can maximize both energy savings and carbon emissions reductions in the near term.

Jared Landsman, Senior Managing Consultant, E3

"Hybrid Electrification in California: Dual-Fuel/Hybrid Systems for Residential Heating Session"

Building electrification has proven itself to be a critical pathway for California to achieve its GHG reduction goals. As heat pump adoption rises, building electrification will pose new and unforeseen challenges for the state. One potential solution to these challenges is the use of “hybrid” heat pumps, which can mitigate peak electric load impact, reduce upfront costs, alleviate customer bill effects, and ease equity concerns. This presentation aims to debunk the myths around hybrid electrification, identify where and when this strategy makes sense, and provide an in-depth evaluation of its role in achieving long-term decarbonization.

Low-GWP Refrigerants: Positive Transitions for Decarbonization

The move toward lower-GWP refrigerants requires different safety and handling procedures. The panelists will discuss issues that need to be considered for the installation and safe handling of equipment that has flammable or toxic components. 

Moderated by Danielle Wright, Executive Director, North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

Speaker:

Aanchal Kohli, Manager, F-gas Reduction Strategy Section, California Air Resources Board

"California: Refrigerant Policy Landscape"

Aanchal Kohli will present an overview of refrigerant policies, regulations, and programs in California and discuss how California is leading the nation in the transition to climate-friendly alternatives.

Brad Hoover, Principal Consultant, DNV Energy Insights USA

"California: Low-GWP Refrigerant—Transition Opportunities for EE Programs"

Brad Hoover will share key findings from the CPUC’s recent Low-GWP Refrigerant Study regarding the greenhouse gas and Total System Benefit opportunities that come with the ongoing refrigerant transition. The presentation will cover the safety challenges associated with the adoption of emerging A2L and A3 refrigerants and will also highlight strategies that energy efficiency programs can take to help reduce ongoing refrigerant leaks and end-of-life emissions.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

The Future of Flexibility: An Interactive Discussion

“What does DR look like in 2030?” As we approach 2030, the landscape of demand response is poised to undergo significant transformations driven by advancements in technology, evolving regulatory frameworks, and increasing consumer awareness. However, several barriers remain, including integrating distributed energy resources into the grid, ensuring cybersecurity, meeting the need for robust data analytics, and achieving widespread customer engagement. Join us as we envision the role of demand response over the next decade, informed by trends in machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automated demand response systems, and more. We will explore in depth the opportunities and challenges ahead and open a forum for anticipating trends crucial for developing demand response strategies that enhance grid reliability, promote energy efficiency, and support the transition to a sustainable energy system.

Moderated by Josh Rasin, Manager, Technology Acceleration, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Speakers: 

Jingjing Liu, Program Manager, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Stefanie Wayland, Load Flexibility Lead, California Energy Commission

Albert Chiu, Expert Product Manager, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Jeff Barnes, Emerging Technologies Project Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

Mark Martinez, Senior Portfolio Manager, Southern California Edison

Overcoming Challenges to Scaling Building Decarbonization

California has set ambitious goals to significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in homes and businesses, including the installation of 6 million heat pumps by 2030. Achieving these targets will require scalable, innovative solutions that can adapt to the diverse needs of an economy serving 40 million people. This session will outline the challenges ahead, highlight emerging data-driven strategies, and foster discussions on how to make the value proposition of building decarbonization more impactful and relevant to Californians.

Moderated by Will Vicent, Deputy Director, Building Standards, California Energy Commission

Speakers: 

Sandy Laube, Fellow, Energy Efficiency, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

"California Single-Family Housing Electrification Readiness: A Look at Over 100 Years of Home Building"

A look at over 100 years of home building in California and how changes in codes, customer demand, and construction techniques impact ease of electrifying the single-family housing stock.

Scott Higa, Senior Project Manager, Codes and Standards, Southern California Edison

"Strategic Decarbonization with the Building Inventory Geospatial (BIG) Database: A Geospatial Approach"

Southern California Edison C&S Planning and Coordination is developing a Building Inventory Geospatial (BIG) database to provide a scalable bottom-up approach to characterizing the building stock in its service territory to inform data-driven energy-efficient building decarbonization and demand flexibility strategies.

Multifamily Gas Applications Research

What options are available for optimizing emissions reductions and reducing cost for multifamily residences? Explore this question with us as we dive into topics related to gas absorption heat pumps (GAHP) and the sizing of hot water systems in the multifamily sector. 

Moderated by Saurabh Shekhadar, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

Speakers: 

Madeline Talebi, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

"Heat Pump Performance in California: EnergyPlus Modeling Development"

GAHP technology has only matured in recent years, in part because of improved systems and infrastructure as well as emerging energy conservation standards on water heating. This project developed energy models by using ResStock, a tool developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). ResStock is a national-scale stock modeling tool for understanding energy consumption in residential buildings. This talk will focus on a project dedicated to forecasting the overall impact of a GAHP on energy consumption, utility bills, and GHG in the low-rise (up to five stories) multifamily residential sector for buildings with a central water heater as well as other technologies.

Cristalle Mauleon, PE, Engineering Manager, Lincus Inc. (GET)

"GAHP Sizing"

This Gas Emerging Technology (GET) project includes research into site screening criteria and sizing methods for GAHPs. Legacy DHW heaters are often sized for the maximum expected DHW load and can meet the maximum and minimum expected DHW loads. GAHPs, on the other hand, require a minimum DHW load to function optimally with a fixed baseline load and are recommended to be sized to 40 to 60% of the DHW load. There is evidence that the DHW heater/boiler sizing methods in use overestimate DHW load, which becomes a problem when the GAHP requires a minimum load to function properly. This project seeks to bridge the contractor sizing gap by researching existing methods of DHW sizing, researching what information contractors can typically collect, and providing recommendations for site screening criteria and GAHP sizing and design.

Technician Training to Unlock Efficiency for Ultra-Low GWP Refrigerants

This session brings together experts involved in preparing the refrigeration technician workforce for the transition to low and ultra-low GWP refrigerants. Our panelists will discuss the training landscape and changes in handling and safety procedures for the next generation of refrigerants after 2030. Panelists will also share current training offerings and best practices to maximize opportunities for energy efficiency.

Moderated by Danielle Wright, Executive Director, North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

Speakers:

Mary E. Koban, Agile Manager, The Chemours Company

"Preparing Technicians for the Next Generation of Refrigerants"

Chris Compton, President, HVACRedu.net LLC

"Online Workforce Education and Training: One of the Answers to California HVACR Energy Efficiency"

Danielle Wright, Executive Director, North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council

"Recruit, Train, Retain: Building a Sustainable Workforce"

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

What’s Load Got to Do with It? The Rise of Flexible Heat Pump Technology

How do we get more efficient comfort and convenience through demand-responsive heat pump controls? The need to balance energy efficiency, grid stability, and customer comfort and convenience requires innovative approaches to manage the variability and flexibility of heat pump systems. Join us for a discussion on pioneering projects to test the functional capabilities of heat pump systems for demand response while maximizing energy savings for consumers. We will also discuss evaluation of advanced control strategies that allow heat pumps to adjust their operation based on real-time grid demands.

Moderated by Rafael Friedmann, Facilitator, ETCC

Speakers:

Caton Mande, Senior R&D Engineer, Western Cooling Efficiency Center, UC Davis

"Heat Pump Load Flexibility"

Speakers will discuss the project demonstration of an open-source framework for heat pump load flexibility controls to be employed for both advanced water heating controls (AWHC) and advanced space conditioning controls (ASCC), providing a common platform to manage residential electricity use across multiple types of equipment and devices. The research uses predictive models to predict load flexibility capability, maintain occupant comfort, and meet occupant hot water demand, through control decisions over a prediction horizon accounting for real-time price signals, weather, and GHG emissions.

Edwin Hornquist, Principal Technical Leader, EPRI

"Evaluating Demand Response Capabilities of Connected Variable Capacity Heat Pumps: A Project Review"

The presentation will be reviewing a recently launched multi-utility and multi-manufacturer project focused on demand flexibility using variable capacity heat pumps in residential applications. The main focus of this project is to evaluate AHRI 1380 functionally for compatible systems already deployed in the field and take advantage of the superior part load capabilities while providing occupant comfort and grid support.

Ammi Amarnath, Principal Technical Executive, EPRI

"The Rise of Flexible Heat Pump Technology: Field Testing and Demonstration of Demand Flexibility of Variable Capacity Heat Pump in a Commercial Building Application (Smart City Santiago Building)"

The presentation will cover the demand flexibility application of VRF heat pumps in small commercial buildings. Regarding the commercial building application, there were various challenges in connecting the VRF heat pump to the grid. Once these challenges were overcome, the tests clearly showed substantial demand reduction, thereby confirming that the DR event can be used to provide grid flexibility by modulating the customer’s electricity consumption.

Solutions to Equitably Fulfill the Workforce Needs for Our Decarbonized Future

California needs a skilled and trained workforce to meet our aggressive decarbonization and zero-emissions targets. Join SoCalREN, SMUD, and SCE workforce, education, and training program managers as they share their current and future efforts to engage with and encourage the next generation of workers to prepare for high-paying and technically skilled jobs. 

Moderated by Axel Pearson, Project Manager, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Speakers: 

Juan Argueta, Senior Manager, Customer Engagement Division, Southern California Edison

"Connecting the Dots to the Future Clean Energy Workforce"

Southern California Edison is supporting California’s ambitious GHG reduction goals for 2030 and 2045, outlined in the Pathway and Countdown 2045 white papers. To this end, the Energy Education Centers launched an initiative to bolster visibility and collaboration across all SCE clean energy workforce-related projects. This presentation documents the steps being taken to develop resources for individuals pursuing careers in clean energy.

Jacobe Caditz, Manager, Community Education and Regional Workforce Development, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

"SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Workforce Pipeline"

SMUD’s goal is to reach zero carbon emissions in its power supply by 2030, and SMUD is committed to ensuring there is equitable access to the opportunities resulting from this goal. Workforce development is a major tool to connect all communities to the economic growth associated with the transition to a zero carbon economy. This conversation will cover the why and how of SMUD’s regional workforce pipeline as well and provide examples of successful programs.

Lujuana Medina, Environmental Initiatives Division Manager, Southern California Regional Energy Network, County of Los Angeles

"Ensuring Equity in the Emerging Technology Workforce"

Other (Natural Gas) Research

Catch up on the latest research on lowering emissions that you may have missed. In this session, we will explore three areas of research that seek to address the reduction of emissions for natural gas burning equipment. 

Moderated by Saurabh Shekhadar, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

Speakers:

Anoushka Cholakath, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

"Ultra Low NOx Burner Testing"

This project will gather burner efficiency data for commercial boilers using existing and emerging ultra-low-NOx burner technologies. The testing will characterize the complete system efficiency of the burner and boiler system, including combustion efficiency, fuel efficiency, equipment power consumption, and thermal efficiency. A report documenting the comparisons will be completed. The project will help quantify the emissions benefits and potential efficiency gains for the emerging ultra-low-NOx technologies compared to baseline “most comparable” conventional ultra-low-NOx technologies.

Anoushka Cholakath, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET), and Jaeson Cardiff, CEO and Cofounder, CleanO2 Carbon Capture Technologies

"CarbinX® Carbon Capture Technology"

We will examine a series of field pilots (including potential ones in Southern California) to explore what this technology is, how it removes carbon, and how the carbon life cycle chain is addressed, and how it can reduce heating costs in a building.

Hardik Shah, Manager, Technical Programs, GTI Energy

"Demonstrating an Integrated Thermal Heat Pump System for Hot Water and Air-Conditioning at Full-Service Restaurants"

This presentation will share results from a California Energy Commission project that demonstrated, measured, and verified an integrated gas commercial hot water and air conditioning prototype GAHP in two full-service restaurants in the Los Angeles Basin. The presentation will review actual results and potential in typical installations. The presentation will also provide a high-level update on the subject of GAHP, including its recent certification and inclusion in a North American demonstration program.

Role of Refrigerants in the Electrification of Commercial HVAC

Electrification of large commercial HVAC requires an understanding of tradeoffs between energy efficiency and GHG emissions from refrigerants. Current requirements for companies to reduce GHG emissions will move heating technologies to heat pumps and other non-fuel-based technologies. Panelists will discuss design considerations for applications such as campuses, data centers, and general commercial-building comfort applications. Examples of installations from Europe will be shared, and progress in the US will be discussed. And we will take a look at what is being investigated for the future.

Moderated by Abhilasha Wadhwa, Senior Analyst, Building Decarbonization and Renewable Gas Section, Energy Division, California Public Utilities Commission

Speakers:

Philip Johnston, Vice President, Environmental Business Development Center, Daikin Applied Americas

"R-32: Low-GWP Alternative"

Attendees will learn why R-32 is the right choice to replace R-410A. R-32 has been proven all around the world, is an available commodity, is easier to use, and has improved efficiency, capacity, and therefore lower CO2 equivalent emissions over the lifetime of the system.

Morgan Copeland, Regional Sales Manager, Heat Pumps, Oilon US Inc.

"Low GWP and the Benefits to Campus Style Installations"

Learn about a campus that invested capital in building a cascading cooling and heating HVAC system that led to improved reliability and increased COP while lowering overall global warming potential.

Ron Domitrovic, PhD, Program Manager, Customer Technologies, EPRI

"Ammonia Vapor Compression with CO2 Convection"

PLENARY

What's Needed in the Next 5 Years, with PG&E, SCE, SMUD, and SoCalGas

The California utilities have stepped up to the challenge of decarbonization and sustainability with aggressive carbon reduction goals between 2030 and 2045. This opening panel brings together utility leadership to share what they each think are the next three milestones they hope to achieve over the next five years in order to stay on course to those goals, and how customer programs will play a role. 

Moderated by Carol Yin, Facilitator, ETCC

Speakers:

Michael Delaney, Vice President, Utility Partnerships & Innovation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Eric Seilo, Principal Manager, Customer Programs Integration and Development, Southern California Edison

James Frasher, Director, Research & Development, Grants and Partnerships, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Don Widjaja, Vice President, Customer Services Field and Solutions, SoCalGas

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Successful Technology Transfer through CalNEXT

CalNEXT, the California Statewide Electric Emerging Technologies Program, will discuss its approach to tech transfer and provide examples of past successes of transfer into California’s Energy Efficiency Program Portfolio. In this session, CalNEXT will share its collaborative process that leverages key stakeholder forums and provides actionable recommendations to energy efficiency program designers.

Moderated by Savannah McLaughlin, Energy Efficiency Regulatory Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission

Speakers:

Greg Barker, Technical Director, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

"Adapting to Market Needs: Updating Measure Packages through CalNEXT"

Kyle Booth, Associate Director, Engineering, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

"From ET to Measure Package: Technology Transfer through CalNEXT"

Rebecca Rothman, Manager, Consulting, VEIC (CalNEXT)

"Addressing Barriers to Adoption: Emergency Water Heater Replacements"

Removing Barriers to Heat Pump Water Heaters in Foodservice Facilities

Commercial kitchens have unique energy demands that create challenges for decarbonization. In this session, the Code Readiness and CalNEXT research teams will present their recent collaborations in finding low-carbon solutions to meet these demands while helping customers decrease energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Moderated by Martin Vu, Principal Engineer and Patent Attorney, RMS Energy Consulting, LLC

Speakers:

Amin Delagah, Associate Director, Research & Consulting Group, Advanced Energy Division, TRC (CalNEXT)

"Early Advocacy and Research with Heat Pumps in Commercial Kitchens"

We will cover key barriers to heat pump water heaters in commercial kitchens and the start of research and advocacy activities in 2021 to start the process to overcome these barriers. The presentation will review published projects funded through CalNEXT, including the 3rd edition of the Technical Design Guide and HP Market Potential Study in Foodservice. The presenter will cover projects underway, including the Heat Pump Assist Field Project, Master Mixing Valve Field Study, and Code Readiness–funded Integrated Hybrid Water Heater Field Study. Lastly, we will discuss the need to speed up regulatory barrier removal to allow HPWH in commercial kitchens to start on the path to market transformation prior to the upcoming air quality regulations starting in 2027.

Maya Gantley, Senior Consultant, 2050 Partners

"Overcoming Key Barriers to Electrification of Full-Service Restaurant Hot Water"

This presentation will share details on an active CalNEXT project, touching on barriers to electrification, hot water profile field data, and a holistic approach to foodservice HPWH sizing.

Mehdi Zeyghami, Mechanical Engineer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

"Comprehensive Laboratory Evaluation of Heat Pump Water Heaters for Commercial Foodservice Applications"

Assessment of heat pump water heaters under strictly controlled lab environments is crucial for an accurate understanding of the performance of these devices in commercial food service environments. This presentation will touch on past projects performed at PG&E’s Applied Technology Services, as well as current work being done to identify best practices and optimizations that can lead to significant energy savings and operational efficiency in commercial foodservice applications.

Hydrogen Overview and the Path Forward

In this two-presentation session, come learn about the challenges in producing and transporting lower-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen-methane blends safely and efficiently. Our update will cover the status of the industry, including R&D, hydrogen, hydrogen-methane-blend transport, and hydrogen production. 

Moderated by Eric Kirchhoff, Manager, Clean EE Strategies, SoCalGas

Speaker:

Kevin Uy, Branch Manager, California Energy Commission

"CEC Hydrogen R&D Portfolio Overview"

This presentation will provide an overview of California Energy Commission–funded hydrogen research, including a portfolio of projects which assess the effects of hydrogen blends in natural gas infrastructure, end-use appliances, and distributed power generation.

Eric Kirchhoff, Manager, Clean EE Strategies, SoCalGas

"[H2] Innovation Experience"

The [H2] Innovation Experience is North America’s first-ever clean hydrogen-powered microgrid and home. This project demonstrates how carbon-free gas made from renewable electricity can be used in pure form or as a blend to fuel energy systems and communities of the future. Named a World-Changing Idea by Fast Company and awarded the US Green Building Council of Los Angeles’s Sustainable Innovation Award, the [H2]IE features clean hydrogen production and storage, along with a nearly 2,000-square-foot home that can draw power from solar panels and convert excess renewable energy into clean hydrogen.

Charging Ahead: Statewide Efforts to Deploy EV Charging Infrastructure

Successfully deploying EV charging infrastructure requires coordination across state, utility, and private actors. This session explores how policy targets are established by the California Energy Commission and how they are interpreted and acted upon by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison. The panelists will present their initiatives for making charging available for light-duty and heavy-duty vehicles and will discuss some challenges and opportunities presented by building out the grid to support this new EV load. 

Moderated by Jaron Weston, Branch Manager, Zero Emission Vehicle Acceleration, California Energy Commission

Speakers:

Greg Sarvas, Electric Transportation Program Supervisor, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

"Powered by Equity: Building Charging Access for All Communities"

The presentation will highlight the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s current strategic initiative to construct LA Connect E-Hubs, which will provide access to safe, reliable, and cost-effective DC fast charging to all communities throughout Los Angeles. Access to charging is seen as a prerequisite for EV adoption, but this can be a bigger barrier in underserved communities where multifamily residences and shared parking facilities are common. Through the LA Connect E-Hubs, LADWP will construct and operate DC fast charging in communities where a lack of private-sector investment has led to so-called charging deserts. Even when chargers are available, the cost to use them can far exceed costs of charging in a single-family garage. The LA Connect E-Hubs will expand access to affordable EV charging in convenient locations near residences, accelerating the adoption of electric transportation in all communities.

Lisa Arellanes, Principal Manager, eMobility, Southern California Edison

"SCE’s Vision for the Clean Energy Future"

Southern California is at the epicenter of transportation electrification—both for light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. SCE is committed to the vision of a Clean Energy Future, as outlined in our Countdown 2045 white paper, and working closely with customers, industry partners, and regulators to achieve our state’s aggressive climate goals. Learn about SCE’s multiple pathways that help customers plan for and adopt electric transportation at their home, business, local government, and fleet locations and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Prioritizing Technology Opportunities through CalNEXT

CalNEXT, the California Statewide Electric Emerging Technologies Program, has designed an innovative process to identify and prioritize promising new technologies. CalNEXT will share how they develop Technology Priority Maps (TPMs) with the input of a wide range of experts from the California Energy Efficiency Program Portfolio and how they use these TPMs to communicate research priorities to the market. 

Moderated by Derek Okada, Senior Fellow, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

Speakers:

Greg Barker, Technical Director, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

"Program Perspectives on Tech Transfer"

Rebecca Rothman, Manager, Consulting, VEIC (CalNEXT)

"Program Prioritization to Maximize Impact"

Food Service: Providing Technologies and Support for Decarbonization

Hear how decarbonization in food service is being supported at local, state, and national levels, through both education and demonstration. Learn about the efforts by local utilities, an update on codes and standards by the statewide team, and program support and development by organizations at a national level. 

Moderated by Martin Vu, Principal Engineer and Patent Attorney, RMS Energy Consulting, LLC

Speakers:

Oliver Ta, Engineer, Foodservice Technology Center, Southern California Edison

"Induction: A Pathway to Decarbonization"

An overview of current applications and adoptions of induction cooking as well as what’s on the horizon. Southern California Edison will discuss its efforts to increase and support adoption of the technology across the foodservice industry.

Kyle Booth, Associate Director, Engineering, Energy Solutions (CalNEXT)

"Title 20 Appliance Standards for Commercial Foodservice Equipment: Energy Savings through Appliance Standards"

This session will explain the process of proposing appliance standards in California and explore the commercial foodservice appliance standards being proposed for commercial fryers, steamers, ovens, and dishwashers.

Alison Rhodes, Senior Technical Assistant, EPRI

"Electric Foodservice Council Research and Efforts Housed within EPRI’s Electrification Program 199"

The presentation will give a brief description of EPRI and the Electric Foodservice Council’s purpose and research.

Natural Gas and Hydrogen Blends for End-Use Equipment

If hydrogen-natural gas blends replace pure natural gas, what are the end-user equipment implications? In this session, we will present research updates on testing and quantifying the impacts of hydrogen-natural gas blends on different commercial end-use equipment. 

Moderated by Steven Long, Director, Engineering, ICF (GET)

Speakers:

Madeline Talebi, Energy Engineer, ICF (GET)

"Heat Pump Performance in California: Fuel-Fired Water Heating Applications with Hydrogen Blends"

This study aims to characterize the hydrogen fuel blending performance (up to 30% blend) of a GAHP unit to sufficiently populate model inputs in EnergyPlus. The testing will consist of both static performance mapping and transient performance mapping. At the completion of the testing, curve fits will be developed to implement them in the Energy Plus GAHP model.

Ryan Kerr, Director, Emerging Technologies, GTI Energy

"H2 Blends for Residential and Commercial End-Use Equipment"

R&D work is being conducted by both academia and industry to develop compatible equipment that can accommodate hydrogen/natural gas blends while reducing emissions and maintaining or boosting efficiency. This presentation will cover research on end-use equipment using hydrogen/natural gas blends in residential and commercial equipment. Tested end-use equipment includes cooking ranges, water heaters, furnaces, sensors, miscellaneous OEM parts, and more.

Leveraging EVs to Manage the Electric Grid

EVs represent one of the largest sources of load that will show up on the electric grid in the coming decades. This could present challenges for grid-planning and deployment, but properly managed, EVs have the potential to provide entirely new types of control and flexibility for grid operators. This session explores three California utilities’ perspectives and actions on vehicle-grid integration.

Moderated by Jingjing Liu, Program Manager, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Speakers:

Eric Seilo, Principal Manager, Customer Programs Integration and Development, Southern California Edison

"SCE’s Vehicle Grid Integration Roadmap and Industry Overview"

Carol Kay, Project Manager, Research & Development, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

"Residential EV Managed Charging for Multiple Use Cases"

SMUD delivered a telematics-based active managed charging pilot for residential customers. This presentation will provide an overview of the pilot to date.

Nick Fiore, Clean Transportation Innovation Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

"Fostering Clean Transportation Innovation"

School buses, with larger batteries and predictable charging schedules, can charge during peak solar hours and discharge when demand is high. This presentation reviews SDG&E’s V2G pilot at Cajon Valley Union School District and how it is informing future VGI developments.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Embodied Carbon: Perspectives from Policy, Industry, and Practice

Embodied carbon, the emissions associated with the production and transportation of building materials, is a significant contributor to climate change and a key area of concern for reducing impacts from the construction sector. In this panel discussion, you will hear from three experts who represent different roles and perspectives on the topic: (1) the supervising architect from the Building Standards Commission, who will explain the current regulatory landscape regarding embodied carbon in CALGreen; (2) the sustainability manager for a cement and concrete producer, who will share how they are innovating low-carbon solutions; and (3) a practicing architect whose firm develops leading software tools for life cycle assessment. Join us for this engaging and informative session exploring how California became the first state to formally address embodied carbon in its building codes and how regulators, suppliers, and designers can collaborate toward innovative and cost-effective solutions that meet and exceed current requirements. 

Moderated by Dave Intner, Senior Advisor, Southern California Edison

Speakers:

Irina Brauzman, Supervising Architect, California Building Standards Commission

"CALGreen Carbon Reduction Regulations"

Overview of the CALGreen Carbon Reduction Regulations that became effective in California on July 1, 2024.

Karin Perissinotto, Sustainability Manager, CalPortland

"Journey to Net Zero"

This presentation explores sustainability goals and climate targets related to achieving net zero. Attendees will learn about integrating circular economy innovations and investing in critical technologies to reduce emissions intensity, improve energy efficiency, and develop greener building material products. The session provides a comprehensive look at the solutions driving sustainability in the industry and built environment.

Jack Rusk, Director, Climate Strategy, EHDD

"Opportunities Beyond Procurement for Emissions Reduction in the Built Environment"

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a powerful tool for understanding and reducing carbon emissions from the built environment. While the procurement of low-carbon materials is an important mitigation wedge, LCA helps practitioners understand low-carbon procurement opportunities in the context of a wide range of other decarbonization opportunities. This presentation takes the life cycle phases of a building project as a scaffold to illustrate a wide range of reduction opportunities, from dematerialization to deconstruction, from material procurement to jobsite waste reduction, and from the beginning of a project to its end-of-life. By illustrating the range of potential reduction strategies being pursued in practice, this presentation aims to provide attendees with a wide perspective on how policy, codes, and standards can contribute to a decarbonized built environment.

Adopting Heat Pump Technologies for Space Heating Purposes

Across the United States, states like California are pushing for increased adoption of heat pump technologies. In this session, our experts will share programs supporting and evaluating the use of heat pumps for space conditioning applications. The panelists will also discuss how findings from these programs can be used to support state heat pump adoption goals. 

Moderated by Haile Bucaneg, Senior Mechanical Engineer, California Energy Commission

Speakers:

Scott Blunk, Deputy Director, Existing Buildings, Load Flexibility and Appliance Efficiency, California Energy Commission

"California Heat Pump Partnership: 6 Million Heat Pumps by 2030"

Adam Cornelius, Senior Program Manager, Consortium for Energy Efficiency

"Residential Integrated HVAC Controls: Opportunities and Challenges"

This session will highlight explorations by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency on best practices for configuring integrated controls, program and installation challenges, and potential paths to local and grid communicability.

Samuel Petty, Technology Manager, Commercial Validations, US Department of Energy

"DOE’s Commercial Heat Pump Accelerator"

Natural Gas and Hydrogen Blends for Infrastructure

Join this session to learn how the proposed H2 infrastructure is expected to help offset emissions. Efforts supporting both the residential and commercial infrastructure will be presented along with existing and planned infrastructure development for transportation and industry. 

Moderated by Steven Long, Director, Engineering, ICF (GET)

Speakers:

Pooya Khodaparast, Utilities Engineer, California Energy Commission

"Pilot Testing and Assessment of Safety and Integrity of Targeted Hydrogen Blending in Gas Infrastructure for Decarbonization"

This presentation will provide an overview of the California Energy Commission’s Gas R&D Program, highlighting funded projects that address hydrogen blending and its impact on infrastructure. It will cover efforts in pilot testing and the assessment of safety and integrity for targeted hydrogen blending in gas infrastructure as part of decarbonization efforts.

Nico Bouwkamp, Business Development Manager H2, GTI Energy

"Natural Gas and Hydrogen Blends for Infrastructure"

GTI Energy is undertaking research on hydrogen blending in existing natural gas infrastructure. The blending demonstration includes both isolated pipeline systems and natural gas infrastructure in service. This presentation will cover representative hydrogen demonstration projects in New Mexico, Utah, Minnesota, and beyond. The demonstration projects will provide insights and reference for future hydrogen blending efforts.

Part 1: Window Projects: Exploring the Value Proposition for High-Performance Windows

Despite the common misconception that window performance is negligible in mild climates, it plays a significant role in overall building energy performance and thermal comfort. This session will challenge existing myths, highlight innovative solutions in window technologies, and foster dialogue among industry leaders to promote information-sharing, technology transfer, and market facilitation. 

Moderated by Rick Dunn, Senior Manager, Emerging Technology, Resource Innovations (CalMTA)

Speakers:

Rick Dunn, Senior Manager, Emerging Technology, Resource Innovations (CalMTA)

"Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions: A CalMTA Market Transformation Initiative"

The impact of poorly performing windows—even in mild climates—is not widely understood; as California drives towards electrification and evaluates development of Building Performance Standards, this low awareness may impede decarbonization efforts and result in permanently forfeited TSB. There are over 2.8 million commercial buildings in California that still have single-pane glass windows, many with non-thermally broken aluminum frames. Although windows are about 15% of a building’s exterior surface, they account for HVAC losses of 40%, or 12% of a typical building’s overall energy use. Recent advancements in replacement and commercial attachment windows, investment by DOE, and manufacturing innovations are making it more economical to improve poorly performing glazing without requiring full window replacement.

Brad Begin, Chairman, Alpen High Performance Products

"Successful Office Building Window Upgrade Using Commercial Secondary Windows"

This session will provide an in-depth detailed review of learnings from a complete whole building window upgrade for a mid-size, fully occupied commercial office building using a commercial secondary window solution that achieved a field-validated 32% building shell improvement in the year following completion of the project. It will provide a detailed examination of project objectives and field-validated outcomes from the project as well as specific insight into project costs and whole window replacement alternative cost comparison, project timeline, energy savings, occupant outcomes, impact on utility insights, and incentives offered as a result of the project outcomes. Shortly after the project’s completion, the region in which the project was located suffered an unprecedented extreme temperature event. The case study will include important lessons learned relative to resiliency and survivability as a result of monitoring building performance during that extreme but increasingly common climate event.

Robert Hart, Technology Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

"Demonstrating Thin Triple-Pane Windows in California"

Windows continue to be the lowest thermally performing envelope system in California’s buildings, resulting in poor overall envelope performance and potential impacts to human health and comfort. Thin-glass triple-pane windows are a promising potential solution that offers the performance benefits of traditional triple-pane but with little increase in weight or cost. This enables incremental costs competitive with alternative energy reduction solutions for the building envelope, thus facilitating their use as a cost-competitive solution to reduce energy use in California homes. Detailed investigations into long-term performance are currently being carried out in low-income multifamily California housing. This talk will focus on the potential value of these products in the California market and provide some preliminary findings from the ongoing study.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Idea to Initiative: Advancing Market Transformation in California

CalMTA, the statewide market transformation administrator, will share an update on the creation of the first market transformation initiatives (MTIs) for California, including the six technologies under development and the activities conducted to inform full MTI Plans for two ideas: induction cooking and room heat pumps. CalMTA will explore the process used to identify specific barriers, opportunities for leverage, strategic interventions, and desired outputs and outcomes for each MTI, as captured in updated logic models and active strategy pilots. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to interact with two innovative technologies used in the strategy pilots—a 120V induction range equipped with energy storage and a 120V window-mounted heat pump—and share their feedback with CalMTA.

Speakers:

Stacey Hobart, Principal, Stakeholder Engagement & Communications, Resource Innovations (CalMTA)

Rick Dunn, Senior Manager, Emerging Technology, Resource Innovations (CalMTA)

Jeff Mitchell, Principal, Market Transformation, Resource Innovations (CalMTA)

Sam Lamos, Public Policy Manager, Gradient, and Weldon Kennedy, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Channing St. Copper Co.

Advancing Hot Water Solutions: Field Insights, Installations, and Efficiency Strategies for Heat Pump Water Heaters

Water heating accounts for up to 30% of energy use in residential and multifamily buildings, making it a key area for improving energy efficiency. With over 123 million existing residential water heaters in the US and more than 7.5 million replaced annually, the need for sustainable solutions is clear. Join us for an engaging session that explores the latest advancements in heat pump water heater technology. The panelists will cover three critical topics: the Plug-in Heat Pump Water Heater Field Study in California, practical solutions for simplifying installation in existing homes, and strategies and lab testing method for optimizing central heat pump water heaters in multifamily buildings.

Moderated by Alyssa Cheung, Senior Regulatory Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission

Speakers:

Noah Gabriel, Project Manager, New Buildings Institute

"120V Heat Pump Water Heaters: A Silver Bullet for Fuel Switching in Single-Family Homes"

Switching from a fossil-fueled water heater to a 240-volt HPWH can be expensive if you don’t have 200-amp service and a spare 240-volt outlet. Luckily, there’s another option: 120-volt HPWHs plug into your standard outlet and can operate on a shared 15-amp circuit. Join Noah Gabriel for a discussion of this exciting new form factor as well as lessons learned from field testing in California.

Mark Rehley, Senior Manager, Emerging Technology & Product Management, Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

"Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Guidance: Lessons from the Amazing Shrinking Room Study"

Mehdi Zeyghami, Mechanical Engineer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company

"Beast Practices to Have an Efficient Central Heat Pump Water Heater System in Multifamily Applications: A Laboratory Evaluation"

This presentation focuses on evaluating the performance of central HPWHs for multifamily applications, with an aim to find best practices for integrating hot water storage tanks to enhance system efficiency. Conducted at Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Applied Technology Services Research Laboratories, the project simulated hot water demands for a 44-unit, multifamily building and evaluated hot water tank configurations and operation modes in a real-life-size central heat pump water heating setup.

Building Resiliency through Robust Flexible Demand and DERs

California’s electric grid must remain reliable and resilient while aggressively pursuing carbon neutrality by 2045. This transition presents significant challenges and opportunities, particularly in tackling climate change, managing intermittency, handling curtailment issues associated with renewable energy generation, and addressing the grid impacts of expanding electrification in buildings and transportation. Integration of flexible demand with diverse distributed energy resources through open and secure communication protocols emerges as a pivotal solution. This session aims to outline current challenges, explore potential flexible demand solutions and considerations, and propose strategies for enhancing building resilience while bolstering grid support. 

Moderated by Mark Martinez, Senior Portfolio Manager, Southern California Edison

Speakers:

Charles Kim, Senior Engineer, Southern California Edison

"7 GW Flexible Demand Challenge"

As we strive to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, addressing technical challenges is paramount. A critical issue is the significant expansion of the electric grid due to various electrification initiatives. Ensuring energy affordability throughout this transition is crucial. This presentation will explore these pressing challenges and examine how flexible demand technologies are evolving in the market. We will highlight the pivotal role of automated meter infrastructure in unlocking the potential of flexible demand as a valuable energy resource. This context will set the stage for subsequent presentations, offering insights into the transformative possibilities within the energy sector.

Randall Higa, Consulting Engineer, Southern California Edison

"What Are Resilient Buildings and How Can Flexible Demand and Distributed Energy Resources Increase Resiliency?"

Building resiliency can be looked at in two ways: what can be done to reduce the impacts of climate change (extreme weather, wildfires, etc.), and what can be done to reduce the causes of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This presentation will focus on the latter and examine how buildings can play an important role in achieving carbon neutrality by being integrated with a smart electric grid. Resiliency will also be discussed in the context of buildings and transportation becoming more electrified and the grid’s requirements to increase capacity at an unprecedented rate.

Jeremy Laundergan, Vice President, Consulting Services, EnerNex

"Flexible Load Telecommunication Pathways and Protocols: Options for 'Price to Device'"

Utility programs to communicate with customers, buildings, and appliances to provide flexible load and demand response have evolved since the 1980s. Advanced Metering Infrastructure ushered in 10 to 15 years of “Smart Grid,” which has evolved into a more holistic “grid modernization” approach to integrate distributed energy resources, enable electrification, and implement systems and technologies to manage a more dynamic electric grid. Flexible load is a critical component to balance supply and demand while maintaining reliability and addressing affordability. However, the approach for communicating and coordinating with flexible loads has still not been standardized, and instead, there are too many industry standards to choose from.

Part 2: Building Envelopes, They’ve Got Everything—Efficiency, Decarbonization, Health, Safety, Climate Resiliency

The performance of building envelopes and windows is crucial for achieving energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals in the built environment. Prioritizing building envelope optimization is essential for meeting decarbonization targets swiftly and effectively. Once envelope performance is addressed, it paves the way for other systems, such as heat pumps, to be properly sized and operate more efficiently. Join this session to discover how building envelopes play a vital role in our changing climate. 

Moderated by Payam Bozorgchami, Senior Civil Engineer, California Energy Commission

Speakers:

Curtis Harrington, Engineering Manager, Western Cooling Efficiency Center, UC Davis

"Envelope Retrofit Strategies for Existing Homes"

This presentation will describe the results from two projects aimed at improving envelope performance of existing homes. One project evaluated a wall retrofit package that incorporated insulation upgrades along with phase-change material to improve the thermal performance of existing uninsulated homes. Another project looked at new aerosol-sealing applications that allow the technology to be applied to existing buildings from a ventilated attic or crawlspace.

Chad Gretzner, Research Engineer, Kliewer and Associates

"Parcel and Structure Assessment for Wildfire-Hardening: Best Practices"

Preparing for a wildfire involves assessing not only your parcel and structure but considering the combustible fuels located on neighboring parcels within all Fire Hazard Severity Zones. This presentation will highlight the best practices needed to assess your property. Building codes are included in this assessment form for quick reference. Identifying where to start will keep it simple as you prepare your parcel and structures to be completely hardened against embers. Want to know when you need to harden your home for direct flame, radiant heat, and convection exposures? Examining housing density and structure separation distances will guide you when additional hardening is required.

Ron Kliewer, Senior Building Scientist, Kliewer and Associates

"Hardening Structures against Wildfire: High-Density Housing Burn Test"

There is a growing need for a comprehensive fire hazard assessment and mitigation methodology to harden structures and parcels effectively against ember and fire exposures. To address this need, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Cal Fire, and Insurance Institute for Business and Home (IBHS) embarked on a 16-month collaborative effort, culminating in this Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM). Building scientist Ron Kliewer and research engineer Chad Gretzner built on this body of work by performing this original research study for Southern California Edison.