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GTI Awarded Nearly $4 Million for California Energy
Research and Development
09/11/09 Des Plaines, IL
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) will be helping reduce energy costs in California homes through two research contracts recently awarded by the California Energy Commission. Nearly $4 million was awarded by the Energy Commission to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in residential homes–both identified as priorities for California’s energy ratepayers’ dollars by the Energy Commission.
“Over the years, GTI, along with our sponsors and partners, has continued to advance multiple types of high-efficiency, environmentally friendly furnaces, boilers and HVAC systems; water heaters; and cooking equipment into the marketplace,” says Bill Liss, GTI’s Managing Director, End Use Solutions Center. “We also have a strong history of providing venting and code issue solutions for both single- and multi-family homes.”
“We are very excited about this research,” comments Karen Douglas, Energy Commission Chairman. “These two projects address several major California energy goals, including the reduction of carbon and an increase of energy efficient technologies decreasing the state’s dependence on fossil fuels. California’s ratepayers will reap the benefits of this promising research.”
Through one Energy Commission award, GTI will manage a 30-month program which includes 15 partner organizations. GTI and its partners will ultimately provide design and installation guidance for high-efficiency radiant cooling and heating systems, and related envelope improvements in existing California homes.
“This R&D project has the potential to reduce system costs while significantly increasing the installed efficiency of residential space conditioning systems in cooling-dominated climates throughout California, especially hot dry climates,” says Neil Leslie, GTI’s R&D Manager and program manager for the Energy Commission project. “As a result, we believe that up to 75% reduction in space conditioning energy consumption is possible along with significant energy demand reduction. In addition, California ratepayers will gain the benefits of reduced carbon emissions, enhanced comfort, and improved quality construction. We expect these results to apply to both new and existing homes.”
The second research contract addresses energy and efficiency issues for water heating systems.
“Natural gas water heating is used in over 80% of the 12.3 million California households, and consumes over 2.1 billion therms annually,” says Doug Kosar, GTI’s Institute Engineer and program manager for the three-year Energy Commission project.
“This program has the overall goal of significantly reducing residential water heating energy consumption. We will accomplish this by effectively expediting the wider use of emerging higher efficiency gas-fired technologies with a broad-based set of closely linked market transformation activities.”
Key deliverables of the project include: integrated hot water generation and distribution system analysis tools; efficient water heating equipment and piping system best practices guides; standard testing and rating methods and building/energy code developments; water heating, piping, and venting equipment laboratory evaluations; field performance monitoring and consumer behavior studies; and advanced water heating system training for the plumbing trades.
About GTI
GTI is a leading research, development and training organization that has been addressing the nation’s energy and environmental challenges for more than 65 years by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government. |  |
