End-Use Energy Efficiency and Demand Response -Program...

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End-Use Energy Efficiency and Demand Response - Program 170

Program Overview

Program Description The electricity industry faces growing demand for power and the imperative to maintain reliable, affordable service while reducing carbon emissions. Utilities and policy makers in the United States and abroad are increasingly turning to energy efficiency as a resource to help address these challenges. Many U.S. states have enacted legislation that mandates specific energy-efficiency savings goals, and some explicitly require utilities to place energy efficiency atop their resource planning initiatives. Key to the realization of these goals is the development and adoption of emerging energy-efficient technologies and best practices.

Research Value This program is focused on the assessment, testing, and demonstration of energy-efficient and smart end-use devices to accelerate their adoption into utility programs, which can influence the progress of codes and standards and ultimately lead to market transformation. The program also develops analytical frameworks essential to utility application of energy efficiency, including assessment of resource potential, characterization of end-use load profiles, calculation of environmental impacts, and integration into utility resource planning. This EPRI program provides the following:

• Objective, independent technical assessment, testing, and demonstration of emerging end-use technologies for energy efficiency and the enablement of demand response

• A framework to evaluate the readiness of emerging end-use technologies for utility programs, along a continuum spanning technology scouting, assessment and lab testing, research and development (R&D) field testing and demonstration, coordinated early deployment, and full program rollout

• World-class laboratory facilities to test emerging end-use technologies in simulated environmental conditions, which mitigates members' technical risk for field demonstrations and larger-scale deployments or programs

• Technical staff with expertise in heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); lighting; water heating; motors; power electronics; data centers; industrial end uses; and controls

• Multilevel assessment of enabling technologies for demand response: components and devices, home and building premise applications, and program integration into retail and wholesale markets

• Development of analytical frameworks to help utilities assess energy efficiency potential, characterize end-use load profiles, extract insights from smart meter data, calculate net carbon emissions impacts, and incorporate demand-side resources into resource planning

Approach

• Validate the performance of emerging end-use technologies—for example, energy savings, reliability, and compatibility—to develop deemed savings impacts to accelerate their adoption into programs and markets

• Update the Energy Efficiency Technology Assessment Guide, a compendium of technical, economic, and market readiness information for a comprehensive set of end-use technology categories, to serve as a convenient reference for utility energy efficiency professionals

• Produce in-depth, authoritative technical reports and guidebooks • Provide knowledge transfer through concise technical briefs, fact sheets, newsletters, and topical

webinars throughout the year to communicate insights to utility staff, including account representatives, and end-use customers

• Develop a model and database to help utilities conduct resource potential studies of energy-efficiency potential, based on ongoing Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) modeling to assess the technical, economic, and achievable potential for energy efficiency and peak-demand reduction at the national and regional levels

Electric Power Research Institute 2013 Research Portfolio

End-Use Energy Efficiency and Demand Response - Program 170 p. 2

• Conduct large-scale multi-year field deployment of advanced energy-efficient technologies • Develop and refine an industry-standard modeling approach to quantify the impact of energy efficiency on

reducing carbon emissions to inform utilities, policymakers, and regulators

Accomplishments The research performed in this program helped manage risk mitigation and avoid costs of understanding and assessing emerging end use technologies including

• Assessment, testing, and demonstration of energy-efficient technologies to determine efficacy prior to deployments in utility pilots or programs

• Assessment, testing, and demonstration of demand response–enabling technology to determine efficacy and interoperability prior to deployments in utility pilots or programs

• Synthesis of end-use load research results and techniques to provide predictive insights into electricity use forecasts

The program also provided significant input into standards development process including

• Use-case functional specifications of demand response–ready end-use devices through a multidisciplinary process involving utilities, equipment manufacturers, public agencies, and other industry stakeholders

A third area of results contributed significantly on understanding and assessing regulatory compliance through benchmarking and standardizations recommendations

• Establishment of national and regional benchmarks for energy efficiency and peak-demand reduction potential to inform discussions of state energy efficiency targets among members, policy makers, and other stakeholders

• Analysis and recommendations for standardized measurement and verification (M&V) protocols for energy- efficiency and demand-response programs that can improve the cost effectiveness of program M&V and reduce the ambiguity of impact attribution

Current Year Activities

• Expand the scope and breadth of laboratory testing, to keep pace with new technologies and members’ need to understand how the technologies work, and characterize them in business cases

• Consolidate summary profiles of end-use technology categories into an updated comprehensive Energy Efficiency Technology Assessment Guide for convenient reference

• Develop methods for characterizing changes in household end use of electricity in a timely and cost-effective way

• Issue strategic technology briefs, industry briefs, workshops, and other practical knowledge transfer tools for members

Estimated 2013 Program Funding $4.3M

Program Manager Omar Siddiqui, 650-855-2328, [email protected]



Summary of Projects

PS170A Analytical Frameworks (65578)

Project Set Description This project set develops and advances analytical frameworks, tools, and methodologies essential to utility application of energy efficiency and demand response, including assessment of resource potential, characterization of end-use load profiles, techniques to extract insights from smart meter data, calculation of carbon and other environmental emissions impacts, and integration into utility resource planning. This project set can help utilities assign value to the impact of energy efficiency and demand response technologies and programs. Participants will be well-positioned to quantify the full benefits of their energy-efficiency and demand-response portfolios and justify associated investments in regulatory filings.

Project Number Project Title Description

P170.002 Impact of Energy Efficiency on Emissions of CO2 and Other Pollutants

Refinement of EPRI National Electric System Simulation Integrated Evaluator (NESSIE) model as a potential industry-standard approach to converting energy efficiency savings to CO2, SOx, NOx, and Hg emissions reductions.

P170.005 Load Research: Customer Insights & End-Use Data Collection

Load Research - Customer Data Analytics and End-Use Load Shape Development.

P170.022 Energy Efficiency Potential Analysis Tools: Model and Database

Energy Efficiency Potential Model Maintenance and Update

P170.023 Integrating Energy Efficiency and Demand Response into Resource Planning

This project in 2013 will present a case study of a utility or regional planning organization that is actively involved in integrating demand-side resources into the resource planning process.

P170.002 Impact of Energy Efficiency on Emissions of CO2 and Other Pollutants (069236)

Key Research Question Little consensus exists among experts and policy makers on how to quantify the atmospheric emission reduction value of energy-efficiency measures. A standardized and accepted methodology for this conversion would facilitate more accepted attribution of energy efficiency's impact on carbon emissions for policy considerations. Since 2007, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has been examining the issue of assessing impact of energy efficiency measured on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, establishing in 2008 a proof-of-concept approach to calculating the marginal emissions reduction impact of selected major commercial end uses. In 2009, EPRI expanded its model to include major residential and industrial end uses, and it further refined this methodology to account for the impact of energy efficiency on capacity expansion. In 2010, EPRI developed a spreadsheet calculator based on its National Electric System Simulation Integrated Evaluator (NESSIE) model for members to perform customized analyses for their region. In 2011, this calculator was customized to facilitate the inclusion of utility-specific data inputs for CO2 emissions and end-use load profiles. The user interface and presentation of results were also enhanced to suit added functionality and ease of use. The 2011 calculator was also updated to reflect an expanded EPRI energy-efficiency measure database. In 2012, the calculator was further updated by enhancing the capability to estimate the impact on net CO2 emissions that results from switching from fossil fuels to cleaner energy to power selected end-uses.



Going forward in 2013 and beyond, EPRI intends to advance its methodology and results among utilities and policy makers as an analytically rigorous and practical approach to quantify and monetize energy efficiency's impact, not only on CO2 emissions, but also on other pollutants such as sulfur oxides (SOX), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and mercury (Hg). EPRI will also make annual updates to its NESSIE model and associated calculator tool to update emission reduction intensities based on the latest U.S. Annual Energy Outlook projections, data on regional generation resources, and end-use load shape characteristics.

Approach This project entails the continued development and application of a modeling approach to help utilities and policy makers assess the impact of energy-efficient technologies on CO2 as well as SOX, NOX, and Hg emissions reductions. This project will use previous EPRI modeling work from 2008 to 2012 that applied EPRI's NESSIE load dispatch and capacity expansion model-to-model marginal CO2 emission reduction by end use. The product will be a technical update and set of data tables that ascribe marginal CO2, SOX, NOX, and Hg impacts for specific categories of energy efficiency as a function of U.S. region and market penetration, taking into account end-use load shapes and generation mix as a function of time.

Impact This project provides utilities with an analytical basis to convert electricity savings from energy-efficiency programs by end use into reductions in emissions that accomplish the following: • Enable quantification of the emission reduction impact of energy-efficient technologies • Offer members a framework to work effectively with customers, regulators, and policymakers to establish

a societal business case for new technologies, enabling greater adoption of energy-efficient technologies • Provide a bounded set of values for marginal CO2, SOX, NOX, and Hg impact that balances the need for

analytical rigor consistent with prevailing emissions offset and trading markets with the practicality of utility implementation

• Enable monetization of emission costs

How to Apply Results The data tables from this project will provide impacts on marginal emission of CO2, SOX, NOX, and Hg from a variety of major end uses as a function of U.S. North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) region and assumptions of the market-penetration levels of efficient end-use technologies. In this way, energy-efficiency projects can achieve greater acceptance as a strategy for reduction of emission of these particular pollutants.

2013 Products

Product Title & Description Planned Completion Date Product Type

Calculator for Translating Energy Efficiency Savings into Emissions Reductions: 2013 Update: An updated version of the EPRI calculator for translating energy efficiency savings into emissions reductions, featuring enhanced capabilities to model emissions impacts beyond CO2 to other pollutants such as sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and mercury. A Technical Update will accompany the software product.

12/31/13 Assembled Package



P170.005 Load Research: Customer Insights & End-Use Data Collection (067472)

Key Research Question There is growing evidence that consumers are changing the ways they use electricity. However, utilities are still relying on load profile data collected several years ago, in addition to even older and sparser end-use data, to understand customer behavior. As a result, there is a growing and troublesome disparity between how utilities plan to serve electricity loads, which involves large—and in many cases indivisible—investments in generation, transmission, and distribution plants and the loads they will actually serve. Just as important, utilities need to be able to characterize loads and their constituent elements to a higher level of detail to design pricing plans. Then utilities need to offer incentives to modify the level and profile of usage to better match underlying supply costs and reflect external costs. Moreover, realizing the benefits that appear to be associated with offering consumers timely and actionable feedback on usage requires that a robust characterization of all customer load profiles be established. The universal deployment of smart meters provides the utility with the means to more accurately profile household load profiles and to track changes in those profiles over time. New load research methods are needed to be able to mine these data to provide insight and structure for pricing and feedback initiatives. Additionally, robust load research methods that can support other uses of smart meter data, such as supporting distribution system operations and enabling the adoption of distributed generation technologies, are needed. This project supports the longer term plan established as part of the Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI's) roadmap process to begin developing whole premise and end-use load data by sector, by building type, and by climate zone. The development of a national database hinges upon finding new, lower-cost methods to collect these load shapes accurately. Of course the seeds for this data collection effort have been planted through the industry's embrace of interval meters. This approach will make whole premise load shape analysis much more cost effective. End-Use load shape development is more complicated and currently more costly. EPRI is conducting two efforts to enable the disaggregation of end-use load research data more cheaply. The result of those efforts should produce end-use load shapes accurately and at much lower cost than currently available. Finally, the load shape library will be used to house the data collected as part of these above described efforts. Activity in 2013 will consist of maintaining the database and updating it, to include new data that become available and to provide enhancements desired by the funders.

Approach In 2013, this project will focus on methods of extracting customer insights from usage information obtained from smart meters deployed in residential customers. The project will collect interval data from host utilities and correlate those results with survey data collected form each. The survey instrument will collect basic appliance stock, housing characteristics, and homeowner details such as number and age of occupants. The project will identify the data that can be gathered from smart meters at various types of commercial buildings to support pricing, feedback, forecasting, operations, and other applications that would realize value from more comprehensive characterization of load profiles. The project builds on work conducted in 2011 and 2012, which focused on developing methods to extract customer insights from household smart meter data.

Impact

• Improve the understanding of customer usage characteristics and load profiles • Stimulate the development of low-cost, accurate methods for collecting end-use load data • Accelerate the collection of end-use data • Improve the accuracy of load forecasting, market planning, and rate design



How to Apply Results Improved data on customer consumption characteristics will be invaluable to every aspect of utility enterprise business activities—from system planning to pricing planning, and energy-efficiency program design to system operations and financial and accounting activities. Moreover, the results will be valuable for public policy inquiries aimed at improving sector performance and optimally achieving economic and environmental policy objectives.

2013 Products


Customer Insight Database 12/31/13 Assembled Package

End-Use Load Research Data Collection Effort (National Campaign) 12/31/13 Technical Resource

Load Shape Library - O&M 12/31/13 Software

P170.022 Energy Efficiency Potential Analysis Tools: Model and Database (072089)

Key Research Question With the promulgation of energy-efficiency savings mandates in many states and other jurisdictions, utilities and policy makers have a keen interest in understanding the potential for energy efficiency at the national, regional, subregional, state, and service-territory levels. Many load-serving entities are required by their regulatory commissions to submit energy-efficiency potential filings on a periodic basis; these undertakings typically require significant investment in consultants. Yet, the fundamental approach to modeling energy-efficiency potential through equipment stock turnover is well understood and has been applied by many firms, as well as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). Moreover, utilities who engage firms to assist them in conducting studies of energy-efficiency potential typically pay for existing databases of technology performance and costs. However, there is minimal sharing of such models or databases among utilities, which would make such studies consistent and comparable in addition to driving down their costs and timelines. In response to this situation, this project will share EPRI tools that utility members can use to help them conduct energy-efficiency potential studies more quickly, cost effectively, and in line with industry standards.

Approach In this project, EPRI will share tools that utility members can use to help them conduct energy-efficiency potential studies more quickly, cost effectively, and in line with industry standardsr. These tools include an equipment stock turnover model, a database of energy-efficiency measures, and associated documentation in a technical report. EPRI is continuously enhancing its energy-efficiency potential model and database through ongoing assessments conducted at the national, regional, subregional, state, and service-territory levels. The current energy-efficiency potential evaluation model represents largely static technology choices and costs and considers only electrical energy consumption. It is desirable to accommodate dynamic inputs throughout the forecast period to better represent the reality of customer decisions and technology evolution. For instance, a more efficient technology choice in 2012 might become the de facto standard in the future, and therefore should represent the baseline consumer purchase where appropriate. To better represent the way in which stock of appliances changes over time, non-electric fuels must also be included in the process. This is particularly true in the case of space heating technologies, where natural gas represents the majority of energy consumed for



heating in the United States. The decision to replace a furnace with a more efficient heat pump provides a more complete picture of the impacts of highly-efficient electrical technologies. In this project, EPRI will update its base energy efficiency potential model to represent current technology choices and costs, which entails first updating the technology database by sector across the nine U.S. census divisions. In addition, fossil fuel consumption will be incorporated to model the impacts of fuel switching. With updated energy and demand impacts and incremental technology costs, the mechanics of the model can be updated to incorporate changes over the forecast period. This will include factors such as: • changing technology costs, • accelerated stock turnover, and • changes in codes and standards.

With dynamic inputs, the model will better model changes in electricity consumption over time and allow sensitivity analyses to be performed (e.g., to identify the impacts of varying levels of stock turnover rate).

Impact This project will share EPRI tools that utility members can use to help them conduct energy-efficiency potential studies more quickly, cost effectively, and in line with industry standards. These tools will include the following: • An enhanced energy-efficiency potential model that features fuel switching and allowance for dynamics

over the forecast horizon, to better represent the impacts of energy-efficiency measures on fossil fuel consumption by U.S. census division

• An updated database of energy-efficient measures • A technical report documenting the methodology behind the model and how to apply it

How to Apply Results The tools produced in this project—report, software model, and database—can be applied by utilities to conduct customized studies of energy-efficiency potential more quickly, conveniently, and at lower cost. EPRI can help interested utilities apply the results in supplemental studies.

2013 Products


Software Update 12/31/13 Software

Market Acceptance Factors and Program Implementation Factor Development Guide 12/31/13 Technical

Update

P170.023 Integrating Energy Efficiency and Demand Response into Resource Planning (072090)

Key Research Question A key aspect of effective demand-side planning—including energy efficiency and demand response—is the inclusion of projected impacts into the utility resource planning process. The inherent nature of demand-side resources, including their varying product life cycles and dependence on consumer behavior, make it more complicated to incorporate it into the resource planning process. Resource planning uses fixed blocks of generating capacity and fuel costs with assumed lifetimes. This makes dynamic modeling of alternative supply-side and purchase options a more reasonable possibility. Energy efficiency is different in that its impacts build over time, producing cost savings that might be difficult to isolate, and have operational and risk characteristics that make them more or less flexible than conventional supply-side resources.



Approach The project in 2013 will build upon the results from the work in 2012 by using a case study approach to assess the specifics of optimizing this decision process among competing objectives and stakeholders. This approach will document the process and review some of the issues that may confound the optimization of energy-efficiency and demand-response portfolios.

Impact More precise modeling of energy-efficiency and demand-response impacts, and their inclusion in resource planning, can yield significant cost savings to utilities. It would help utilities determine the optimal investment in energy-efficiency and demand-response resources to achieve cost-effective resource objectives.

How to Apply Results The case study approach provides specific examples of elements that work and those that do not. The technical report will provide a documented example of how a large utility incorporates energy efficiency and demand response resources into its planning process. It will review what works and what does not plus tradeoffs that have to be considered.

2013 Products


Translating EE & DR into the IRP Process - A Case Study 12/31/13 Technical Report

PS170B Demand Response Systems (65571)

Project Set Description The projects in this set assess, test, and demonstrate the application of technological advances in integrated energy management control systems, linking smart thermostats, lighting controls, and other load-control technology with smart end-use devices to enable more sophisticated and effective demand response, such as dynamic energy management, in homes and buildings. The project set also examines technological advances in permanent load-shifting techniques, such as thermal storage and its integration into demand-response systems for load shaping and peak-load management. This project set addresses the decision criteria for developing a demand response portfolio in the context of retail and wholesale market structures. Finally, it offers members an opportunity to work collaboratively with other utilities, government agencies, and manufacturers to define the requirements of end-use devices that are designed "DR-ready," that is, able to participate in demand response programs “out of the box,” which carries the potential for dramatic operational and cost benefits to members.


P170.006 Enabling DR-Ready Devices and Programs

This project continues the activities started in 2009 to identify the functional capabilities for selected residential end-use devices so that they are considered demand-response ready ("DR-Ready"), or ready to participate in DR programs “out of the box.” The 2013 project will focus on developing guiding principles for identifying gaps and areas for refinement in DR-Ready criteria specification by end-use category, based on utility objectives for demand response. Through a webcast series with industry stakeholders, the project will vet and disseminate guiding principles for criteria development supportive of a broad range of grid needs.

P170.007 Peak Load Management of Thermal Loads

This project assesses and demonstrates the state of the art in end-use thermal technologies for electric load management.




P170.009 Intelligent Buildings This is a third-party examination of integrated systems for building and lighting controls that make up intelligent buildings. The project consists of two parts. One part addresses state-of-the-art building controls for demand response, with a focus on the grocery and convenience store segment. It assesses the integration of demand-response gateways into existing building energy management systems that feature interoperable and open communication standards. The second part determines realistic performance, market potential, energy impact, and improved quality of light that can be expected with the use of intelligent lighting control.

P170.018 Demand Response Program Assessment Tools (Retail and Wholesale)

In 2011, this project developed an evaluation framework for sustainable demand response implementations. In 2012, the project described the wholesale operations landscape, including practices and challenges faced by different types of stakeholders when utilizing demand response in wholesale operations. Given an understanding of the opportunities and risks stemming from wholesale markets, in 2013 the project expands to provide a roadmap for enabling utilities to realize the full value of demand response in wholesale operations.

P170.006 Enabling DR-Ready Devices and Programs (067473)

Key Research Question Despite its well-documented and demonstrated benefits to society, utilities, and consumers, demand response (DR) remains a critically underused resource in the United States. One of the key barriers to greater participation is the cost to utilities of installing equipment in buildings and homes to enable load control and demand responsiveness, such as programmable communicating thermostats and sensors on air conditioners, appliances, water heaters, pool pumps, lighting, and other large end uses that contribute to peak demand. Experience also suggests that customers’ reluctance to have unknown controls installed in their homes or businesses is a barrier to more widespread participation in utility DR programs. However, these barriers would be overcome if major energy-consuming appliances and plug loads came ready to support DR programs out of the box (“DR-Ready”).

Approach DR-Ready refers to capabilities of end-use devices to receive a signal from a utility, such as economic information or emergency messages, and to respond automatically to that signal by modulating operation to adjust or shift demand. This project expands on prior Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) efforts to accomplish the following: • Identify capabilities of devices so they can be considered DR-Ready. • Define and refine functional capabilities in a way that describes what a DR-Ready device must be able to

accomplish, given specific inputs and conditions (e.g., shift load for a certain period of time or reduce load by a certain percentage).

• Identify utility programs that are most likely to be supported by device manufacturers and consumers, including factors such as whether there is one- or two-way communication with the device and how consumer privacy is addressed.

• Develop a roadmap for industry migration to ubiquitous mass-market demand response. The project builds on EPRI collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in 2008–2012 and with manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify opportunities to make an appliance’s DR-ready communications capability a labeled attribute for selected categories of end-use devices going forward.



Impact

• Have influence in steering criteria for DR-ready end-use technologies aligned with current and future utility objectives for using DR.

• Participate in a utility collaborative to influence DOE standards and EPA ENERGY STAR "Connected" criteria towards including critical DR-Ready functionality while maintaining grid security (and avoiding unintended consequences of restoration after a DR event).

• Have a collective perspective documented to influence equipment manufacturers to develop DR-Ready equipment useful to utilities and other grid operators.

• Improve the cost effectiveness of future DR programs by mitigating the expense of installing on-site equipment for participating customers through DR-Ready end-use devices.

• Increase DR capability and expand the potential market of DR program members through the market entry of DR-ready end-use devices.

How to Apply Results Members will have firsthand access to influence the definition of DR-Ready, including functional capabilities and signaling criteria to influence operation of DR-Ready devices in coordination with grid needs. Utility staff involved in the planning and design of DR programs and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI)/smart grid systems can participate in the dialogue through the project and help collectively steer ENERGY STAR "Connected" criteria development to include end-use equipment attributes that would allow for “out-of-the-box” capabilities supportive of grid needs. Equipment manufacturers can apply the functionality guidelines established through this project to develop and refine prototype DR-ready technologies, which can, in turn, be tested in EPRI’s laboratory and could be deployed in field trials in members’ service territories in conjunction with DR programs. The advent of DR-ready devices into the marketplace can expand members’ DR potential, increase dispatchability and reliability, and lower program operating costs.

2013 Products


Guiding Principles for Defining DR-Ready Criteria in Support of Grid Needs: Guiding principles are provided for defining DR-Ready criteria in support of grid needs. Distinct demand-response objectives are associated with criteria like device support for configurable settings versus fixed, two-way communications versus one-way, specific response versus relative, and component-targeted response versus component-agnostic grid messages. Examples of criteria are provided in association with specific objectives utilities and grid operators apply DR to achieve (e.g., peak-load reduction, operating reserve, regulation, ramping energy). Furthermore, guiding principles are provided on factors to consider, by end-use category, when assessing viability of incorporating a standard physical interface, built-in communications, gateway, or other option for enabling DR capability.

12/31/13 Technical Update

Industry Discussion Webcast Series 12/31/13 Workshop, Training, or Conference



Future Year Products


Priorities for Refining DR-Ready Criteria in Support of Grid Needs 12/31/14 Technical Update

Best Practices for Utilizing DR-Ready Technologies in Retail Programs 12/31/15 Technical Update

DR-Ready Roadmap: Pathway to Mass Market Demand Response 12/31/16 Technical Report

P170.007 Peak Load Management of Thermal Loads (067474)

Key Research Question Reduction of peak loads and shifting such loads to off-peak are important issues facing utilities. One established technology for shifting cooling and heating demand from on-peak to off-peak periods is thermal energy storage (TES). This technology offers a cost-effective way to respond to peak demand crises. It also is an option that can efficiently enhance the productivity of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Many experts agree that TES technology is poised to become a more important part of HVAC markets. However, TES remains an underused technology, in spite of the fact that cool storage is an appropriate technology in approximately 60–80% of new commercial installations. With the rising importance of demand response (DR) and peak load reduction, the adoption of TES technologies is expected to accelerate in the next few years. Important questions that remain are the impact of TES on DR responsiveness and on overall energy efficiency. With advancements in heat pump design and the inclusion of variable components, new resources are being developed for load management through real-time modulation of thermal loads. Exploration of the abilities of new technologies and the applicability to specific utility needs in peak load management will identify the most effective way to apply these technologies.

Approach This technology is used to shift load from on-peak periods to off-peak periods. In cool storage, a vapor compression system cools a storage medium during off-peak hours. During peak periods, a heat transfer fluid or the storage medium itself is pumped through the delivery system, discharging the storage medium while avoiding compressor operation. Many different approaches have been taken to develop a cool storage system with the most attractive combination of cost, performance, and size, including water storage, ice storage, and eutectics. This project is a continuation of activities conducted between 2008 and 2012 that included testing of commercially available TES units. Efforts in 2013 will include the incorporation of technical advances looking at both cold and hot storage methods, including storage of hot water to manage peak loads. Recently developed building materials with embedded phase-change material will be evaluated for use in shifting and dampening the daily peak loading of buildings. Assessments will be focused on the amount, placement, cost, and climate-specific effectiveness of these new building materials. Other new traditional thermal storage technologies are being developed from international sources, particularly Japan (such as TES with an Eco-Cute water heater). Thermal energy storage technology will be examined to identify the features of available units, testing the most promising systems for the North American market and others, publicizing the results, and acting on any improvement opportunities uncovered in the evaluation.



Impact

• Benefit from unbiased technical assessments of new TES technologies with the potential to reduce demand and shift substantial load to off-peak hours and understand their impact on energy efficiency

• Assess state-of-the-art international and U.S. TES technologies for DR applications • Increase understanding of how TES technologies function in actual applications • Establish capability to transfer new TES technologies to utility customers, building operators, and

commercial customers • Enhance customer confidence by demonstrating a member’s value as an energy management partner

How to Apply Results Project findings and products will be employed by utility account representatives, marketing staff, and energy-efficiency specialists as they work closely with customers in key residential, commercial, and industrial market segments and transfer new technology that can help utilities shift or lower peak demand. Members also can help customers improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution, enhance indoor air quality, and improve productivity.

2013 Products


Peak Load Management of Thermal Loads Using Advanced TES Technologies: Analysis and testing of thermal energy storage systems (either hot or cold) using various storage mediums like water and phase change materials (PCM). Identify available PCM-impregnated wallboard materials and test the most promising products on the market. Provide utilities with a clear understanding of the technologies tested and quantify the peak-load reduction possible with the use of tested technologies.


Thermal Resources for Load Management: Assessment of variable capacity air conditioners, heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters as a resource for load management. Investigate products on the market, technologies used, and their potential to be used in utility load-management programs.




Variable Capacity Space Conditioning System as a Thermal Resource for Load Management: Analysis and testing of Variable Capacity Air Conditioning/Heat Pump systems for load management. Identify the features and capabilities of available units, test the most promising systems for U.S. markets. Investigate improvement opportunities in the area of demand response, and ancillary services.




P170.009 Intelligent Buildings (067476)

Key Research Question An intelligent building is one that optimizes operational efficiency and responds to grid conditions to help utilities manage energy demand while providing a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment for its occupants. Such a building considers a multiplicity of external inputs, primary among them utility demand response (DR) requirements and the weather, to help ensure the lowest operational cost of operation and ensure that it does not create imbalances in the utility grid in terms of power quality, varying load factors, and similar issues. An intelligent building monitors and controls all its subsystems—lighting; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) (boilers, chillers, rooftop units); plug loads; and increasingly renewable generation and electric vehicles. Intelligent buildings also monitor occupant comfort and make adjustments when comfort is reduced. This project evaluates the capability of advanced building and lighting control systems to enable more automated and ubiquitous DR that incorporates the requirements of building owners, occupants, and the utility to foster their more widespread use to help meet future energy and demand objectives. Control systems used in intelligent buildings should support configurable control strategies, in which building owners and/or occupants can program or select subroutines to optimize performance levels based on a variety of parameters, such as external price signals—including, real-time pricing (RTP), time-of-use (TOU), reliability-driven demand response events, external ambient conditions, and occupant preferences. This project will evaluate the state of the art in residential energy management systems, their role as DR gateways for residential customers, and their architectural capability to optimize occupant comfort and minimize energy usage.

Approach This project consists of two subsets—building control systems and lighting control systems: • Building Control Systems: This activity is a continuation of projects from 2007 through 2012 and builds

on the technical studies of building automation and control systems for DR applications. It also includes an assessment of controls and demand response for large office buildings completed in 2011, an industry brief on the DR opportunities and control strategies for the grocery and convenience store segment completed in 2012, and an assessment of commercial building energy management systems, protocols, and standards, also completed in 2012. The 2013 activity will continue the trend established in 2012, and will focus on two products: 1) assessment of state-of-the-art building controls for DR by focusing on multi-family residences, and 2) a state-of-the-art assessment of home energy management systems. The first product will include a technical review of the demand response potential of lighting; heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC); water heating; appliances; and plug loads of multi-family residences. The second product will assess new home energy management technologies that are coming into the marketplace.

Multi-family complexes are the target of many utility programs, and have great DR potential, due to their combination of common area lighting and pumping loads and their commonality in indoor energy use. Home Energy Management systems are gaining greater market penetration, as well as venture capital to fund new technologies. Most systems use emerging technologies such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, Powerline, or WiFi to integrate smart appliances, HVAC, and lighting systems. They have the potential to aggregate residential loads and serve as a DR gateway for utility price and capacity signals, as well as to improve energy efficiency through dashboards that communicate energy consumption, power draw, and other economic and environmental conditions to occupants.



• Lighting Control Systems: The identification of lighting control systems is carried out by conducting extensive product searches; attending lighting control fairs, conferences, and demand response expositions; and engaging with existing and new manufacturers of lighting controls. New technologies will be procured for testing and evaluation in the EPRI laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee. Lighting control research engineers also will be engaged to understand the direction of standards efforts and the requirements to support emerging lighting control technologies.

Impact Comprehensive evaluations of building and lighting control systems can be used by energy, lighting, and control engineers to aid in the decision process before control technologies are considered for energy-efficiency, demand response and rebate, or incentive programs. Additional value can be realized through the following activities: • Evaluation of demand response in multi-family buildings provides a recipe book for targeting DR

programs and obtaining DR capacity with low overhead costs and high retention rates. • The area of home energy management systems is fast evolving, and the project will provide a handle for

classifying the dizzying array of technologies, understanding their DR potential, and quantifying their benefits.

• Providing an opportunity for utilities to utilize residential DR that can be accomplished by communicating through home energy management systems.

• Providing opportunities for utilities to demonstrate leadership in environmental stewardship through deployment of vetted lighting control systems.

• Understanding the impact of allowing lighting control systems to manage lighting loads in facility power systems.

• Gaining knowledge regarding the use of more intelligent, yet easy-to-operate, building management and lighting controls.

• Understanding which technologies are more favorable for use with future demand response systems. • Helping to ensure realistic performance that can be matched with product warranty expectations.

How to Apply Results Project findings and products will be employed by utility account representatives, marketing staff, and energy efficiency and demand response specialists. They will work closely with their customers in key residential and commercial market segments to transfer new technologies and implement dynamic pricing models that can help customers by reducing peak demand and energy costs, and directly address their comfort and business needs. As the industry evolves away from flat rates for residential and light commercial customers, home energy management systems and DR for multi-family residences provides a way for utilities to assist customers with the transition and streamline their energy use, while promoting alignment of home energy use with utility supply and infrastructural constraints. Comparison of electrical, efficiency, and photometric performance among traditional noncontrolled light sources and lighting systems—and those that are controlled in various commercial environments—will allow members to determine expected energy reduction for system planning purposes. Project results may allow members to determine future energy and power quality requirements for supporting these technologies and the benefits of using lighting control systems combined with building control and demand-response systems. Project data will provide a foundation for members to compare field data from future installations with project and demonstration data.



2013 Products


Intelligent Building Series, Volume 3: Multi-Family Residences: EPRI will continue the annual focus on the application of advanced building control systems for energy management and demand response for a given building segment. In 2013 this product will focus on an assessment of state-of-the-art building controls for DR by focusing on multi-family residences. In 2011, the selected building segment was large office buildings, and in 2012 the segment was grocery and convenience stores. The focus of the 2013 product is multi-family residences. In future years, EPRI will address additional building segments, including, retail, lodging, and restaurants.


Systems to Support Intelligent Building Management and Behavioral Programs: The State of the Market: Build on assessments of current and emerging building energy management that have been part of technical updates from 2009 through 2012. This product will focus on energy management systems for residential buildings and examine state-of-the-art information for building controls systems and demand response protocols and standards, and will identify manufacturers and suppliers. Updates are anticipated in future years. This product will be a joint deliverable with Program 182 (Understanding Electric Utility Customers) to ensure technology assessment from both a customer/behavioral and technological/communications perspective.


Lighting Controls: Through a comprehensive set of application categories, this product will focus on • residential, • commercial new install, • commercial retrofit, • commercial add-on, and • unique control technologies. The usual set of tests for photometric performance and system compatibility will, over a 2–3 year time frame, yield a set of results that accurately reflects current industry performance.




Intelligent Building Series, Volume 4: Big-Box Retail: EPRI will continue the annual focus on technologies for the application of advanced building controls systems for energy management and demand response for a given building segment. In 2011, the selected building segment was large office buildings, in 2012 the segment was grocery and convenience stores, and in 2013 the segment was multi-family residences. The focus of the 2014 product is a big-box retail store. In future years, EPRI will address additional building segments, including hospitals, hotels, retail, and restaurants.





Systems to Support Intelligent Building Management and Behavioral Programs: The State of the Market: Build on assessments of current and emerging building energy management that have been part of technical updates from 2009 through 2013. This product will focus on state-of-the-art information for building controls systems and demand-response protocols and standards, and identify manufacturers and suppliers for the industrial sector. Updates are anticipated in future years.


Lighting Controls 12/31/14 Technical Update

P170.018 Demand Response Program Assessment Tools (Retail and Wholesale) (067473)

Key Research Question The electric power industry operates with retail load largely disconnected from wholesale grid and market conditions. Workable and sustainable demand response (DR) implementations are needed that enhance responsiveness of retail load to electric power grid and/or wholesale market conditions. Moreover, enhanced clarity is needed on DR options coupled with customer engagement models, enabling technologies, and other choices for installing and operating DR resources in a coordinated fashion with power system needs and constraints. The project will provide assessment tools designed to help the utility steer DR implementations.

Approach The project will develop and illustrate methods and tools that utilities could apply to evaluate different options available for integrating demand response with wholesale operations, amid a range of technical possibilities. The project will produce a technical summary of options available, and describe a range of distinct cases and differing practices dependent on regional conditions. Results are intended to be readily applicable by utilities for evaluating and comparing different DR integration options. Dimensions to be considered include regulatory and policy drivers, commercial justification, technical enablers, operational capabilities, and risks. Through webcasts and one-on-one phone interviews, EPRI will seek input from utilities to establish a level of detail to target and present draft findings for feedback. A technical summary will be generated, providing context and highlighting tools developed, as well as examples of their practical application.

Impact Project findings will enable utilities to consider a wide variety of DR implementations with an eye toward long-term sustainability. Additional benefits include the following:

• Ability to assess a range of considerations affecting the long-term viability of DR implementations • Clarity on wholesale market opportunities available for DR • Understanding penalty risks and strategies for mitigating them when integrating retail DR in wholesale

markets • Ability to articulate a logical progression of advancing capabilities for enabling the full value of DR in

wholesale operations

How to Apply Results Results can be applied to describe and identify types of value (for example, improved or maintained reliability, and market economics) that can be realized when integrating DR in wholesale operations, along with prerequisite integration steps needed. Results can also be used to describe how progressive advancement in technical capabilities enables greater opportunities to be realized through alignment of retail incentive and engagement models with wholesale opportunities and costs.



2013 Products


Enabling the Full Value of Demand Response in Wholesale Operations: A progression of capabilities for integrating demand response in wholesale operations is described. Technology capabilities, wholesale cost allocation methodologies, and alignment with retail program structures are discussed, as key enablers for advancement along the pathway to enabling full value of demand response in wholesale operations. Industry examples illustrate elements of progressive advancement supportive of achieving sustainable demand response implementations, including alignment of retail program structures with wholesale opportunities, risks, and associated costs.




Methods for End-to-End Integration of Demand Response 12/31/14 Technical Update

Comprehensive Demand Response Integration Framework 12/31/15 Technical Report

PS170C Energy Efficient Technologies (067430)

Project Set Description This project set assesses, tests, and demonstrates the application of advanced energy-efficient technologies in major and rapidly expanding end uses across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Participation in this project set provides firsthand performance data on novel efficient technologies and can facilitate field demonstrations in members’ own service territories and eventual programs to increase energy efficiency to meet regulatory energy-efficiency goals. Activities will test the performance of, and examine opportunities to remove adoption barriers for, novel heat pump technologies for space conditioning and water heating, advanced lighting technologies, and “hyper-efficient” residential appliances and office equipment that together represent significant energy savings potential. The project set also addresses innovative energy-efficient technologies in cross-cutting industrial end-uses, including advanced motors and motor-drive technology, process heating, and waste heat recovery. Finally, it addresses opportunities for energy efficiency in areas of energy growth, such as data centers and power supplies for consumer electronics.


P170.013 HVAC and Water Heating Technologies

Unbiased technical assessment and laboratory and field demonstrations of new energy-efficient space-conditioning and water-heating technologies with the potential to substantially increase heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) efficiency.

P170.019 Increasing Industrial Energy Efficiency Through Process Optimization and Automation

This project will develop case studies and application documents in two specific areas of opportunity that include motors and drives and process heating.




P170.020 High-Performance Homes and Buildings

This project will provide unbiased technical assessments of improving energy efficiency in data centers and zero-net energy grocery and convenience stores. Assessments will be done in collaboration with federal and state institutions, standards bodies, and other stakeholders. The ultimate goal of the assessments is to provide information that leads to improved productivity and comfort of occupants and customers, and decreased energy intensity of buildings. Technical assessments will address whole-building approaches and convergence of trends in efficient design and technologies, along with how they integrate with the grid and utility practices.

P170.021 Electronics, Plug Loads, and Lighting Efficiency

Electronics and Plug Loads This research is part of an ongoing effort to engage vendors, utility programs, and standards bodies to push the efficiency limits of electronics products to higher levels, saving billions of kilowatt-hours (kWh) per year in the process. Building on the research in 2012, this project in 2013 will further explore the development of silicon carbide and gallium nitride transistors. Power supplies using these transistors could achieve efficiencies several points higher than conventional designs. Specifically, prototype designs of power supplies will be procured and tested in the laboratory for performance and efficiency. Advanced Lighting Technologies This research is a third-party examination of new advanced lighting technologies that identify realistic performance, market potential, energy impact, ruggedness, and improved light quality.

P170.013 HVAC and Water Heating Technologies (067479)

Key Research Question Heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), and water heating with a high coefficient of performance are efficient technologies that can significantly reduce energy use by residential and commercial customers, also reducing costs and greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide. Adoption of advanced air-source heat pumps, combined cooling and dehumidifying technologies and heat pump water heaters hinges on functional and cost improvements. Improved performance at high and low outdoor temperatures is a priority for many applications, especially in hot/dry, hot/humid, and sub-zero conditions. Such advanced systems also have the ability for improving customers' comfort.

Approach The project will consist of two subsets—Variable-Speed Air-Source Heat Pumps and Heat Pump Water Heaters: • Variable-Speed Air-Source Heat Pumps: Variable-speed air-source heat pump technology continues to

advance with new products being developed by U.S. and foreign manufacturers. The 2013 effort will continue to assess the latest advances in vapor compression heat pump technology, including systems developed specifically for the American market such as commercial packaged unitary systems, residential ducted multi-split systems, and dedicated outdoor air systems (DOAS). Emphasis will be on matching system types and performance to climate-specific needs, which vary significantly across the country. The codes and standards review for small unitary equipment developed in 2011 will be expanded to include large unitary equipment.



• Heat Pump Water Heaters: Heat pumps have been used in niche markets for commercial water heating. New developments in technology for both conventional refrigerant systems, such as R-410a and more advanced systems using carbon dioxide, are being made. Carbon dioxide is an effective refrigerant for water heating because it maintains a high coefficient of performance with high temperature gradients, allowing water to be heated to temperatures in excess of 200°F. Coefficients of performance can range from 2.5 to 4.0+ for both refrigerants, with advanced design considerations. Combined space-conditioning and water-heating heat pump technologies are also being developed and introduced to the market. This project will test the performance of several newly available products aimed at small- to medium-sized residential and/or commercial applications.

Impact The project delivers unbiased technical assessment and laboratory and field demonstrations of new, energy-efficient space conditioning and water-heating technologies with the potential to substantially increase efficiency. The project seeks to • increase understanding of how the technologies function in actual applications; • establish the capability to widely transfer the technology to vendors, developers, and customers; • help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the deferment of power plant additions through

energy-efficient space conditioning; and • improve economic development by reducing customer facility energy costs.

How to Apply Results Project findings and products will be employed by utility account representatives, marketing staff, and energy-efficiency specialists as they work closely with their customers in key residential, commercial, and industrial market segments. These members will transfer new technology that can help customers reduce costs and improve energy efficiency, reduce pollution, enhance indoor air quality, lower peak demand, and improve comfort and productivity.

2013 Products


Advanced Air Source Heat Pump Technologies: This product will assess and test the latest advances in vapor compression heat pump technology for the U.S. market, such as commercial packaged unitary and residential ducted multi-split systems. It will match system types and performance to climate specific needs and review codes and standards for small and large unitary equipment.


Advanced Heat Pump Water Heating Technologies: This product will assess and test the performance of several newly available products aimed at small- to medium-sized residential and/or commercial applications.






Advanced Space Conditioning Technologies: Assessments of developing technologies in space conditioning and water heating technologies 12/24/14 Technical

Update

Advanced Heat Pump Water Heating Technologies: This product will continue to assess and test the performance of several newly available products aimed at small- to medium-sized residential and/or commercial applications.


P170.019 Increasing Industrial Energy Efficiency Through Process Optimization and Automation (069238)

Key Research Question Industrial and commercial enterprises are constantly striving to increase productivity and enhance their competitiveness in the global marketplace. Similarly, municipal and public institutions are facing pressure to reduce costs without compromising quality of service. In many cases, the application of a novel electro-technology as an alternative to a traditional fossil-fueled- or non-energized process can boost productivity and improve the quality of delivered service to the enterprise and the customers that it serves. Manufacturers have put forth commendable efforts to reduce their energy consumption. Despite individual reduction efforts, the world’s consumption of fossil fuels continues to grow, and a significant number of industrial energy users remain unaware of the energy-efficiency opportunities available to them. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, world manufacturing energy consumption is projected to increase by 44% from 2006 to 2030. Economic uncertainty, increased scrutiny, regulatory incentives, and concerns about global climate change are turning already attractive investments in efficiency programs into absolute necessities. Manufacturers face the very real possibility that water, gas, fuel oil, or electricity may simply not be available when they need them. For example, less than 1% of the world’s water is available for human use; yet consumption is estimated to increase by 40% over the next 20 years. These risks and uncertainties can wreak havoc on a company’s operations, ability to deliver, and ultimately its bottom line, translated in competitiveness and productivity. From Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) contacts with industrial customers, the initial conclusion has been drawn that some manufacturers have a one-dimensional view that industrial energy consumption is an unavoidable cost of doing business that can only be managed by using less. Progressive manufacturers are searching for answers to managing energy as part of a three-dimensional challenge: Less, Cheaper, and Optimal. EPRI will work with organizations such as National Council for Advanced Manufacturing (NACFAM) to further examine industrial productivity improvements opportunities by using NACFAM Sustainability Framework Model. The model is designed for use by companies of all sizes to prioritize sustainable manufacturing projects, calculate financial and environmental impacts from multiple combinations of potential projects, and help companies assess multiple environmental categories simultaneously. Integration of plant energy data with external information such as the current cost of energy at the local utility, weather conditions, and other factors could provide new insights and enable comparison of a diverse energy option. The outcome of this model and related database of use cases will greatly enhance the Energy Efficiency Strategic Issue as identified by EPRI in its overall research and development roadmap. Other research partners may include, but will not be limited to, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Council on Competitiveness, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).



Approach EPRI will initially focus on two areas to improve manufacturability and sustainability: electric motors and drives and process heating. Adjustable speed drives (ASDs) can save energy, enhance product quality, improve equipment reliability, and reduce environmental impact from air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX), which are released primarily from the burning of coal, oil, and other fossil fuels. The principle environmental benefit of using an ASD is the reduction of primary pollutants through energy conservation. By providing better process control, ASDs can reduce water consumption and lower process emission and wastes. ASDs can be used as an important water management tool. They can reduce water consumption in agricultural irrigation and well pumps, and in water distribution pumps used by municipal utilities. They also can be used in waste treatment facilities to enhance waste biodegradation by providing accurate control of water flow and its corresponding oxygen levels. A number of industries could benefit from the use of ASDs. Electric Power Generation, Agriculture, Chemical Process, Petrochemicals, Food Processing, Pulp and Paper, Textiles, Automotive, Foundries, Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Mining are just a few of the many possible industrial areas that would benefit significantly from their deployments. Industrial process heating and waste heat recovery accounts for the largest use of energy in U.S. manufacturing, and therefore any improvement in these two areas can offer significant energy savings benefits to industrial customers. EPRI will scout for innovative, state-of-the-art technologies in these areas with assistance from utilities, manufacturers, trade organizations, and conferences. Innovative solutions can enable economically viable hybrid process heating systems that can use multiple heating technologies simultaneously (e.g., infrared [IR] pre-heating, ultra–low-emission [ULE] burners, enhanced fired heater, and a high-efficiency heat recovery system. These will be presented as demonstrations of the new and existing technology for proper applications.

Impact The industrial energy-efficiency work will result in direct, measurable opportunities for cost savings and help improve U.S. industrial productivity and competitiveness. These impacts could result from the following activities: • Developing tools for optimizing motor and drive processes • Identifying new high-efficiency motor and drive technologies and determining any barriers and growth

trends • Developing best-practice recommendations to improve the reliability of motor- and drive-based processes • Developing simple tools to estimate energy savings and payback calculations for industrial process

heating technologies • Conducting case studies to create awareness of successful implementations of advanced process

heating technologies • Considering a waste heat recovery option as one of the ways to improve thermal efficiency of the system • Taking a holistic approach of process heating applied to the system and providing system-level

improvements leading to increased productivity and sustainability

How to Apply Results This research will be supported by an efficient technology-transfer mechanism, including:

• Indentify the new applications needed for productivity improvement where integrated motor/drive systems can be a major and new contributing factor for gaining competitive position by utility customers; assess if that approach can be extended to the 50 horsepower range or higher while maintaining the same benefits as those found in the lower horsepower range.

• Conduct workshops on efficient process heating electrotechnologies for utility representatives and educate them about the losses in the system and how system efficiency can be improved.



2013 Products


Role of Motors and Drives in increasing industrial energy efficiency through process optimization and automation: This product is the first version of limited database of industrial case studies using NACFAM Sustainability Model. The product will focus will be on small/medium size manufacturers to help them deliver value from sustainable manufacturing projects, calculate financial and environmental impacts from multiple combinations of potential projects and help companies assess multiple environmental categories simultaneously. The relevant information will be gathered and provided by utility members.


Industrial Process Heating: This product is the continuation of case studies of successful implementations of new state-of-the-art process heating technologies. Two key industries will be focused for the case study. Other emerging process heating technologies that have significant energy savings potential as well as other non-energy benefits such as productivity improvement, lower CO2 emissions etc will also be discussed.


Industrial Waste Heat Water Recovery: This product explores the state-of-the-art waste heat recovery equipment used in industries. One or two successful installations of heat recovery methods and the benefits to customers will be discussed in detail. The product also includes test results of state-of-the-art assessment of heat recovery equipment from laboratory testing or from field installations..


P170.020 High-Performance Homes and Buildings (069239)

Key Research Question Buildings account for about 70% of U.S. electricity use, so improving their energy efficiency can benefit utility capacity, transmission, and distribution operations. Improving building energy performance can reduce greenhouse gas emissions quickly and cost effectively while helping to address rising energy demand. Policy drivers and technology trends are likely to increase market demand for more efficient buildings. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has a federal goal to spur development of marketable zero-net energy homes and commercial buildings by 2020 and 2025, respectively. California, as an example of a state initiative, has a goal for all new homes and commercial buildings to be zero-net energy by 2020 and 2030, respectively. It is important to differentiate between building segments because each has distinct energy use characteristics. There are two key research questions with regards to zero-energy buildings that this research will try to answer:

1. How do you cost-effectively combine advanced technologies/subsystems to achieve an optimal building design that is also market-acceptable?

2. How do you optimally utilize existing utility infrastructure and/or minimize new utility infrastructure to support zero- and low-energy buildings?

In 2013, EPRI will assess two types of building segments: 1) multi-family apartment buildings and 2) data centers. The multi-family segment is addressed as part of an annual series of in-depth assessments, focusing on a different building segment each year. Most of the multi-family segment has been hard to access because of “triple-net” lease issues where the ones paying for energy upgrades do not pay the utility bill. There are also challenges with sub-metering and distribution of energy-efficiency benefits. However, this is one of the most common building types and contributes significantly to energy waste. The project will also explore pathways for deep energy-efficiency retrofits.



The data center segment is addressed every year in this program, owing to its high energy intensity and enormous growth. Energy use in data centers is projected to grow at the fastest pace of any building segment in the United States. It has doubled in just the past five years, from about 61 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2006—nearly 1.5% of the total electricity use—to more than 120 billion kWh by 2011. Ancillary data center loads, such as cooling and other infrastructure, use as much or more energy than the actual servers that perform computations. In addition, many data centers have reached the limit of their cooling system capacity, which means that they can no longer add servers to the space. With such limits to their productivity, data center operators have a desperate need to address the heat load and improve their building efficiency. The rapid growth of performance in computing and telephony has led to an increased need for bandwidth and data center processing and storage capability. Wide public adoption of technologies such as Internet photograph storage and streaming video will ensure continued growth in this industry. Based on history, new high-performance applications will almost certainly come into vogue, resulting in even more power consumption.

Approach This project consists of two subsets: Multi-family: This is part of EPRI’s multi-year effort to create an encyclopedic reference on zero-net energy buildings. Prior volumes focused on the single-family home, office building, grocery store, and convenience store segments. Future years will focus on other building types, such as retail, lodging, and restaurants. In the multi-family arena, some of the key technologies to be considered include cooling (window ac, VRF multi-split systems, small chillers), lighting systems (indoor and common areas), hot water, envelope measures, plug loads, occupancy sensors, Home Energy Management systems and pool pumps. Multi-family buildings are well suited for low-energy construction, as it lends itself to efficiencies from technology scaling such as VRF systems, boilers, and even chillers. We will also explore the impact of building PV and solar thermal, which are integral to low-energy multi-family construction. The project will evaluate possibility of energy storage at the distribution level for load leveling. Finally, we will consider issues and methods of sub-metering and distribution of EE benefits that are critical for adoption of new technologies in multi-family construction. Data Centers: The data center subset is a continuation of the previous years' research to review power and cooling flows in data centers and identify and assess areas in which efficiency gains can be made. Building on this research, recommendations will be made for the most effective measures for energy savings in both cooling systems and the power chain. From these recommendations, and using the metrics developed with the industry, EPRI will help establish performance specifications for individual components, systems, or whole buildings. Members can use these specifications in their energy-efficiency programs. In 2013 the data center efficiency research activities will focus on the following topics: • Evaporative Humidification Technologies: The prevailing method of providing humidity control in data

centers is with steam generation. This uses excessive amounts of energy to generate the steam and also adds to the heat load of the data center air conditioning system. The use of evaporative humidification not only provides a very low energy source of humidification but also provides additional cooling benefits.

• Localized” Cooling Technologies: This is to provide localized cooling to legacy equipment in the data center that cannot run at the new American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning (ASHRAE) temperature limits. This legacy equipment may be only 5–10% of the equipment in the data center, but it could keep the “entire” data center temperature high and waste energy.

• Server-on-a-Chip Technologies: Data centers usually have racks and racks of “pizza-box” servers, each consuming hundreds of watts each. Technology is being developed to shrink those pizza-box servers to a single chip that consume as little as a few watts each. These servers-on-a-chip are not applicable for all computing applications, but as “cloud computing” continues to expand, applications such as web-serving and media streaming should benefit from this extremely energy-efficient technology.



Impact Project results will help utilities better understand overall energy efficiency opportunities in buildings, as well as implications for grid integration. They will also help owners and tenants of apartment buildings and data center industry customers overcome their biggest problems through technical improvements and standards development. The project results may include the following: • Discuss primary energy end use within multifamily buildings • Detail emerging technologies that are a good fit for multifamily buildings • Discuss methods to obtain zero net energy and the relevance and impact of renewable energy systems • Establish industry metrics that allow consistent measurement and comparison of energy performance • Enable customers to use energy (and electricity) more efficiently, thereby enhancing their comfort,

productivity, and performance while reducing energy intensity and associated carbon emissions • Evaluate savings in greenhouse gas emissions and contributions to the deferment of capacity additions

through energy-efficient operation and use of on-site renewables • Enable a better understanding of grid integration issues and their impact on capacity and transmission

and distribution needs • Improve economic development by reducing customer facility energy costs • Improve economic development by reducing utility infrastructure costs • Enhance facility performance by meeting business needs

How to Apply Results Project findings and products will be employed by utility account representatives, marketing staff, and energy-efficiency specialists as they work closely with their customers in key commercial market segments. Efforts will be aimed at transferring new technologies that can help customers optimize energy use; reduce energy costs; use advanced and intelligent controls for cooling, heating and other end uses; and produce performance improvements that directly address their comfort and business needs. Establishment of key metrics and specifications will allow member utilities to add data center efficiency measures to their incentive programs. Utility planners and staff engaged in grid integration with zero-net energy buildings will also be able to better understand the infrastructure impacts of such buildings.

2013 Products


Zero-Net Energy Residential Multi-Family Complexes: This project will assess the state-of-the-art in energy efficiency in multi-family residential complexes, leading to zero net energy use by such buildings. The project will discuss energy-efficiency technologies that are a good fit for multi-family residential complexes, and address unique constraints such as shared efficiency measures. It is the third volume in an annual series focused on specific commercial building segments. A parallel study on state-of-the-art intelligent buildings in Project Set 170B addresses the same building segment, focusing on demand-response opportunities.


Efficient Data Centers: This products will include the findings on the application of evaporative humidification technologies for humidity control, localized cooling to legacy equipment in the data center, as well as the applicability and expected efficiencies of server-on-a-chip technologies.






Zero-Net Energy Retail Buildings: The continued development of the series on zero- and low-energy buildings will focus on the retail segment. Within the retail segment, the project will consider three subsegments: multi-tenant small retail, big box retail, and large retail. The project will examine technologies and grid implications of low-energy retail buildings with local generation sources.


Efficient Data Centers 12/31/14 Technical Update

P170.021 Electronics, Plug Loads, and Lighting Efficiency (069240)

Key Research Question Electronics and Plug Loads The proliferation of consumer electronics is creating dramatic increases in load density that can be offset by efficiency improvements in power electronics; principally in power supplies. Examples include gaming consoles such as Xbox 360 or PlayStation®3, big-screen high-definition liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma televisions, and Blu-ray Disc™ players. The backbone of these end-use devices is the ac-to-dc power supply. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 1.5 billion power supplies are used in various devices in the United States, constituting about 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh)—approximately 11%, of national annual electricity usage. According to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE’s) Annual Energy Outlook 2008 report, electricity demand from 2005 to 2030 is projected to grow by 27% in the residential sector, 49% in the commercial sector, and 3% in the industrial sector. These projections dictate that more importance must be given to energy efficiency to achieve sustainable global growth of the digital economy with minimum environmental impact. It should also be noted that these projections are significantly lower than those of 2007 as a direct result of initiatives such as this program. This project seeks to perform baseline measurements, develop measurement procedures, develop efficiency specifications, and inform policy makers with technical data. Each year is a continuation that includes additional categories of electronic equipment and their power supplies. Advanced Lighting Technologies Lighting manufacturers continue to work under pressure to develop new advanced lighting technologies to meet the efficacy requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, while meeting consumers’ energy and aesthetic expectations. As the use of incandescent lamps diminishes, advancements in lamp materials, power electronics, and new methods of converting electricity into light are ushering in new and improved technologies for compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), linear fluorescent lamps, high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and new hybrid technologies. EPRI will continue to assess, test, and evaluate new electronic lighting technologies and new circuit and lamp designs with regard to their efficacy, compatibility, color and quality, and suitability for various lighting applications.

Approach Electronics and Plug Loads This is a multi-year research project, with the focus in 2013 to continue to identify and promote the best-in-class efficiencies for residential and commercial power supply technologies. This project analyzes and evaluates a variety of power supply topologies and architectures used in various common end-use power supplies. Through laboratory and field testing, the best-in-class energy devices available in the market today will be identified. Design changes for efficiency improvements will be developed or suggested in conjunction with vendors. Devices considered for this project include video-gaming consoles, gaming computers, high-definition televisions with screen sizes greater than 37 inches, Blu-ray Disc™ players, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, and other devices that affect the energy profile in the residential and commercial sectors.



Advanced Lighting Technologies The identification of advanced lighting technologies is carried out by conducting extensive product searches, attending lighting product fairs and conferences, and engaging with existing and new manufacturers of lighting devices. New technologies are procured for testing and evaluation in EPRI’s Lighting Laboratory. Lighting research engineers engage in standards efforts in which the standards for new technologies are drafted. Technology evaluation also includes understanding failure mechanisms and defining the reasoning behind breaking performance barriers.

Impact Electronics and Plug Loads The efficiency of power supplies affects the energy consumption of nearly all electronic devices. With the growing proliferation of consumer and commercial electronics, efficiency improvements in power supplies can have a profound impact on overall energy consumption in the United States and the world. Results of this project may allow members to accomplish the following: • Show leadership in energy efficiency by developing paths to more efficient solutions • Promote best-in-class efficiency devices to customers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions • Reduce peak electricity demand, which contributes to the reliability of transmission and distribution

networks • Receive possible tax credits for promoting energy efficiency • Use valid third-party data to help influence energy-efficiency policy through such groups as the

Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), California Energy Commission (CEC), and the EPA Advanced Lighting Technologies Energy and compatibility performance evaluations of new technologies can be used by energy, efficiency, and lighting engineers at utilities to further aid in the decision process before new technologies are added to their approved product listing for energy-efficiency, rebate and incentive, and load-reduction programs. Those promising technologies will enable high cost-benefit ratios and reasonable payback periods. Additional value can be realized through the following: • Understanding the impact on the power system of installing new end-use technologies • Gaining knowledge regarding the use of lighting technologies that use more digital circuitry • Understanding which technologies are more favorable for use with lighting controllers and future demand-

response systems • Helping to ensure realistic performance that can be matched with product warranty expectations

How to Apply Results Electronics and Plug Loads The technical update provides members with knowledge of existing power electronic devices that are best-in-class and that impact peak electricity demands. This document will help personnel in the demand management area promote certain products or product categories that have exceptional efficiency. Advanced Lighting Technologies Comparing the electrical, thermal, mechanical, and photometric performance of traditional, fluorescent, HID, LED, and other advanced lighting technologies will allow members to determine when and to what extent they replace traditional lighting in their efficiency rebate and incentive programs. Project results will allow members to determine the effectiveness of using advanced lighting technologies for residential and commercial applications, including those with lighting controllers and demand response systems. Project results will also allow members to determine future energy and power quality requirements for supporting these technologies. Project data will provide a foundation for members to compare field data from future installations with project and demonstration data.



2013 Products


Efficiency Improvements in Electronic Power Conversion Devices: Building on the research in 2012, this project will further explore the development of silicon carbide and gallium nitride transistors. Specifically, prototype designs will be procured and tested in the laboratory for performance and efficiency. Based on the lower on-state resistance and the extremely fast turn-on times, these new transistors should enable higher efficiencies in DC-DC and AC-DC converters compared to silicon transistors. Power supplies using these transistors could achieve efficiencies several points higher than conventional designs. Adjustable speed drives have been developed that switch at 100 kilohertz (kHz) compared to conventional designs that switch from 2–20 kHz. Overall system efficiency is expected to increase by up to 7%. Based on availability, the project will test these designs in the laboratory to determine the performance and efficiency of these units.


Advanced Lighting Technologies: Through a comprehensive set of application categories that may include: residential screw-in; residential/commercial specialized; office; assembly/manufacturing; warehouse/high bay; and unique instances, photometric performance and system compatibility will be measured. The usual set of tests for photometric performance and system compatibility will, over a 2–3 year time frame, yield a set of results that accurately reflects the performance of the industry today.


Assessment of Solar Daylighting Technologies: Last year's work produced an overview of new solar daylighting technologies, their designs, and photometric performance. The development of solar daylighting technologies is a continuing effort in the building and lighting industries. New technologies that capture the sun’s energy, transfer it to interior spaces using different techniques, and make use of various optical delivery elements are being introduced every 2–3 years. These include roof-mount collectors, solar concentrators, and skylights among others. The development of such technologies used to augment electric lighting warrants a joint project between the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) to carry out investigations into their design, effectiveness, and potential market penetration. The effectiveness of this technology will depend on the application, the building, the building orientation to the sun, and the region and climate. This year's product will include an application guide that takes these parameters into account to ensure the best use of these systems.




Efficiency Improvements in Electronic Power Conversion Devices 12/31/14 Technical Update

Advanced Lighting Technologies 12/31/14 Technical Update

Assessment of Solar Daylighting Technologies 12/31/14 Technical Update



Supplemental Projects

Industrial Center of Excellence (071835)

Background, Objectives, and New Learnings EPRI’s Industrial Center of Excellence was established to encourage specific energy and technology related developments. Using EPRI, Utility, and Industry subject matter expertise – the Center supports knowledge transfer, applications, and seeks to identify opportunities for demonstrations and commercialization of advanced efficient electric technologies and utilization methods. The Industrial Center of Excellence supports members and their customers through testing, training, education and outreach. Advanced efficient electric technologies and environmental controls for industrial applications bring about a unique opportunity for electric service providers to improve the productivity of industrial customer processes and reduce overall production costs. Rejuvenated industry emphasis on energy efficiency, improved energy intensity, and CO2 emissions reduction, coupled with substantial improvement in reliability and efficiency of power electronic component technology, suggests that the timing has been appropriate for EPRI to form and continue a collaborative Industrial Center of Excellence. In 2013, the EPRI Industrial Center of Excellence will focus on the following primary activities: • Focused Collaborative Projects: Under this task, EPRI intends to identify and, with input from each ICoE

funder, a focused activity that will provide unique value for the funder as well as broad value and content for all the industry as a whole. Candidate activities for this collaborative project include and energy efficiency audit, training or a seminar, or another activity of value to participants.

• Industrial Energy Efficiency Case Studies and Collaborative Resources: For each of the Focused Collaborative Projects conducted above, EPRI intends to prepare a case study, presentation, or summary highlighting findings, recommendations, and lessons learned.

• Industrial Energy Efficiency Technology Briefs: EPRI’s information transfer is intended to focus on providing expert resources and guidance for leveraging and enhancing understanding of the role electric utilities can/should play in a variety of national and international industrial energy efficiency efforts including ISO 50001, Superior Energy Performance standards, Better Buildings, Better Plants, Energy Star for Industry, and others as they are identified. In addition, EPRI intends to prepare two or more updated Technology- or Industry-specific Tech Brief documents. EPRI intends to select the subjects of the documents based on input from project funders.

• Further updates to the Industrial Electro-Technology Reference Guide: Each year, EPRI has updated the Industrial Electro-Technology Reference Guide for ICoE funders. Based on additional funder feedback, a further update of this document is planned for 2012.

• Industrial Center of Excellence Knowledge Transfer including the ICoE Inquiry Service: Under this activity, EPRI intends to continue to develop web-based resources through the Industrial Center of Excellence website and Hotline inquiry service. Strategic meetings and webcasts will be coordinated and conducted periodically to facilitate funder input and industry liaison.

Project Approach and Summary The objective of this work scope is to develop and staff the EPRI Center of Excellence for industrial technologies, processes, and applications and to provide expert resources and knowledge for assisting industrial customers in addressing their key drivers. The proposed roles of the Industrial Center of Excellence in 2012 would be to: • Improved industrial productivity, including reduced energy intensity, beneficial use of electricity, reduced

peak demand, and economic retention and development • Leverage expert Energy Efficiency capabilities • Provide insights and resources in key areas for important industry initiatives such as SO 50001, Superior

Energy Performance certification, EPA Energy Star for Industry, E3, and others



• Assist in organizing and managing Research and Development (R&D) that responds to the needs of electric utilities and their customers.

• Effectively leverage individuals and organizations with expertise in a particular field to complement the technical strengths of EPRI staff.

Benefits EPRI’s Industrial Center of Excellence was established to encourage specific energy- and technology-related developments. Using EPRI, utility, and industry subject matter expertise, the Center supports knowledge transfer and applications and seeks to identify opportunities for improving industrial productivity through better understanding of important industrial sectors and insights on important technologies and utilization methods. The Industrial Center of Excellence supports members and their customers through research, training, resources, education, and outreach.

Energy Efficiency Demonstration 2.0 (072091)

Background, Objectives, and New Learnings Advancing the energy-efficiency of end-use technologies can offer substantial benefits to consumers, utilities, and society, including lower energy bills, deferred capital investments, and reduced emissions, respectively. EPRI helps advance efficient end-use technologies through a sequential development process beginning with scouting for emerging technologies, followed by assessments and laboratory testing on the most promising technologies, and proceeding to field demonstrations and ultimately large scale coordinated early deployments of the highest potential technologies. EPRI launched the first cycle of a national Energy Efficiency Demonstration in 2009 to address the critical step of field testing and demonstrating “hyper-efficient” technologies in residential and commercial settings. Energy Efficiency Demonstration 2.0 builds on the success of its predecessor by demonstrating the next cycle of emerging, high-potential, energy-efficient technologies through a national collaborative. Over a three year period, this project will assess the field performance of seven promising new energy-efficient technologies, selected using a disciplined screening process: • Advanced Dehumidification Systems • Advanced Indirect Evaporative Cooling • Induction Street and Area Lighting • Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters • High Efficiency Room Air Conditioners • Smart Plug Strips • Home Energy Management Systems

As with its predecessor project, Energy Efficiency Demonstration 2.0 will feature rigorous instrumentation and monitoring to measure performance factors such as energy savings under a variety of operating conditions. Technologies demonstrated under this project have the potential to matriculate to the next stage of larger scale Coordinated Early Deployments of Efficient End-Use Technologies.

Project Approach and Summary The technologies will be demonstrated at customer sites – including homes, commercial buildings, parking lots and city streets – located in the service territories of participating host utilities to assess their performance in diverse environments. EPRI encourages utilities who join this collaborative to host demonstrations of one or more technologies in its service territory. A utility can select and fund multiple Host Technology Packages for each technology of interest.



Each Host Technology Package includes site-specific research design plans, including customized technology specifications, experimental design, site qualification and customer training for each site, equipment installation plans, instrumentation, and data monitoring systems. Each Host Technology Package also offers two additional options:

• Equipment Purchase Option, in which EPRI procures the specified equipment for the host, who then immediately owns the equipment.

• Site Services Option, under which EPRI works with the utility to qualify appropriate customer demonstration sites, coordinates equipment and instrumentation installation and data collection, provides technical support and documents installation results.

A host electing not to purchase the Equipment Purchase Option is responsible for procuring the specified equipment. A host electing not to purchase the Site Services Option is responsible for installing the equipment and instrumentation, and collecting the data.

Benefits The benefits of demonstrating emerging end-use technologies include:

• Accelerate the readiness of emerging end-use technologies toward energy efficiency programs • Enhance understanding of the strengths and challenges of emerging technologies • Reduce costs and risks of demonstrating emerging technologies by collaborating and using EPRI’s field

demonstration process Each of the technologies selected for Energy Efficiency Demonstration 2.0 have the potential to reduce electricity consumption in their respective end-use applications by up to 30% compared to baseline alternatives. With the support of participants and engagement with manufacturers and industry groups, this project will address this missing link of independent field performance data so critical to justify utility investment in either larger-scale coordinated early deployments or energy efficiency programs.

Coordinated Early Deployments of Efficient End-Use Technologies (072982)

Background, Objectives, and New Learnings End-use energy efficiency is recognized as a cost-effective resource for meeting the growing demand for electricity. Over two-thirds of the nation's states have set energy efficiency goals, and each will require significant efforts to achieve. To date, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have been the vanguard technology of energy efficiency programs, accounting for a substantial share of their overall energy savings. However, with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, some regulatory jurisdictions may now regard CFLs as the de-facto standard for lighting, and thus CFLs may no longer count towards energy efficiency program goals in many states. What new technologies will fill the CFL void for energy efficiency programs? Utility-administered and other energy efficiency programs need a steady stream of new efficient technologies that are acceptable to consumers. Today, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and others help advance technologies through a technology development pipeline beginning with scouting for emerging technologies, then conducting assessments and laboratory testing of the most promising, and proceeding to field demonstrations of the highest potential technologies. With the recommendation of its members, EPRI initiated a collaborative to close a gap within the pipeline: the early deployment stage. This stage deploys emerging technologies at a scale to derive deemed savings and to discover effects on consumer acceptance. Early deployments may help to move beyond market barriers before proceeding to full utility program rollout. The EPRI research is designed to answer the research question: What is an effective process for planning and coordinating early deployments so that the results can be shared, duplication avoided, and costs reduced? Prior research has:



• Created technology readiness criteria and designed a qualification process • Qualified specific technologies for early deployments • Developed a framework for planning coordinated early deployments • Produced preliminary early deployment plans for two utilities with two different technologies

This research intends to use the results developed in the prior work and implement early deployments of emerging efficient end-use technologies.

Project Approach and Summary This project will apply the framework created in the prior research to develop early deployment plans for three additional technologies and to guide early deployments with multiple utilities for five technologies, two of which were planned in prior research. Developing early deployment plans. Three additional technologies will be selected for early deployment planning which will be conducted on a national basis with local analysis as necessary. Preliminary plans for heat pump water heaters and variable refrigerant flow heat pump air conditioners will be completed. Multiple utilities will engage in the planning for each technology and several may conduct early deployments. Implementing coordinated early deployment projects. For each of the five technologies, EPRI will work with the utilities to conduct consumer and supply chain research, identify innovative strategies to overcome remaining gaps, and design the early deployments with the intent to produce transferable results within a territory and across territories. Utilities will conduct the early deployments with EPRI guidance. EPRI will analyze and evaluate results. Early deployment readiness assessment of emerging technologies. EPRI will continue to assess emerging technologies using the process developed in prior research. A tool will be developed to be used by the collaborators. Coordination, technology transfer, and communications. EPRI will coordinate the early deployment plans and projects, facilitate frequent communications among collaborators, and conduct technology transfer to inform public and other stakeholders of the early deployment process and results. EPRI will facilitate interactions with manufacturers and other supply chain actors to help promote delivery of products that meet consumer needs.

Benefits The Coordinated Early Deployments project is designed to reduce the cost of accelerating the readiness of emerging technologies by deploying multiple technologies in parallel and enabling collaborators to use results from early deployments from other participants. The early deployments will use a vetted planning framework which provides guidance for designing tests with the intent to: • Generate translatable results • Increase adoption by overcoming consumer, regulatory, and supply chain market barriers and other

potential "valley of death" barriers The public may benefit from the accelerated energy savings in the form of reduced cost to consumers and reduced emissions from avoided fossil generation.

End-Use Energy Efficiency and Demand Response -Program...

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