New Technologies
NEEA continued in 2006 to identify and promote the development of new energyefficient technologies. Advancing new technologies—in the form of products, services and practices—that are in early commercialization sets the stage for future energy savings and is one of the values regional market transformation through NEEA brings to the region. Accomplishments in 2006 include: PAPER STIFFNESS SENSOR TECHNOLOGY—In 2006, the Industrial Efficiency Alliance, along with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Institute of Paper Science and Technology at Georgia Institute of Technology, began piloting a laser ultrasonic stiffness sensor at the Boise Cascade paper mill in St. Helens, Oregon.The sensor would allow operators to measure and make adjustments to achieve correct paper stiffness on-line, reducing the amount of waste, pulp and energy used in the papermaking process. ■ 8O PLUS—Last fall computer giant HP became the first major computer manufacturer to join the program. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its ENERGY STAR specifications for desktop computers, which included 80 PLUS criteria for power supplies. By the end of 2006, 105 power supply models from 30 manufacturers had been approved as meeting the 80 PLUS criteria.Thirteen utility sponsors were participating in the program along with 20 different computer manufacturers. ■ DISTRIBUTION EFFICIENCY INITIATIVE—Early results of this initiative show positive energy savings can be attained by reducing the operating voltage of electricity delivered to customers without adverse effects. It appears that selected improvements can save energy both at the customer’s meter and on the distribution system itself. More than 400 customers and nine Northwest utilities are participating in the initiative. ■ DESERT COOLAIRE—Technical assessment of the Desert CoolAire hybrid packaged HVAC units continued with field-testing in 2006. Estimates are that the Desert CoolAire system design could potentially cut energy use by 50%. Currently five commercial sites are being tested in Boise, Nampa,Vancouver, Portland and Seattle. In addition, two units are being tested in Sacramento, installed in collaboration with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. ■ DUCTLESS MINI-SPLIT HEAT PUMP—In partnership with Grant County Public Utility District, NEEA is conducting a demonstration project to test the viability of this technology in the residential market. Systems began to be piloted in retrofit applications in 2006. Findings from this demonstration will help determine further market research needs. ■ LED LIGHTING—NEEA began to fund research in 2006 to better understand how to spur development of light-emitting diode (LED) technology. On behalf of its partners, NEEA joined the Alliance for Solid State Illumination System Technologies and is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to apply the lessons learned in transforming the compact fluorescent lighting market to LEDs. NEEA also sponsored the 2006 Lighting for Tomorrow competition with the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, the American Lighting Association and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to identify successful applications of solid-state lighting in the market. ■
Looking Back 2004—2005 NEEA introduces the ENERGY STAR® Northwest Homes program with specifications that are higher than in the national program and at least 15% more energy-efficient than Washington and Oregon state energy codes. ■ Funding for regional market transformation through NEEA is renewed through 2009. ■ Northwest market share for ENERGY STAR qualified clothes washers grows from 33% to 38%. ■ Congress passes Energy Policy Act of 2005. ■
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