Regional Smart Thermostat Workshop:

Evolving DirectionsMichael LublinerWSU Energy ProgramSmart Thermostat Workshop

Northwest Energy Efficiency AllianceJanuary 11, 2018, 10:50 - 11:25 a.m.

WSU Energy Program: Rob Penny, Ken EklundNest : Michael Blasnik - Research

Yeye Zhang - Business Development, Western Regional Partnerships

Johnson Controls: Roy Crawford - Executive Director, Advanced Technology

Ceilo WiGle Inc: Dr. Waseem Amer - CEO

Contributions

Current Market Barrier

• How to take credit for Connected Thermostat (CT) energy savings when using an Energy Rating Index (HER/ERI)

• Will adding CT to ERI dramatically Increase Market Demand in and will utilities be ready? – New construction: NW Energy Star and energy codes– Existing homes: remodel, weatherization, etc. – Replacement HVAC:

• AC Contractors of America Quality Installation (ACCA QI) standards• Performance Tested Comfort Systems (PTCS)• WA State MH Heat Pump Installations and LNI Inspections (TBD)

Current Market Barrier: Next Steps

• Engage RTF on Useful Life of CT• RESNET on HERS Score (TBD)• Engage ASHRAE on 90.2 ERI (NEEA/WSU)• Engage WA State Energy Code (points and/or ERI) • International Energy Conservation Code (NEEA/WSU)• How to add to software simulations?

– Difficult to model T-stat behavior– KISS options

• Assume EPA savings for central heating and/or cooling & adjust ERI/HERS after simulation

• WSEC Points System (Baylon?)

Johnson Controls (Wi-Fi connected) • York-T Hex-Stat

– Real-time alerts – Notification and alert messages aid remote diagnostics

• Service and support application – Monitor system for alerts– View system diagnostics– Make operating adjustments – Remotely monitor and control

• Connects to York ENERGY STAR HVAC Equipment (Affinity™ Variable Speed Units)

• Provides ½ of all new HVAC for HUD-code (Evcon/Coleman)

Johnson Controls (Wi-Fi connected) • CT “GLAS” on market soon. • First developed for commercial buildings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ0FZrc2lRA Uses Occupancy sensor and has indoor outdoor IAQ feature

• Uses Occupancy sensor • Has indoor/outdoor IAQ monitoring feature• Partners with Microsoft Utilizing:

– Windows 10 loT Core– Cortana Voice Services – Azure cloud

Ceilo Breez• Smart AC/Heat Pump Controller• Converts DHP and AC into Smart Appliances• Comprehensive usage statistics about consumption patterns• Scheduling from anywhere • Controls a group of AC/Heat Pumps• Place Breeze in HP line of sight (IR)• Ceilo Home (relays control lights, appliances, MELs) • https://www.cielowigle.com/#video• Compatible with Amazon Alexia• Head Office in Redmond, WA

NEST Utility Research Partner

• CT generated information is a utility research tool to evaluate the impact of CT savings:– ETO Clear Results etc. (heat pump & strip heat)– ETO/PSE etc. (seasonal savings)– WSU/BPA (PNW cooling data for BPA white paper) – WSU/FSEC (Nest Away data for Occupancy Smart

Ventilation Control ) – Outside PNW region (MH national focus – one size fits all)– Technical Contributor to EPA connected thermostats

Nest Thermostat Research

• Simple for utilities to set up and deploy in house or with a program implementer.

• Delivers meaningful, measureable savings at low cost.• Runs on Nest thermostats already installed in targeted utility

service area, with high opt-in rates.• Enables straightforward evaluation using randomized control

trials (RCT) or alternative methods. • Google (Home) might bring Nest back into its own hardware

business (TBD?)

Nest Research: November 2017• Seasonal Savings: Overview of Program Design and Results:

– Over 70% of invited customers opted in– 3% to 5% average cooling energy savings– 3% to 9% average heating energy savings

• An energy efficiency boost that adjusts thermostat schedules a little at a time to deliver incremental energy savings.

• Personalized demand response that combines real results with impressive customer satisfaction and retention.

• Incorporates time-of-use rates into the daily operation of the Nest thermostat to automatically reduce AC runtime during high-priced periods. (Rush Hour Rewards, Time of Savings)

Nest Seasonal Savings Results

Line Voltage Connected Thermostats

• LVCTs mostly caught up to smart thermostats• ~6 brands (mostly Canadian), some ~$100 per thermostat• Nearly all have remote control, easy programming, and tight

deadband, and all can control baseboards• Some can also control fan-forced heaters and radiant floors• Some sense humidity, outdoor temp/forecasts and/or

occupancy (using sensor, geo-fencing, or Nest connection)• 80%+ are in multifamily: price sensitive and split incentive vs.

happier tenants ($$), asset protection, and millennials like it• Current utility rebates estimate savings from smaller dead-

bands, and no ENERGY STAR category; PSE is field testing• Utilities may benefit from EE, DR, and energy use reporting• Payback 5-7 years, Regional Technical Potential <600 TWh/yr

Canadian LVCT Manufacturers

• Brands that are not proprietary:– Sinope – Stelpro Ki– CaSA Caleo– Walker– Empowered Homes

• BPA/WSU E3T Webinar:– http://e3tnw.org/webinars.aspx#W055

HVAC System Fault Detection

• Potential for connected thermostats (CTs) to provide information to: HVAC contractor, occupant, HVAC mfg. related to system fault detection and the potential need for servicing

• On-board diagnostics (ACCA/ANSI) – Comments due 12/26/2017

http://www.acca.org/standards/ansi– On-board diagnostics (OBD) that incorporate a

standardized set of fault and performance codes help technicians to properly install equipment, identify servicing problems, and return systems to proper operational duty.

BSR/ACCA 15 OBD 201x Std.• On-Board Diagnostic Codes for HVACR

Equipment

BSR/ACCA 15 OBD 201x Std.• On-Board Diagnostic Codes for HVACR

Equipment Examples:• Fault Code:

• Performance Code:

Manufactured Housing (MH) CT Opportunities

• WSU/NEES Research proposal to U.S. DOE Building America focused on connected thermostat control of:– Centrally ducted electric furnaces &/or HP added– Centrally ducted electric furnaces with zonal DHP

• Partners included NEST, Mitsubishi, NEEA, PNNL, Complements WA LNI HP commissioning (TBD)

• 2017 proposal NOT funded by U.S. DOE – “Optimizing Control of Electric Resistance FAF Operating

Alone or in Combination with Central or Ductless HP”

Multi-family (MF) Opportunities

• Smart Thermostat Control for Ductless Heat Pumps and Electric Resistance Heaters

• Research proposal to BPA TI focused on connected thermostat control of:– Zonal electric resistance heat in apartments – DHP control in apartment main living zone

• Partners included Ceilo, Tacoma Housing Authority, Seattle Housing, Mitsubishi, NEEA

CT that turn other “stuff” off

• LBNL research proposal to U.S. DOE BENEFIT & BPA TI on connected thermostat control of:– Builder Installed Electrical Loads (BIEL) – Occupant Installed Misc. Electric Loads (MELs)

• Partners included WSU, FSEC, Fluke, NEEA• LBNL Proposal “Reducing Builder Installed Loads

in Homes” NOT funded by BPA or U.S. DOE

Smart Ventilation Controls (SVC)

• Research funding from U.S. DOE Building America on connected thermostat control of:– Temperature Smart Ventilation Controls (TSVC)– Occupancy Smart Ventilation Controls (OSVC) – Occupant Smart M&O Controls (M&O SVC) – IAQ Sensors (FOBOT, Air Advice, other)

• Partners included LBNL, FSEC, ASHRAE 62.2, Nest, Panasonic, TEC, NEEA

SVC (continued)

• Complements ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2017– Reduce flow based on outside temperature & stack – Reduce flow based on occupancy density (Nest away data)

• Data from over 100,000 Nest CT:– median value of 1,226 unoccupied hours per year. – 10-12 days typically full day away, balance being part time – Part time away was found to peak at 9am-2pm for

weekdays and 11am-3pm weekends.

• Report under peer review U.S. DOE BA

Washington State University Energy Program

Go Cougs!