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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Fully half of the electricity used in the United States goes to power some 35 million electric motors that are larger than one horsepower and that annually consume over $90 billion worth of electricity. While electric motors are inherently efficient end-use conversion devices, the energy savings and lifecycle economics of high and premium efficiency motors simply can’t be ignored. But there is a dearth of information regarding the specifications, price, and availability of energy-efficient motors. To fulfill this information gap, the Washington State Energy Office created MotorMaster, a user-friendly software package that presents a wealth of information on high efficiency motors.

MotorMaster provides comparative information on three-phase motors and allows its users to review motor features such as enclosures available, efficiency at various loads, and price. The second version of MotorMaster, which has been available since January 1993, contains information on almost 10,000 motor models, including amperage and torque ratings, supplied and reviewed by 17 major motor manufacturers.

MotorMaster analyzes three general motor purchase scenarios. First, when a new motor is to be purchased, MotorMaster can compare the cost effectiveness of any two models. Second, when a motor fails, a decision needs to be made whether to rewind the motor or purchase a new one. MotorMaster compares the cost and efficiency of a new motor against repairing the old one. Third, there is the possibility of replacing an operating motor with a more efficient model.

MotorMaster targets a wide profile of users. Engineering firms can use the software to perform calculations for specific applications. MotorMaster helps mechanics faced with replacing equipment. Motor vendors can benefit greatly from the Version 2 MotorMaster disk because a filter is available which allows users to select what manufacturers’ products show up on the screen. Salespeople can print out sheets comparing the motors they have for sale.

MotorMaster can support utility motor rebate programs by identifying which models meet minimum efficiency requirements. MotorMaster contains a sample library of utility motor rebate programs which currently includes Pacific Gas & Electric, Consolidated Edison, Rochester Gas & Electric, BPA, Portland General Electric, and Puget Sound Power & Light. Data for additional rebate programs can be incorporated by the user, and rebate files can be easily created or modified.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of MotorMaster is the significance of the project in relation to its cost. The program has essentially been run by one individual, Todd Litman, with a total budget of less than $100,000. By January 1993 roughly 5,000 MotorMaster disks had been distributed though it is estimated that half of all people receiving the MotorMaster disk will pass it on to another user, resulting in at least 7,500 copies in circulation.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE 15 PAGE PROFILE IN PDF FILE FORMAT]

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Pacific/Utah Power, the electric generation and distribution divisions of PacifiCorp, is a forerunner in a new and innovative type of efficiency program in which customers repay the costs of their efficiency installations through monthly energy service charges on their electric bills. While the jury is still out on the effectiveness of this approach compared to more traditional rebate and other incentive programs, Pacific/Utah Power’s pioneering efforts with financing energy services for its customers is a model that is being closely watched around the country.

Pacific/Utah Power classifies its DSM programs into one of two categories: Energy Service Charge (ESC) and non-ESC programs. The ESC programs provide customers with up-front capital to finance the incremental cost of efficiency measures which exceed current building code requirements or common practices. In return the participant pays a monthly energy service charge directly to the utility. The time period of the energy service charge varies and the interest rates are competitive with the market.

The Energy FinAnswer program is an "investment-based energy service charge program" which is currently offered by Pacific/Utah Power in seven states: Oregon, Utah, Idaho, California, Washington, Wyoming, and Montana. The Energy FinAnswer for large commercial customers, the focus of this profile, offers a wide range of services including modeling, financing, and performance verification. Since 1990, 74 buildings have signed energy service contracts with The Energy FinAnswer program, accounting for more than 4.5 million square feet of new and renovated commercial construction. The efficiency measures add value to the building through lower operating costs, as well as increasing comfort and aesthetics. The costs for the measures are actually repaid over time with money saved in operational expense.

The 74 buildings that participated in The Energy FinAnswer program from 1990 through December 31, 1992 are estimated to have total annual energy savings of 31,232 MWh. Cumulative energy savings are 37,879 MWh; lifecycle savings are projected to exceed 499,000 MWh. Average annual capacity savings for the program have progressed from 0.002 MW in 1990 to 0.942 MW in 1991, to 5.364 MW in 1992.

While many energy analysts continue to debate the virtues and potential pitfalls of the energy service charge concept in general and The Energy FinAnswer program in particular, the program, or what some consider an "experiment," is beginning to receive more and more attention. If the utility proves that it can maintain high levels of participation at low costs -- essentially serving its customers with a low-cost financing coupled with key energy efficiency services -- then the program mechanism will likely be widely sought and implemented across the country for the large commercial sector.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE 23 PAGE PROFILE IN PDF FILE FORMAT]

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Alaska Craftsman Home Program (ACHP) is a non-profit corporation that was formed through a cooperative arrangement between the University of Alaska Cooperative Extension Service, the State government, and the Alaska Homebuilders’ Association. The program’s goal is to improve the energy efficiency of new residential construction in Alaska by educating Alaskan builders and purchasers about the benefits of energy efficiency.

ACHP has both an educational component and a home certification element. ACHP conducts intensive workshops for builders, contractors, and engineers. The workshops provide comprehensive training on the design and construction of energy-efficient homes, retrofitting techniques, and the design and installation of mechanical ventilation systems.

A building manual forms the centerpiece of the educational program, providing information to builders about adaptations necessary to optimize energy efficiency in different regions of Alaska where climates may vary tremendously. For example, Ketchikan has about 7,065 heating degree days each year, while Barrow has 20,265! Thus, insulation standards for the relatively warm and very rainy Southeast are inadequate in the North. The Building Manual and ACHP curricula address these regional differences.

The home certification element is implemented with the use of the HOT-2000 computer program. New homes or retrofit projects that meet the HOT-2000 energy usage goal for the home type and location are certified as Alaska Craftsman Homes save up to 80% of the energy usage over conventional homes. Additionally, Alaska Craftsman Homes receive "five star plus" ratings, the highest available from Energy Rated Homes of America, and thus are eligible to receive rebates of up to $2,500, which can be applied to buy-down the home’s mortgage.

Since 1986, ACHP has operated on a budget of approximately $2.4 million and has certified more than 2,500 builders and over 100 homes. Currently ACHP has 45 active builder members and approximately 1,600 subscribers to its bimonthly newsletter, "Northern Building Science." Participation in the ACHP increased dramatically in 1992 when 48 Alaska Craftsman Homes were certified.

To date most of the program activity has been focused on rather large and expensive custom-built homes. Now ACHP is trying to focus its attention on lower and middle income homes, and on retrofit projects as well, and in 1992 made several steps toward reaching these markets. First, five homes in Barrow, located on the Arctic Ocean coast, have been certified as Alaska Craftsman Homes. The homes are 1,200-1,500 square feet and are fabricated in Washington by certified ACHP builders, then shipped to Barrow where the homes are assembled. Since there is no road access to the bush community of Barrow, the northernmost community in the United States.

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE 17 PAGE PROFILE IN PDF FILE FORMAT]

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Green Mountain Power launched its Small Commercial and Industrial Retrofit Program at an opportune time, just after an ice dam on the Winooski River caused the river to spill over its banks in the state capitol of Montpelier, flooding the town and causing severe hardship for small business owners. GMP’s door-to-door campaign promoting the Small C/I Retrofit program was most welcome, and the program quickly had its first 65 participants. By the end of 1992 the program had exceeded its participation goal for the year of 500 customers.

The Small C&I Retrofit program is available to any non-residential, non-agricultural GMP customer having an average monthly electrical energy use of more than 300 kWh, but less than 12,500 kWh during the winter season. (Note that GMP’s eligibility criteria is quite different than the criteria used by New England Electric System, Profile #1, and Boston Edison, Profile #31.) GMP provides eligible customers with a free walk-through survey of their facilities. After the survey, the customer is provided with a written list of recommended energy-efficiency measures. Typically, customers elect to have all recommended "base measures" installed as the entire cost is covered by GMP. Base package measures include lighting upgrades, lighting controls, HVAC controls, electrically-heated domestic water tank and pipe insulation, and water conservation hardware.

Site specific energy conservation measures (what GMP calls "custom package" measures) meeting a set of screening criteria are also available to small C&I customers. In this track of the program, GMP "buys down" the customer’s cost for custom measures to a one-year payback. (See New York Power Authority’s High Efficiency Lighting Program, Profile #17, for another example of a customer payback buydown.)

In 1992 the Small C&I Retrofit program accounted for 3,982 MWh in annual energy savings and 0.826 MW in coincident peak capacity savings. All of these savings can be attributed solely to lighting measures (3,881 MWh and 0.803 MW) and insulation of hot water tanks (102 MWh and 0.023 MW).

Costs for the Small C&I Retrofit program have totalled $1,267,900 to date. In 1992 the cost per participant for the program was $2,184. Because only base measure packages have been installed so far, there are currently no customer contribution costs for the program.

The Small C&I Retrofit program achieved an impressive participation rate of 8% during its first year especially when one considers that the program was only available to the public starting in May 1992. The program also greatly exceeded its first year projected energy and capacity savings. Thus the key lesson learned is that well-designed, well-implemented programs can have marked success from their start!

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE 17 PAGE PROFILE IN PDF FILE FORMAT]

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