ET23SWE0043 - Residential High-Performance Windows Measure Package Development
This project aims to develop a measure package for residential windows. With the recent California Decision 23-04-035 that outlines a path for eliminating gas incentives, windows are considered a “gas exempt” measure due to providing gas savings without incentivizing a gas appliance. The California (CA) Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) have been asked by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to prioritize gas-exempt measures, such as high-performance windows, and have existing energy efficiency (EE) programs that can utilize a measure package once it is developed. This proposed measure package also plays a large role in supporting equity programs and will include categories specific to equity programs.
The CA IOUs previously developed a window measure package, but the findings are outdated and inactive. Residential window technology is commercially available and has become more cost-effective over the years. The lower costs provide an opportunity to revive and update the measure with current market data. The measure package will calculate the estimated energy savings associated with high-performance residential windows in both single-family and multifamily applications across CA’s 16 climate zones. The proposed project will also compile all data needed for measure package submission to California Technical Forum (CalTF) including baseline efficiency, measure efficiency, eligibility criteria, measure application type, building types applicable, effective useful life, incremental measure cost, and first-year savings.
The project team developed a measure package for residential high-efficiency windows to the standards of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requirements for measure packages. The measure package, including all major characterization sections and supporting energy modeling files and outputs, is ready for submittal to the California Technical Forum (Cal TF) for review and approval. s. For energy savings methodology, the Database for Energy Efficiency Resources (DEER) Residential Building Prototypes were used for building energy modeling simulation. The measure package utilizes eligibility criteria specified in the ENERGY STAR® Program Requirements for Residential Windows, Doors, and Skylights, Version 7.0, and provides two measure offerings: new construction and retrofit high-efficiency residential windows.
