VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Action Plan for Variable Capacity Heat Pump Technology
Barriers
Contractor
Unfamiliarity with
VCHP
p.2
Develop contractor
qualifications and
training
Action
Items
Develop
commissioning
requirements
Develop best
practices to ensure
energy saving
Manufacturer
training
Designer
Unfamiliarity with
VCHP
p.3
Develop screening
tool for cost
effective
opportunities
Owner Unfamiliarity
with VCHP
p.4
Develop owner
training on utility
incentives and
VCHP benefits
Lack of Information
to prioritize
measures p.5
Select and define
highest priority
measures
Document
operation and
energy use
Uncertain Savings,
Costs and Cost
effectiveness p.6,7
Difficult to Develop
Measures and Incentive
Programs
p.8,9
Develop high
consensus M&V
protocols
Develop
measures
Quantify savings
and costs over a
specific baseline
Develop
program
Follow developing
codes and standards
Others Barriers
p.11
Define value
proposition
for utilities,
building
owners and
contractors
Deliver
program
Develop designer
training and
outreach
Lessons learned from
previous projects
Codes and
Standards
p.10
Lab and field testing
resources
Existing owner training
channels
Resources
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
VCHP research and
resources
Industry, professional
and utility research and
resources
Codes and standards
research and
resources
Resource Available
1
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Contractor Unfamiliarity with VCHP
Manufacturer training is difficult
to access (nearest training
center is in Southern California)
Lack of contractor
knowledge/experience
Barriers
Poor installation even by the
trained contractors
Technology misapplication can
affect deployment
Develop
commissioning
requirements
Develop contractor
qualifications and
training
Develop best practices
to ensure energy
savings
Action
Items
Lessons learned from ASHRAE
Headquarters VRF demonstration project
Investigate lessons learned
from Oakridge residential
DHP field testing
Get early copies of ASHRAE 90.1 2010
VRF mechanical tables
Investigate lessons learned from Energy Trust New Buildings program
has provided incentives for new community college buildings in Southern
Oregon, installing Mitsubishi VRFs. M&V-completion date is Fall 2011
Erin Rowe
Get early copies of ASHRAE VRF
Handbook Chapter, which is
scheduled to be available Spring of
2012
Investigate savings and lessons
Investigate lessons learned from Ecotope
learned from Corvallis Wild Life
single-head DHP report (residential),
Preserve VRF system with HRV
including both field and lab testing. Contact
and economizers
Bob Davis or David Baylon at Ecotope
Mark Jerome
Resources
Investigate new products and features, including US-centric
controls, heat pump boilers, data center rack cooling, etc.
Mike Cundiff
Daikin provides online classes
(http://www.daikinac.com/comm
ercial/trainingOverview.asp?sec
=training)
VRF contractor training in
Irvine, California
Mark Jerome
Investigate Cascade Energy
Engineering VRF system; they
have been monitoring system
energy use for 5 years
Mike Cundiff
Collaborate with "Center for Built Environment" for
post occupancy evaluation of comfort and behavior
Paul Delaney
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
2
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Designer Unfamiliarity with VCHP
Proprietary equipment makes it
hard to understand or
commission
Technology misapplication
Some applications are not appropriate for
VRV e.g. large OSA with not many zones
Barriers
Codes and standards
were not available until
recently
Questionable cost effectiveness of
economizers and ground coupled
applications
Lack of robust
Lack of performance
design and
data to validate
modeling tools
manufacturer claims
Develop designer training
and outreach
Get early copies of ASHRAE
VRF Handbook Chapter, which is
scheduled to be available Spring
of 2012
Document operation in
lab tests
Develop commissioning
requirements
Collaborate with "Center for Built
Environment" for post occupancy
evaluation of comfort and behavior
Paul Delaney
TI Project 216 EPRI
Lab Testing
Resources
Unfamiliar
with
controls
Engineers are designing systems
around the technologies that they are
more comfortable with
VCHP does not fit into
standard design
process
Not all applications of VCHP systems
with simultaneous heating and cooling
capability are cost effective
Action
Items
Lack of education in
design and construction
fields on technology
Technology
misapplication can
affect deployment
AHRI 1230
Mike Cundiff
NREL may be a resource for lab
testing VRF systems
Bruce Baccei
Develop best practices
to ensure energy
savings
Develop screening tool for
cost effective opportunities
Lessons learned from
ASHRAE Headquarters
VRF demonstration
project
Investigate
lessons learned
from Oakridge
residential DHP
field testing
Get early copies
of ASHRAE 90.1
2010 VRF
mechanical tables
Daikin provides online classes
(http://www.daikinac.com/comme
rcial/trainingOverview.asp?sec=tr
aining)
Investigate new products and
features, including US-centric
EWEB
controls, heat pump boilers, commissioning
data center rack cooling, etc.
case study
Mike Cundiff
Investigate lessons learned from Energy Trust New Buildings program
has provided incentives for new community college buildings in Southern
Oregon, installing Mitsubishi VRFs. M&V-completion date is Fall 2011
Erin Rowe
Get early copies of ASHRAE VRF
Handbook Chapter, which is
scheduled to be available Spring of
2012
Investigate savings and lessons
Investigate lessons learned from Ecotope
learned from Corvallis Wild Life
single-head DHP report (residential),
Preserve VRF system with HRV
including both field and lab testing. Contact
and economizers
Bob Davis or David Baylon at Ecotope
Mark Jerome
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Investigate Cascade Energy
Engineering VRF system; they
have been monitoring system
energy use for 5 years
Mike Cundiff
Resource Available
3
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Owner Unfamiliarity with VCHP
Perception of risk, uncertain
owner and user, occupant
acceptance
There are a lot of HVAC options in the
market so this may not be perceived as the
best option for a given application
Unsure of system operation
Owners are not
familiar with the
systems
Barriers
Lack of data and market
knowledge to promote
technology
Uncertainty in the market about the benefits
of the system over the other systems
Develop owner training on
utility incentives and VCHP
benefits
Develop best practices to
ensure energy savings
Action
Items
Lessons learned from
ASHRAE Headquarters
VRF demonstration
project
Investigate
lessons learned
from Oakridge
residential DHP
field testing
Get early copies
of ASHRAE 90.1
2010 VRF
mechanical tables
Investigate new products and
features, including US-centric
controls, heat pump boilers,
data center rack cooling, etc.
Mike Cundiff
Investigate lessons learned from Energy Trust New Buildings program
has provided incentives for new community college buildings in Southern
Oregon, installing Mitsubishi VRFs. M&V-completion date is Fall 2011
Erin Rowe
Resources
Collaborate with "Center
for Built Environment" for
post occupancy evaluation
of comfort and behavior
Paul Delaney
NEEA and BOMA owner training
Get early copies of ASHRAE VRF Handbook
Chapter, which is scheduled to be available
Spring of 2012
Investigate savings and lessons
Investigate lessons learned from Ecotope
learned from Corvallis Wild Life
single-head DHP report (residential),
Preserve VRF system with HRV
including both field and lab testing. Contact
and economizers
Bob Davis or David Baylon at Ecotope
Mark Jerome
Investigate Cascade Energy Engineering
VRF system; they have been monitoring
system energy use for 5 years
Mike Cundiff
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
4
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Lack of Information to Prioritize Measures
Uncertain cost
effectiveness for some
applications
Hard to define baselines
to make comparisons
Barriers
Select and define highest
priority measures
Identify when and where designers
include electric resistance heat
with VRF systems
Understand engineering,
Installation, ownership,
utility barriers
Evaluate whether the
amount of VCHP
refrigerant is an issue
Action
Items
ASHRAE 90.1
2010 Appendix
G
Quantify savings for
replacing electric
heat
Investigate savings
for baselines that do
not have cooling
Develop cost
database
Distribute and
post EPRI VRF
market studies,
commissioned by
BPA, when they
are available
Mira Vowles
Preliminary screening of cost
effectiveness of measures
Screen for where
VRF HR systems are
cost-effective
Verify the significance of
duct losses and
feasibility of M&V
Mitsubishi VRF analysis
based on EnergyPro model
Nick Fernandez
Evaluate top
identified
applications
Identify installations where
savings can be verified
VCHP measure
potential
research and
studies (Power
plan)
Resources
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
5
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Uncertain Energy Savings, Costs and Cost Effectiveness
Uncertain
savings
Barriers
Uncertain
cost
Incremental costs of VRF
systems could be higher or
lower than baseline systems
Unknown
equipment life
Condensate piping
and pumps are a
costly oversight
Skepticism about savings
and real cost/benefit ratio
Utilities can not incent
if incremental cost is
negative
Quantify savings and costs over a
specific baseline
Select baseline
Establish
measure life
Quantify non-energy benefits
(O&M, gas savings, productivity
due to improved comfort, etc.) to
fully account for additional cost
effective measures
Action
Items
Develop models to
quantify savings for top
priority measures
Quantify energy savings
for night setback
Quantify annual energy
savings, benefits, costs
TI Project 216 EPRI VRF
HR Lab Testing
Use AHRI 1230 equipment performance ratings (EER, COP, IEER) to estimate
savings, including water cooled VRF system savings over air cooled VRF systems
Mike Cundiff
Document
savings
Mitsubishi VRF
trade-off for
analysis based on
VRF HR
EnergyPro model
without
economizers,
Nick Fernandez
Paul Doppler
Jim Benville
Resources
Investigate lessons
learned from
PNNL/NEEA work to
disaggregate
electrical loads, and
use to determine
actual VRF system
energy use
Nick Fernandez
Investigate
savings and
lessons learned
from Corvallis
Wild Life
Preserve VRF
system with
HRV and
economizers
Mark Jerome
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Distribute and post EPRI VRF market studies,
commissioned by BPA, when they are available
Mira Vowles
Investigate lessons
Investigate new
learned from BC Hydro
products and
VRF office building retrofit
features, including
in Vancouver; combination
US-centric
Investigate life
of modeled/measures
controls, heat
of Asian
savings. Presented at
pump boilers,
systems
Emerging Tech
data center rack
Conference in Sacramento
cooling, etc.
in Nov 2010
Mike Cundiff
Ron Domitrovic
Resource Available
6
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
M&V for Uncertain Energy Savings
Existing M&V approaches like energy modeling
and deemed savings are not proven for VRF
systems
Barriers
Complex systems-hard
to accurately measure
and quantify savings
Develop high
consensus M&V
protocols
Action
Items
Challenges metering
commercial VCHP
systems
Identify installations
where savings can be
verified
Possible opportunity for field
testing in a set of test bed
commercial buildings that
are being constructed in
Richland, WA at PNNL's
headquarters.
Nick Fernandez
Share results from EPRI
VRF&DHP EE Demo's
Mira Vowles
RTF VCHP Sub committee
IPMVP
Resources
Document M&V protocols
from field tests
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
7
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Product/Service Area
:
Difficult to Develop Measures
Uncertain
cost
Uncertain
savings
Unknown
equipment life
Complicated utility
incentive process
Higher first
cost
VRF may add cooling
to uncooled baselines
Barriers
Develop equipment
based measures
Describe energy savings time-ofoccurrence and duration: Load
Shape, Lifetime
Action
Items
Document magnitude and
longevity of the incremental
electric energy savings.
Define the value proposition for
the utilities, building owners
and contractors
Quantify baseline EUIs for
building types
Develop simple savings calculators based
on documented performance to be nimble,
reduce reliance on energy models and
lower program delivery cost
Evaluate cost effectiveness of
measures
Resources
Develop
performance
based measures
Develop simple
system start-up
requirements for
incentives
Consider upstream program
($/ton), similar to SCE, based
on energy models
Develop measure
specific M&V
protocols
Verify tenant
billing system
for M&V
VRF Pilot to verify measure
savings
Develop whole building savings
estimation and M&V using billing data
Design program to minimize
free ridership
Determine sample size to
quantify statistically significant
savings
Use AHRI 1230 equipment performance ratings
(EER, COP, IEER) to estimate savings, including
water cooled VRF system savings over air cooled
VRF systems
Mike Cundiff
Possible opportunity for field testing in a set of
test bed commercial buildings that are being
constructed in Richland, WA at PNNL's
headquarters.
Nick Fernandez
Field test M&V
protocols
Share results from EPRI
VRF&DHP EE Demo's
Mira Vowles
RTF VCHP Sub committee
Investigate incorporating
VRF systems into office of
the future pilot projects
which have 30-50%
savings goals. Contact
Amy Cortese, with New
Building Institute,
amy@newbuildings.org
Bruce Baccei
Summarize lessons
learned based on
evaluation of SCE's
upstream VRF
incentive program
Paul Delaney
IPMVP
ASHRAE 90.1 2010 VRF mechanical tables
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
8
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Difficult to Develop Incentive Programs
Usually adds cooling to a
space that did not have
cooling before
Higher initial cost
Barriers
Develop VCHP
Incentives
Develop equipment
based measures
Action
Items
Develop
performance
based measures
Develop VRF measures,
possibly whole building/pay
for performance incentives
Develop best practices and
specifications for ERV design
and operation
Quantify baseline EUIs for
building types
Develop best practices to
prevent electric resistance
heat operation
Consider upstream program
($/ton), similar to SCE, based
on energy models
Quantify savings for
baselines that do not have
cooling
Evaluate unoccupied temperature set-back/set-up, DOAS
control, electric resistance heat lock-out, low-ambient
performance and optimal start capabilities -develop best
practices and pay for performance
Develop simple system startup requirements for incentives
Determine free ridership.
Design program to minimize
free ridership
Summarize lessons learned based on evaluation
of SCE's upstream VRF incentive program
Paul Delaney
Resources
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
9
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Codes and Standards
Costly to meet ventilation codes
with VCHP systems
Codes and standards are still
being developed
Safety concerns over
refrigerant leaks
Difficult to meet net zero
Evaluate whether the amount of
VCHP refrigerant is an issue
Follow developing IECC net
zero requirements
Barriers
Follow developing codes and
standards
Follow developing IECC and other
economizer code exceptions
Evaluate whether the amount of
VCHP refrigerant is an issue
Action
Items
Follow developing IECC and other
economizer code exceptions
Follow developing IECC net zero
requirements
Document savings trade-off for VRF HR
without economizers, Paul Doppler
Jim Benville
IECC 2012
Get early copies of ASHRAE 90.1
2010 VRF mechanical tables
IECC 2012
ASHRAE
refrigerant
standard
Get early copies of ASHRAE VRF Handbook
Chapter, which is scheduled to be available Spring
of 2012
Resources
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
10
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Other Barriers
Cheaper install equals less
commission for sales man
Barriers
Inertia of traditional (US) HVAC
manufacturing design and
contracting system
Negative experiences
e.g. ASHRAE HQ Issues
Define the value proposition for
the utilities, building owners
and contractors
Action
Items
Lessons learned from ASHRAE
Headquarters VRF demonstration project
Investigate lessons learned from
Oakridge residential DHP field testing
Investigate lessons learned from Energy Trust New Buildings program has provided
incentives for new community college buildings in Southern Oregon, installing
Mitsubishi VRFs. M&V-completion date is Fall 2011
Erin Rowe
Investigate lessons learned from BC Hydro VRF office building retrofit
in Vancouver; combination of modeled/measures savings. Presented
at Emerging Tech Conference in Sacramento in Nov 2010
Ron Domitrovic
Resources
Identified Barrier
E3T Assessment Needed
Proposed Action Item
TI Research Needed
Get early copies of ASHRAE VRF Handbook
Chapter, which is scheduled to be available Spring
of 2012
Investigate lessons learned from Ecotope singlehead DHP report (residential), including both field
and lab testing. Contact Bob Davis or David Baylon
at Ecotope.
Bob Davis
Investigate savings and lessons learned
from Corvallis Wild Life Preserve VRF
system with HRV and economizers
Mark Jerome
Share EPRI VRF &
DHP EE Demo results
and Market Studies
Mira Vowles
Resource Available
11
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Non Energy Benefits of VCHP Systems
Barriers
Design and Installation
No wasted space costing-smaller
shafts, mechanical rooms etc.
Full integrated controls
ensures system
performs as intended
Ease of installation in Smaller footprint
retrofit applications
than RTU
Multi splits can
Allows for the application of a heat pump to
prevent zones from larger buildings where traditional HP systems
fighting
aren't feasible
Modular components may help simplify design
and flexibility for tenant changes
Adaptability for retrofit
applications
Flexibility-large array of applications and
models-can fit many different needs
Less ductwork or
no duct work
needed
More space in
ceilings and walls
Adds A/C to older buildings with less
disruption
Good for renovations
"older buildings"
Straight forward retrofit for many
existing systems
Non
Energy
Action
Benefits
Items
Aesthetics
Aesthetically more pleasing
than a PTAC or PTHP
Interface
Energy use monitoring
Improved Comfort
FDD capabilities and
remote displays
Individualized control-billing for
tenants in an office building
Packaged controls
Zonal control can be more precise-minimal
simultaneous heating and cooling
Non heat recovery mechanical
ventilation can be a comfort and an
energy waster
Low noise
Improved comfort with multiple thermostats to allow
individual office personal to control their own
environment
Resources
Identified Barrier
Non Energy Benefit (Adoption Driver)
Proposed Action Item
E3T Assessment Needed
TI Research Needed
Resource Available
12
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Gannt Chart: Action Items in High Level
13
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Gannt Chart: Action Items in Detail (1 of 2)
14
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Gannt Chart: Action Items in Detail (2 of 2)
15
Application
Existing System
New System
Commercial application in a converted house
Electric resistance
DHP mini split 2 head, 1 outdoor unit
Small and medium office
Multiple single speed ASHP-AC with electric heat
VRF multi split-VRF heat recovery
Small and medium office
Old rooftop HP
VRF with separate rooftop HP ERV
Small and medium office
Single speed ASHP or A/C with electric heat
VRF multi split
Small Retail
Split system heat pump with fans/zonal electric without AC
DHP mini split or with multiple heads
Building with data center or other heat source
Any electric heat
VRF heat recovery and DOAS
School
Hydronic heat pumps with electric boiler-closed cooling towereconomizers for each zone
VRF with heat recovery
Small and medium office
VAV with electric perimeter heat
VRF with heat recovery
Small and medium office
WSHP
VRF with heat recovery
Assisted Living
PTAC
DHP 1 head-1 comp per room
Lodging
PTAC/PTHP
DHP mini split
Multi family/Multi family small-rise
Zonal electric or electric FAF/Electric resistance
Single or two head DHP/DHP split
Multi family-Apartments
Base board heat-electric
VRF multi split
Multi family-Apartments low rise
PTHP with electric resistance
DHP mini split
Assisted Living
4 pipe FC
VAV with reheat
Lodging-Hotel
Chiller-Boiler with fan coils
Water cooled VRV
Assisted Living
Boiler & Cooling Tower with 180 WSHPs
DHP-Fujitsu 3 ton 3 head DHP 60 outdoor units 180 indoor units
Dorm
FCU
WSHP
Large office
4 pipe FCU
VAV with reheat
Small and Medium Office-Small office up to 5000 sf
RTUS(gas pack or heat pump)
VRF multi split
Small or medium office-4 to 5 stories
PSZ heat pumps-multiple sercing each floor
VRF with heat recovery
Small and medium office
Rooftop air cooled DX VAV with series or parallel fan box with ECM,
100% OA economizer-no heat recovery
VRF with heat recovery
School
Chilled water fan coil units-radiators
VRF with heat recovery
School
Ceiling heat
VRF with heat recovery
School
FCU
VAV with reheat
Assisted Living
Base board heat-Window AC
VRF with heat recovery
Packaged VAV HP
VRV heat pump
Lodging-Hotel
PTAC with electric heat
VRF with heat recovery
Retail building approximately 40000 sq ft concrete block slightly
pitched roof (flat)
Multiple roof top units (6) 10 ton with 3 ph strip heat with concentric
diffusers
Daikin VRV or Mitsubishi City Multi R2: 20- 2x2 casettes for T bar ceiling
& 3-wall mount units
VAV with reheat-chilled & hot water loop
VRF with heat recovery
Central boiler-Window AC
VRF multi split
Large Office (>60000, > 150 tons)
Large Office (>60000, > 150 tons)
School
16
Application
Existing System
New System
Commercial application in a
converted house
Electric resistance
DHP mini split 2 head, 1 outdoor
unit
Small and medium office
Multiple single speed ASHPAC with electric heat
VRF multi split-VRF heat
recovery
Small and medium office
Old rooftop HP
VRF with separate rooftop HP
ERV
Small and medium office
Single speed ASHP or A/C with
VRF multi split
electric heat
Small Retail
Split system heat pump with
fans/zonal electric without
AC
DHP mini split or with multiple
heads
17
VCHP Energy Efficiency Measure Development Roadmap
Survey for Prioritization of Potential Measures
Objective of this survey is to prioritize potential measures identified in the VCHP
roadmapping effort.
Please use the following link to reach the survey
Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RM58D75
Please complete the survey by 5:00 pm on May 27th
18