Strategies magazine October 2020

AESP Website | Events Calendar | October 2020 By Linda Eddy Program implementers trying to reach low-income customers face several barriers, such as economic and trust issues, and more recently, restrictions to community events and face-to-face outreach. PSEG Long Island administers a successful Residential Energy Affordability Partnership Program (REAP) which has taken a more creative stance to connect with low-income customers and is adapting to continue to serve these customers now when they need them the most. Read how they are doing it.

By Jeff Adams, Brad Cain and Deb Dynako Data disaggregation — or segregating data into its component pieces — unleashes powerful and actionable insights for utilities and their customers. Here, the AESP Tools & Technology Topic Committee presents two real world use cases – in residential and commercial – that demonstrate the applicability and value of data disaggregation in launching energy efficiency programs. Read more. From the AESP-Energy Central Energy Efficiency Community: By Peter Key The “Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes” sets out to improve boxes’ energy efficiency. A recent report found that the annual energy consumption of these set-top boxes has declined by 14.7 terawatt hours, or 46 percent, from 32 TWh in 2012 to 17.3 TWh in 2019, since the agreement has been in effect. Learn more about set top boxes.

Letter from AESP's President and CEO By Jennifer Szaro On September 17, FERC Order 2222 was approved, requiring regional grid operators to fully open their markets to distributed energy resource (DER) aggregators. In the months ahead, there is much work to be done, as state regulatory bodies, distribution utilities and retail providers begin implementing the steps required to implement this vision. AESP’s membership will be at the forefront of these efforts. \"Its Electric Grid Under Strain, California Turns to Batteries\" \"Regular Bricks Can Be Transformed Into Energy Storage Devices\" \"Energy Storage Systems to Pave the Way for the Next Phase of the Energy Transition\" \"DoE Prepares Future Energy Workforce With Three New Programs\" \"Mandated Energy Efficiency Scores Would Influence Home Buying: ACEEE\" \"Sustainable Building: More Than Just Lighting\" Contribute to AESP’s Energy Efficiency Day Word Cloud Energy Efficiency Day 2020 was October 7. Our industry is still adapting to the impacts of the pandemic, wildfires and severe weather events; this year is certainly like no other! Give us 2 words that highlight the hot topics or key issues facing EE right now. Come to see what your peers are

saying (do they echo your thoughts?) and add your own -- all in real time in our live interactive #EEDay2020 Word Cloud! Click here to participate in our Word Cloud. Board Election starts October 7 Vote for the members who will represent you in AESP’s Board in 2021! Look for the 2 emails from AESP on October 7 – one that introduces the nine candidates and the other email will contain your one-time-use link to cast your vote. Be sure to cast your vote by October 28. Emerge Smarter There are not many places to go these days but many ways to use the freed-up time productively. AESP has lined up these virtual, live instructor-led courses designed to help you fill in knowledge gaps and come out of your quarantine cave smarter than ever! Upcoming training courses Attribution and Net-To-Gross - October 12, November 2 Basic Statistics You Will Use - October 22 Dealing with Uncertainty - October 26 Transportation Electrification - November 5 Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Workplace Excellence - November 10 WEBINARS ONLINE TRAINING COURSES CONFERENCES COVID-19 and the Impact on Attribution and Net-To-Gross 31st ANNUAL CONFERENCE Building Operations (organized October 12, November 2 January 25-28, 2021 - Virtual by the California Chapter) October 15 Basic Statistics You Will Use SPRING CONFERENCE 2021 (and maybe Love) May 17-19, 2021 - Jacksonville, FL Emergency Response Exercises October 22 From NUARI October 21 Dealing with Uncertainty in EM&V Becoming the Mentor You Wish October 26 You Had – How we are failing women and minorities Introduction to Transportation October 29 (free) Electrification: Business Opportunities & Market Trends Driving Efficient Purchases – November 5 COVID-19 and Beyond November 17 Implicit Bias and Its Impact on Workplace Excellence November 10

By Linda Eddy The energy burden is a real issue facing the low-income population across the country. Many of these customers struggle to pay their energy bills and rely on utility programs for assistance. Utilities are designing programs to alleviate the energy burden, and develop trust with these customers, through launching no- cost direct installation programs and offering free energy efficient equipment. It’s been a challenge for program implementers to reach this demographic. There are several barriers to overcome, such as economic and trust barriers, language barriers, and a general skepticism of utility-offered programs. Another barrier is saturation: program growth can plateau, after years of simply deploying standard tactics such as direct mail, e-mail blasts, and informative brochures. To overcome these obstacles, utilities need to take a more creative stance to connect with low-income customers and move beyond the front door hang-tags. Case Study: Long Island, NY In 2016, the NY State Public Service Commission launched the state’s Energy Affordability Policy, which provided nearly two million low-income New Yorkers with $248 million in direct cost relief each year. The new policy limited energy costs for low-income New Yorkers to no more than 6 percent of household income – half of what many New Yorkers are currently paying1.

Low Income Energy Affordability Data Tool Map2 Due to the high cost of living on Long Island, 38 percent of customers in the PSEG Long Island territory qualify as low-income and are eligible for direct relief funding programs offered by the operator of Long Island’s electric distribution system PSEG Long Island. Since 2014, PSEG Long Island and its implementer, TRC Companies, have administered the Residential Energy Affordability Partnership Program (REAP), a free program offering home energy assessments, education, and energy efficient measure installations such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, LED light bulbs, and low-flow showerheads. For the REAP program rollout, the implementation team deployed standard outreach tools including direct mail postcards, a call center, and door hang-tags to drive appointments. These proved effective to achieve program goals and are still used by the program today – however, the team also made it a priority to increase engagement, while encouraging longer-lasting behavioral changes. The team increased its focus on the “Healthy Homes” aspect of the program, where health and comfort benefits are prioritized along with energy savings. Bridging the Gap To better learn what would engage the REAP program’s target audience, the implementation team conducted market research to identify factors that inhibit low-income customers from program participation. Some of these obstacles are program awareness, the “it’s too good to be true” mentality, perceived risk, and distrust of the “no cost” to the customer. Target customers expressed that they have experienced financial hardships that tend to overshadow most of their decision-making and priorities. A household provider will prioritize daily necessities and dismiss ideas of energy efficiency due to the assumed high costs. These customers perceive going green to be expensive because of the purchase costs of new appliances, technologies, or vehicles. Meanwhile the cost benefits of daily energy-saving behaviors are not widely known. Although the REAP program is free, there is still low awareness associated with participation. However, our market research uncovered a critical inroad, based on our conversations with potential participants. If one of their peers or community representatives has a positive experience with the program, those negative perceptions tend to fade away. Word-of-mouth is a crucial tool for

reputational awareness and can be the catalyst for building new relationships with low-income customers. The Community Connection: It Takes a Village It was clear that we had to build that connecting bridge directly into the communities where these customers live and work. We had to develop face to face, human connections, in order to build trust and positive word-of-mouth. We approached this challenge with a whole new outreach strategy, beyond the door tag: we would attend grassroots meetings, collaborate with neighboring low-income assistance programs, meet with community influencers, and most importantly, engage the community leaders who reach the target population – a group we refer to as “advocates.” The PSEG Long Island REAP team started putting a face and name to the REAP program by engaging with as many customers as possible through presentations at local churches, senior centers, community centers, and events. Within a year, the program administrator and coordinator became well-known regulars at community events, and the relationships continued to grow over time. In 2019, for example, the PSEG Long Island REAP team attended over 100 events. At these events, team members spoke with store managers, landlords, and other community advocates who tend to spread the word about upcoming events, creating a positive feedback loop. The team also targeted high traffic locations, such as the Salvation Army and local laundromats, and dropped in to see the decision maker for a brief discussion and brochure drop off. The REAP team is not always welcomed at first contact - however, the team remains persistent until the decision makers understand the sincerity of their outreach and message. Hamid Muneeb, REAP Program Coordinator and Brenden Fogarty, Energy Efficiency, speaking with PSEG Long Island customers about the benefits of the REAP Program.

At these community events, it is important to strategically message the program and the benefits. Some customers tend to think of free assistance programs like “handouts” and immediately tune out the benefits of participation. The REAP outreach team stresses the benefits of program participation through reduced electric usage, monthly bill reduction, and improving the home environment for health reasons. In addition to attending monthly community events, the REAP program hosts an annual tentpole event called the Energy Forum for Advocates, on behalf of PSEG Long Island. The Forum provides a platform for the REAP program and other assistance programs to inform the advocates of all the programs available to their clients and the synergies between them. The Energy Forum stemmed from a need in the community for low-income program awareness for all available electric and non-electric programs. Advocates attend the Energy Forum on behalf of the Department of Social Services, religious groups, local town governments, and other organizations that work with low-income families. Average attendance is 250- 300 people. The Energy Forum is an impactful event because it brings together all the low-income assistance programs in one place. The advocates do not have to schedule multiple days’ worth of meetings to receive all the information and education about the programs. The advocates, just like the low- income population, do not have a lot of spare time. Hosting the Forum allows the PSEG Long Island REAP team to effectively educate the advocates about its programs in a timely manner. The Kitchen Table Talk The goal of the REAP program’s outreach is to influence customers to sign up for a home visit – and when this occurs, the emphasis on human connection continues. During the visit, a Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified REAP field technician will conduct health and safety inspections, appliance inspections, and install qualifying energy efficient appliances. The BPI technician will also have table discussions with customers to review their billing history and energy usage. The one-on- one discussion and recommendations empower customers to take control of their energy behaviors and feel that human connection with PSEG Long Island. In 2020, the outbreak of COVID-19 presented a new barrier for engaging with low-income customers. The REAP program had to cease in-person communications and home visits as of March 2020, while still trying to reach this demographic who were already faced with economic hardships. Although NY State may have been on lockdown, the REAP team pivoted their engagement tactics to provide participants with a virtual home energy assessment solution. Participants have become more comfortable and familiar with teleconferencing, allowing the program to continue one-on-one interactions with the target audience. In addition, the PSEG Long Island REAP team plans to host the annual Energy Forum for Advocates event in fall of 2020, to maintain program continuity. However this year, it will be hosted virtually. In the spirit of the live event, the virtual Energy Forum will present an educational lineup of representatives from PSEG Long Island and other assistance programs to educate both PSEG Long Island customers and community residents and advocates. Measuring Success

The enhanced outreach tactics of the PSEG Long Island REAP program resulted in concrete improvements: increased participation, and soaring customer satisfaction rates. Since the enhanced outreach began, the REAP team has received numerous communications from happy customers – an encouraging trend. The below are testimonials from REAP participants who benefited from PSEG Long Island’s Low-Income program: Members of PSEG Long Island’s Energy Success for the program is measured in Efficiency/REAP outreach team (from left: number of home visits and customer Mario Todisco, Linda Eddy, Steven Orman, satisfaction levels. J.D. Power scores are a Nathaniel Sietz] attend a community event. success verification tool for this program, and the REAP program helped significantly raise scores from a survey given to low-income customers regarding their awareness of energy efficiency programs. The REAP program aims to be reproducible, through an emphasis on one-on-one, face-to- face interaction between PSEG Long Island REAP program staff and low-income customers. These human connections create the sought-after engagement that non- personal marketing cannot. By collaborating with advocates and community partners, the REAP program has become a trusted entity in communities throughout the service territory. Linda Eddy is Program Manager for the PSEG Long Island Residential Energy Affordability Partnership (REAP) Program. Her responsibilities include managing its marketing, budget, and outreach efforts, as well as overseeing the Call Center that schedules the REAP home energy surveys and remote energy assessments. Linda has managed the program since 2011 and has over 40 years’ experience working in the utility realm. Back to top

References 1https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-energy-affordability-policy-deliver-relief-nearly-2-million-low 2https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/low-income-community-energy-solutions By Jeff Adams, Brad Cain and Deb Dynako

Utilities and their residential and commercial customers are finding new ways to save energy by looking at how overall energy is used. While smart meters, billing trends, and other tools make energy data more transparent, data disaggregation — or segregating data into its component pieces — makes it more actionable. As utilities and their customers request new insights into their energy use, data disaggregation and the tools that offer an easy view of that data, provide both utilities and their customers a clear roadmap to implement efficiency measures. Residential data provides insights into the everyday Alliant Energy recently conducted a residential device-level study to ascertain how much energy could be saved by unplugging unused items. The utility asked residents to inventory their household plugged-in items and selectively shut down their unused, always-on devices. Alliant found that residential electric customers could reduce their overall use by up to 9% or up to $90 per household per year — nearly one month’s typical electricity bill. Plugged-in appliances and other devices are responsible for an unnecessary drain on energy, and customers often lose track of plugged-in household items. Some scenarios include an attic fan, a baby monitor that fell behind the dresser, and multiple plugged-in cell phone chargers without their cell phones. The study estimates that up to one-quarter of daily residential energy use powers devices that are always on. Many of them are not in use. Alliant also found that device-level home energy monitoring via Sense Lab’s hardware and platform delivers opportunities and insights in several areas of interest such as behavioral and resource acquisition energy savings, customer engagement, and demand response initiatives. Other findings included: • New energy-savings opportunities were sought out by nearly one-third of survey respondents, and 57% said their opinion of Alliant Energy had improved since participating in the pilot. These findings were consistent with Phase 1 results. • Prior to participating, 81% of respondents said they were very or somewhat knowledgeable about energy-savings strategies for their home. After participating, 95% of respondents said they were very or somewhat knowledgeable about energy-savings strategies for their home. • 27% of respondents said they had sought out additional energy-saving opportunities since participating in the Sense program. • More than half (58%) of respondents said they had purchased at least one new energy-efficient product since participating in the program. Appliance-Level Data Disaggregation via Sense Electric Dryers Electric dryer energy consumption of 33% of participants were above baseline levels. Another 7% of participants exceeded the efficient consumption level. Table 1 contains estimates of the potential savings from device upgrades for two scenarios. For customers in the inefficient category, a dryer upgrade to the baseline or efficient level would save an

average of 319 kWh or 480 kWh per year, respectively. These savings correspond to a 2.8% or 4.2% average reduction relative to average pilot participant total annual consumption. Refrigerators The savings analysis for refrigerator consumption data showed 168 devices that registered non-zero consumption on at least 95% of analysis days. Table 2 illustrates the distribution of refrigerator consumption relative to TRM-defined levels. Ten percent of refrigerators exceeded the baseline consumption level. Another 15% of refrigerators exceeded the efficient consumption level. Four refrigerators were identified as having unusually large energy consumption (greater than 1,000 kWh per year).

Air Conditioners – TOU+D Opportunity. Air conditioners present an average potential peak demand savings opportunity of 0.56 kW and 0.47 kW per device, during high peak and mid peak hours, respectively, as shown in Table 3.

Residential Pilot Summary Home disaggregation technology delivers opportunities in several areas of interest • Customer engagement • Behavioral and resource acquisition energy savings • Demand response initiatives Challenges to overcome • Initial cost • Accurate device identification • Installation and connection complications From the customer survey – positive outcomes • More than half sought out new energy saving opportunities • 57% had improved opinion of Alliant Energy Significant savings potential from: • “Always on” load • Incandescent lighting • Inefficient equipment (dryers, water heaters) • Behavioral savings (6%) • Identification of devices contributing to peak coincident load (e.g., dryers) Business Customers Are Different Like their residential counterparts, non-residential consumers are hungry for new energy insights, analysis, and behavioral suggestions derived from their meter data. These consumers are far more varied in the ways they use energy and determine their energy goals and constraints. A plastics manufacturer, hair salon, and grocery store, for example, each have vastly different operating hours, equipment, and appetites for savings techniques such as load shifting. Yet each has a large savings potential. So, how can utilities connect with them all? Segmentation is critical. Disaggregation and business type modeling are a good starting point, but research has shown that inaccurate assumptions about a customer’s load breakdown hurt the utilities’ credibility. In the non-residential space, remote disaggregation alone simply isn't accurate enough for reliable segmentation and load breakdown. Instead, utilities should supplement these baseline models with firmographic data like NAICS codes, geographic location, and rate class.

To further improve accuracy, utilities need to collect additional facility and equipment information. For example, key account managers should record data during on-site visits or regular check-ins with their clients. Likewise, call-center reps should leverage a dynamic two- to three-question survey about the facility every time they engage with a customer. Finally, the utility needs to actively encourage customers to fill out a “business profile” on their own. Non-residential customers are surprisingly responsive to frank, honest communications about the accuracy of their load breakdown and will take the time to complete business surveys if the utility makes the value of those actions apparent. What Do Non-Residential Accounts Want from Their Data? Savings, options, and a sense of greater control. Businesses are constantly evaluating ways to improve their bottom line and reducing energy costs is often a high priority. However, the tactics that each individual account is willing to use to achieve those goals will vary greatly from segment to segment. Any data analysis provided by the utility needs to guide customers toward savings options relevant to that specific customer's needs. For example, demand or usage shift analysis are much more likely to be relevant to a large manufacturer, while no-cost behavioral tips are more likely to appeal to a neighborhood hair salon. Meanwhile, a chain of grocery stores would be most receptive to promotions for on-site energy audits at their worst performing locations. Demand and Usage Shift Analysis In 2012, a large Midwestern utility was transitioning several hundred C&I accounts to more complex rate structures centered around time-of-use and demand charges. As a customer, rate changes can make you feel powerless, and the added complexity of the new tariffs increased the chances that these customers would perceive the new structure as a burden rather than an opportunity. To avoid that, Agentis worked with the utility to design digital energy solutions that graphically display the potential savings associated with shifting usage or demand to off-peak hours. Customers on TOU rates can access the analysis via their digital energy portal and based on their unique business profile

and meter data, they can manipulate a slider to identify the savings potential of shifting their usage to off-peak times. In one case, a large plastics manufacturer with a monthly electric spend of roughly $120,000 was able to reduce its costs by ~$24,000 a year. That customer used load shift analysis to: • Identify which manufacturing runs occurred during on-peak hours • Simulate the bill impact of shifting those runs to weekend off-peak times • Alter their production schedule to reduce their peak demand charge Low-Cost and No-Cost Behavioral Suggestions SMB engagement remains a top priority and a major challenge for many energy providers. This segment represents a large, and mostly untapped opportunity for DSM savings, but is notoriously difficult to engage. In many cases, however, data analysis is the missing factor needed to drive these accounts toward energy reductions. Utilities can combine meter data with behavioral techniques to achieve three key goals: 1. Capture Interest - Research shows that SMBs are more likely to respond to insights as opposed to charts and graphs. A behavioral strategy we use is called Reference Dependent Preferences. Explained simply, if certain customers are poor performers they get benchmarked to average, an average performer gets compared to top performers, and top performers get a congratulatory message. 2. Explain Value - SMBs want feedback. Research shows that monthly email alerts explaining cost trends improve the overall engagement among small accounts. 3. Entice Action - SMBs respond to social norms. They are more likely to participate in a program if they have some sort of reference as to how many of their peers have benefited from similar activities.

The owner of a typical neighborhood hair salon, for example, likely doesn't care about load duration curves, but they would like to know how their costs compare to similar businesses, what days/times are the most expensive for them, and how many of their peers have taken steps to save. Increased Program Participation Another critical factor that differentiates the non-residential segment is the prevalence of multi- location accounts. Municipalities, school districts, grocery stores, etc. make up a large cross section of your customer base. Utilities need to provide data analysis that benefits the account-level user, while also adding value to the portfolio-level manager. For example, Agentis recently heard feedback from the District Sustainability Supervisor for a large grocery chain. That individual used her utility's digital energy portal to compare the hot-weather energy usage and shut down efficiency between the dozen stores in her district. She then invited the individual store managers for each location into the shared account portal and walked through the findings with them. By using this analysis to collaborate with individual store managers, the District Supervisor was able to convince the worst performers to sign up for on-site energy audits from the utility.

Why Disaggregation Matters Raw data is like a tangled fishing line — there’s not much you can do with it. Segmenting the data smooths out all the knots so you can make a quality cast to your target market or hook the results of new technology pre- and post-install. As more customer data becomes available and new tools and insights are more easily derived, energy efficiency measures can be implemented at greater savings per kWh. Data disaggregation ultimately energizes energy efficiency with potential new savings through increased adoption of tools and technology that improve grid flexibility, resiliency, and savings for all. This article was contributed by the AESP Tools & Technology Topic Committee. Deb Dynako, Business Development Manager at Slipstream, builds relationships with utilities, stakeholders, vendors, implementers, and various organizations to find gateways that accelerate market adoption of new technologies and carbon draw down opportunities. She currently serves as co-chair of AESP’s Innovation in Tools and Technology Committee. Brad Cain is the Director of Marketing at Agentis where he is responsible for customer insights and thought leadership. Brad has spent the past ten years in complex software marketing and works to identify meaningful trends and opportunities for improved engagement within the non-residential segment. Jeff Adams is the Lead Customer Product Manager at Alliant Energy, where he participates in and supports development of demand side management (DSM) strategy,consisting of energy efficiency and energy conservation programs and integration with company‐based customer programs and Focus on Energy.

Back to top Letter from the AESP President and CEO, Jennifer Szaro By Jennifer Szaro On September 17, 2020, a profound moment in the U.S. energy industry quietly unfolded. FERC Chairman Neil Chatterjee and Commissioner Richard Glick voted 2 to 1 against Commissioner James Danly to approve FERC Order 2222, a barrier-busting ruling that orders regional grid operators to fully open their markets to distributed energy resource (DER) aggregators. Perhaps even more crucial is the language that it does not include – an opt- out for states or market operators (although distribution utilities with a load of 4 million megawatt-hours or less are exempted from participation unless they opt-in). Many in the industry have applauded their actions as “game-changing” and I agree. It was just the push needed to pave the way forward toward an energy ecosystem of the future that takes full advantage of resources such as energy efficiency, flexible load, and solar. However, the vote in favor of the order is just the beginning of what promises to be a daunting and, at times, perplexing road ahead. While the order provides much-needed direction to wholesale market participants related to how they

should open their doors to allow full participation of DER aggregators, much of what must happen in the next 270 plus days is completely uncharted territory for the ISOs and RTOs charged with developing revised tariffs. After all, this comparatively new class of market participant may look and act quite differently than its predecessors in many ways. Regional grid operators did get a warm-up match with FERC Order 841, which focused on the participation of energy storage in wholesale markets, but that’s only one category of DER, and each DER has its own unique set of operating characteristics, strengths, and challenges. That being said, they also can provide new critically important benefits to the grid including the ability to quickly deploy assets at just the right scale where they are most needed at the push of a button – or the execution of an algorithm. To benefit from the diverse and distributed nature of DERs, one must be able to 1) communicate with them effectively, 2) integrate them successfully with other assets, and 3) ensure that they will meet the specific needs requested of them, i.e. energy, capacity and/or grid balancing services. The order calls for RTOs and ISOs to develop tariffs that address these three needs by including all of the following features: minimum size requirements (cannot exceed 100 kW), locational requirements for DER aggregations, distribution factors and bidding parameters, data requirements, metering and telemetry requirements and market participation agreements. Most importantly, the order calls for coordination among the regional grid operator, the DER aggregator, the distribution utility, and the relevant electric retail regulatory authority. This may be the most challenging component within the order. It’s also noteworthy to mention that FERC chooses not to explicitly define DERs to avoid choosing winners and losers. Any distributed resource that can provide the desired grid services and isn’t already providing those services elsewhere can play. This is where things may become complicated. The language in the order indicates that it is up to the local or state jurisdiction to regulate the interconnection of these resources unless they have been connected to the system as Qualified Facilities (QFs) with the sole intention of serving a third party or participating in a wholesale market. The aggregator will need to provide attestations that the resources have met the requirements to operate safely and reliably on the system. Many commenters indicated concern about this jurisdictional “grayness”. Some, including Commissioner Danly, felt that FERC had overstepped by placing the onus of ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the resources on state and local jurisdictions while requiring these same jurisdictions to provide unfettered access to the resources for wholesale market participation. There is clearly work to be done here, but in this work lies an opportunity to improve collaboration among market participants and stoke the fires of creativity and innovation within the energy services industry. The process of successfully integrating aggregated DERs into wholesale markets as true market participants will not magically occur overnight. Many of us will have important roles to play in fulfilling the intended mission of FERC Order 2222. State regulatory bodies, distribution utilities, and retail providers will require assistance in implementing the technologies needed to successfully implement the vision as presented. It will likely take several months, if not a few years, to retrofit existing processes and systems to accommodate the application of “virtual powerplants” into wholesale markets to its fullest extent. But this first step is a big one. I believe many of those among AESP’s membership will be at the forefront of these efforts, especially related to the design of aggregated DER, DR, and Energy Efficiency programs and the communications and controls required to effectively integrate them as wholesale market resources. I look forward to exploring the impacts of FERC Order 2222 in more detail and supporting our impacted members as the process moves forward. To gain access to the full language of FERC Order 2222, please click here. Back to top

Now You’re Talking ! What People are Saying in the AESP-Energy Central EE Community Did you know that there's an active (11,000+ members and growing) community of energy efficiency professionals ONLINE? It's the AESP and Energy Central's EE Community. As an AESP member, join this community to post your articles, weigh in on a topic, ask questions of fellow EE professionals, or help answer questions to foster collaborative discussions that benefit everyone. Each month, we highlight one post from the community, but we encourage you to explore the many other articles and posts online, so check out the community here. From the AESP Energy Central EE Community By Peter Key A premise behind getting consumers to do such things as replace their incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs is that getting a large number of people to each save a small amount of energy will produce a large reduction in energy consumption. The latest edition of an annual report that tallies the savings from an agreement between pay-TV providers, set-top box makers and two advocacy groups provides some evidence to support that premise. The goal of the Voluntary Agreement for Ongoing Improvement to the Energy Efficiency of Set-Top Boxes was to improve the boxes’ energy efficiency (duh!) while leaving room for their manufacturers and pay-TV companies to keep adding features to them. According to the 2019 report on the agreement, which was put together and recently issued by environmental consulting firm D+R International, it has succeeded.

The report found that the annual energy consumption of all the set-top boxes in the country has declined by 14.7 terawatt hours, or 46 percent, from 32 TWh in 2012 to 17.3 TWh in 2019, since the agreement has been in effect. That, the report says, is nearly equivalent to the energy that five 500- MW coal-fired power plants put out in a year. Cumulatively, the report estimates that the agreement has reduced the amount of energy that set- top boxes consume by 55.1 TWh, which is enough to power all the homes in California for more than seven months. As a result, consumers have saved approximately $7.1 billion, and nearly 39 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions have been avoided. TV-watching consumers are likely to save even more power in the future, as the National Resources Defense Council, which was one of the two advocacy groups to sign the agreement — the other was the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy — noted in a blog post on the report. The reason is that more and more consumers are doing away with their set-top boxes completely and accessing programming through apps on smart TVs or streaming devices like Apple TV and Roku sticks. That might produce a small energy savings for individual consumers, but it could result in a giant energy savings for mankind. Thank the writer or add your comments to this post by visiting the AESP-Energy Central Energy Efficiency Community. Back to top The following executive summaries of current news items were written for Strategies after being compiled from various news sources. Its Electric Grid Under Strain, California Turns to Batteries As a heat wave slammed California in August, state regulators sent an email to people who managed thousands of batteries installed at utilities, businesses, government facilities, and even homes. “Please consider this an urgent inquiry on behalf of the state,” the message said. The manager of the state’s grid was struggling to increase the supply of electricity because power plants had unexpectedly shut down and demand was surging. The imbalance was forcing officials to order rolling blackouts across the state for the first time in nearly two decades. Many energy experts have predicted that batteries could turn homes and businesses into mini-power plants that are able to play a critical role in the electricity system. That day appears to be closer than earlier thought, at least in California, which leads the country in energy storage. During the state’s recent electricity crisis, more than 30,000 batteries supplied as much power as a midsize natural gas plant. And experts say the machines, which range in size from large wall-mounted televisions to shipping containers, will become even more important because utilities, businesses, and homeowners are investing billions of dollars in such devices. Grid managers and state officials have previously endorsed the use of batteries. The utilities commission last week approved a proposal by Southern California Edison, which serves five

million customers, to add 770 megawatts of energy storage in the second half of 2021, more than doubling its battery capacity. From \"Its Electric Grid Under Strain, California Turns to Batteries\" New York Times (09/04/20) Penn, Ivan Back to top Regular Bricks Can Be Transformed Into Energy Storage Devices Chemists have discovered bricks can possibly be transformed into energy storage devices powerful enough to light LED bulbs. The researchers made this discovery after pumping a series of gases through the pores inside a brick. The gases then react with the chemical components of the brick, coating them with a plastic nanofiber known as PEDOT. That nanofiber is a good conductor of electricity says Julio D'Arcy, an assistant professor of chemistry at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. \"What we have demonstrated in our paper is sufficient enough for you to light up emergency lighting that's in a hallway or sensors that could be embedded inside the walls of a house,\" said D'Arcy, one of the study's authors. \"The next step is trying to store more energy, so that you can power bigger devices — like maybe a laptop — directly from the walls of the house.\" Scientists say more research is needed before the \"smart bricks\" are commercially available. Successful development of the technology could result in the walls of a home being used as a battery to store renewable energy. From \"Regular Bricks Can Be Transformed Into Energy Storage Devices\" CNN (08/12/20) Kann, Drew Back to top Energy Storage Systems to Pave the Way for the Next Phase of the Energy Transition, Says GlobalData Energy storage systems (ESS) are poised to play a major role in the next stage of the energy transition, according to a report from GlobalData. The analytics company says ESS is growing in popularity due to increased variable renewables integration, rising energy demand, asset retirements, and smart technologies. Among the benefits provided by ESS are emission reductions, lower power plant maintenance, voltage control, fewer transmission upgrades, and more secure energy systems. ESS are also driving the development of smart grids and battery energy solutions. This innovation is expected to result in lower battery prices as lithium ion battery technology is improved. Experts predict grid-scale energy storage will play an important role in balancing networks and displacing natural gas peaker plants. Energy storage will also allow energy grids to become more flexible as coal and nuclear power cannot power up and power down quickly. From \"Energy Storage Systems to Pave the Way for the Next Phase of the Energy Transition, Says GlobalData\" Power Technology (08/14/20) Back to top DoE Prepares Future Energy Workforce With Three New Programs The Department of Energy (DoE) has created three challenges for building energy efficiency. The challenges, developed by scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, focus on building construction techniques, grid-interactive efficient buildings

(GEB), and building energy audits for residential or commercial buildings. The challenges fall under the DOE’s JUMP into STEM initiative and are open to university and college students. Over 30 university professors will include the JUMP into STEM competition as a graded item they assign in their classrooms, but students not enrolled in one of these classes are also eligible to participate. Officials say the goal is to attract students from diverse backgrounds to participate in building science research and address problems facing the industry. From \"DoE Prepares Future Energy Workforce With Three New Programs\" Smart Energy International (08/17/2020) Back to top Mandated Energy Efficiency Scores Would Influence Home Buying: ACEEE Research from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) suggests that adding home energy efficiency scores to online real estate listings can influence buyers to purchase more efficient homes. The study presented a simulated website of home listings, some of which included energy efficiency scores. The study found that participants who were shown energy efficiency scores were 14 percent more likely to click on the most-efficient option and 23 percent less likely to click on the least-efficient option, compared with those who did not see the scores. The researchers advise policymakers to require the inclusion of efficiency information in all real estate website listings and to use an intuitive scoring system. They also say policymakers should consider related policies that help buyers find affordable, efficient homes. ACEEE reports that residential homes account for more than half of buildings' energy use in the United States. In 2019, these home emitted nearly 950 million metric tons of CO2. Reuven Sussman, director of Behavior and Human Dimensions Program and report co-author, used data from Portland, Ore., the only U.S. city that currently requires efficiency information in real estate listings under a Home Energy Score ordinance that took effect in 2018. Massachusetts and other governments have proposed similar legislation to require efficiency data in listings of homes for sale. From \"Mandated Energy Efficiency Scores Would Influence Home Buying: ACEEE\" Smart Cities Dive (08/06/20) Musulin, Kristin Back to top Sustainable Building: More Than Just Lighting Energy-efficient lighting is not the only kind of innovation driving sustainable building. Another strategy is to reduce carbon emissions via better building design, especially as the potential to develop a city infrastructure that is seamlessly linked with the environment becomes more popular in coming years. A net zero energy model combining sunlight harvesting for interior illumination, light- emitting diode devices, insulated doors and windows, and renewable energy technology is another path to sustainable building, and the extra spending required should yield a much larger return on investment in the long term. Green building features have a positive impact on health and wellbeing, and devoting serious focus on indoor air quality is another area where employers can appeal to younger employees. Meanwhile, retrofitting existing buildings can often be more cost-effective than new construction. Since most of the energy expended by U.S. buildings is mainly centered around heating and cooling, sustainable retrofits should address this problem during any energy conservation project. Finally, certification programs such as Better Environmental and Economic Sustainability and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design can ensure sustainable building performance in the future, leading to lower overall operating costs. From \"Sustainable Building: More Than Just Lighting\" Novus Light Technologies Today (07/21/20) McElory, Brad

Back to top News summaries © copyright 2020 SmithBucklin Editorial Committee Adeline Lui, Editor, [email protected] Chris Baggett, board member Jeff Ihnen, Chair, board member Sherry McCormack, board member Tracy Narel, member Laura Orfanedes, board member Elizabeth Titus, member Greg Wikler, board member Click here to unsubscribe. 15215 S. 48th St., Suite 170 Phoenix, AZ 85044 PHONE: 480-704-5900 - www.aesp.org