Aug 14 2014
Ecova, a total energy and sustainability management company, will present four research papers at the 2014 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings in Pacific Grove, California. The 2014 Summer Study is the 18th biennial ACEEE conference on energy efficiency in buildings. Energy professionals and thought leaders from around the world will gather on August 17th to discuss reducing energy use and climate impacts.
Ecova experts will provide insights into the next generation of utility energy efficiency programs. Presentation topics include a holistic strategic approach to commercial energy management, plug loads and DC distribution, consumer electronics, and clothes dryers based on our leading-edge research and studies. Since 2004, Ecova has been selected by ACEEE to present at this preeminent conference.
“Energy efficiency is more important than ever before, especially for utilities that are facing a rapidly changing market and shifting customer expectations,” said Ted Schultz, senior vice president of utility solutions at Ecova. “We’re excited to share insights on the next generation of energy efficiency programs that achieve cost-effective energy savings, helping utilities put money back in their customers’ pockets and promote a sustainable environment.”
Experts will share findings and lessons from four Ecova authored or co-authored peer-reviewed papers. Presentations include:
Reviving the War of Currents: Opportunities to Save Energy with DC Distribution in Commercial Buildings
Monday, August 18th at 8:30 a.m. PT
Presenter: Suzanne Foster Porter, Director, Research & Policy, Ecova
Overview: Ecova estimates that today’s commercial office buildings lose about 13 percent of their electricity every year simply distributing and converting power, and the loss is even higher for high-performance designs, such as zero net energy (ZNE). This presentation examines an alternative approach for distributing power: DC distribution “islands” within commercial buildings that eliminate the need for repetitive power-conversion steps. Ecova summarizes the state of the industry-led effort for DC distribution, including current technology, demonstration projects, cost-effectiveness and ancillary benefits.
Innovations in Cost and Efficiency Analyses for Consumer Electronics: A Technical Analysis of Display Components and Features
Wednesday, August 20th at 8:30 a.m. PT
Presenter: Clancy Donnelly, Manager, Research & Policy, Ecova
Overview: Consumer electronics comprise a rapidly evolving market sector with shorter product cycles and faster changes in cost and energy consumption compared with those of traditional appliances. This fast pace of product development, along with the associated changing costs over time and changes in duty cycle, necessitates a new and refined approach to policy development and program design. Using computer displays as a case study, Ecova discusses how engineering analyses for consumer electronics differ from those for traditional appliances, and how updated reverse engineering studies yield information on costs and efficiency changes over time.
Strategic Energy Management: A Framework Approach
Friday, August 22nd at 10:30 a.m. PT
Presenter: Diane Levin, Senior Director, Utility Solutions, Ecova
Overview: In this presentation, Ecova will discuss the strategic energy management (SEM) model, including corporate drivers for energy management and how they can be leveraged for energy savings. It highlights Ecova’s experiences working with clients on implementing SEM and provides lessons learned from enrolling and supporting customers in a strategic management approach. Utilities will understand elements to consider when designing and implementing successful strategic energy management programs in their portfolio.
The Time is Ripe for Paying Attention to Clothes Drying Time Technology and Policy in Relation to Efficiency and Drying Time
Friday, August 22nd at 10:30 a.m. PT
Presenter: Dave Denkenberger, Technical Specialist, Research & Policy, Ecova
Overview: Clothes dryers now represent a $9 billion annual national energy bill—about 6 percent of residential electricity consumption and 2 percent of residential natural gas consumption. This presentation explores the technical improvements that can be made to clothes dryers to increase their energy efficiency and discusses the corresponding implications to drying time. With this in mind, Ecova argues that standards and voluntary labeling specifications should take into account drying time when setting efficiency requirements for different drying technologies.
Ecova will also be hosting two informal sessions at the event. These include a show-and-tell on maximizing energy savings in multifamily (August 18th at 2 p.m. PT) and a session on working with national accounts (August 19th at 2 p.m. PT). For more information on the 2014 ACEEE Summer Study, please visit the event website or contact us for a copy of the peer-reviewed papers on the topics presented at the conference.
Source: http://www.ecova.com/