The Market Transformation Research Team aided a field experiment to document the energy, indoor air quality, and cost effectiveness of a pair of cutting-edge residential energy efficient upgrade packages. These included pre-cooling ventilation, evaporative cooling, and aerosol sealing of the building envelope. Researchers conducted quarterly household interviews to measure occupant behavior and satisfaction. The research identified satisfaction with “free” nighttime cooling from the ventilation cooling technology, as well as occupant complaints about thermal comfort, controls, and inconvenience. The Market Transformation Research Team also led a task to identify barriers and opportunities for widespread technology adoption, concluding that market potential is limited to several niche segments given the availability of cheaper and easier alternatives, despite their more limited capabilities.
Project Partners: UCD Western Cooling Efficiency Center, Electric Power Research Institute
Sponsor: California Energy Commission, Grant # EPC-16-005
