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Energy Benchmarking Workgroup

As part of the Governor’s Green Action Team's calls for a 20% reduction in energy consumption in California State buildings by 2015, “All occupied State-owned buildings, beginning no later than July 2005 and completed by 2007, shall be benchmarked for energy efficiency, using guidelines established by the CEC.” HMG chairs the Benchmarking Team, which was tasked with working with California utilities and State agencies to meet the goals of the Executive Order.

SMUD Summer Solutions Research Pilot 

HMG developed and implemented SMUD's Summer Solutions Research Pilot for the summer of 2008. Survey data was collected from participants  before, during and after the planned field study in the summer of 2008. In addition, loggers and meters collected 15-minute thermostat setpoints and electricity consumption. The results of this study are due in December 2008, and are expected to provide a broad understanding of how small business customers perceive and react to Demand Response programs.

HMG is developing a framework for assessing technical, economic and achievable potential for electric demand response in California and provide estimates of potential by utility area, climate zone and customer sector over the period 2006 to 2011. The results of this study will be used to contribute to demand response policy decisions and program development in California.

Codes and Standards Research and Policy Development

For Pacific Gas & Electric Company, HMG is managing a team experts to develop proposed modifications to the California Title 24 nonresidential building energy efficiency standards.  This work includes evaluating the energy savings from the measure, its cost-effectiveness, feasibility and barriers to adoption.  The proposals include specific code language, modifications to the alternative compliance method (ACM) calculations and a user-friendly entry in the Nonresidential Manual. 

Residential Hot Water Distribution Research 

For the California Energy Commission, we are examining the technical and economic potential for improvements to residential hot water distribution systems, contributing to research methods for determining the heat (energy) lost due to various elements of the circulation system, and recommending research and standards activities for fostering energy efficiency

NEEA's Commercial Sector Initiative Savings Framework

For  the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), we are establishing the foundations of the Commercial Sector Initiative savings estimation process.  The Commercial Sector Initiative seeks to influence the market actors and business practices that design and operate commercial buildings, and to achieve longer-term and larger energy savings than would be possible through the traditional utility incentive programs.  Accordingly, a novel approach is needed to estimate energy savings.