FAQ

Date: April 2020

Austin Energy (AE) successfully launched a new energy efficiency measure in its multi-family program with the addition of a DR-enabled WiFi smart thermostat. The new thermostat is packaged with EE measures to create a holistic retrofit that is targeted toward the Income Qualified sector; those currently operating legacy-RF direct-installation DR thermostats.

This new measure has increased overall participation by 90% while offering a rebate-enhanced path from a legacy technology and programs to smart thermostats. The package includes measures such as duct seal, AC tune-up, LED lighting, insulation, and solar screens. The new thermostat measure is expected to add ~$40 per year of bill savings to each apartment.

Once the DR-enabled smart thermostat is installed, AE and the property manager market the Power Partner Thermostat DR program to the tenant who can sign up for an $85 incentive. Coupling EE and DR in the multi-family sector provides a unique opportunity for the utility to directly incentivize multi-family tenants. These tenants are utility customers that otherwise cannot directly participate in other utility DSM programs.

AE recognizes WiFi has limitations for certain multi-tenant properties so, in an effort to offer other solutions, AE has been working with Resideo Technologies and Pelican Wireless to offer a BYOT program through a mesh network thermostat that does not require individual WiFi or tenant level electric account. This functionality facilitates individual unit participation in master-metered facilities such as high-rise apartments/condos or retirement communities and group-type housing.

With this partnership, housing community managers will retain move-in/move-out master remote control and troubleshooting capability over their community of thermostats, while individual tenants can use the same mesh network communication to participate in the PPT program and receive a rebate, regardless of WiFi availability.

On an annual basis, Austin Energy evaluates its DR programs using a large group of participant and non-participant premise-level metered samples for each DR event, and compares that to DR performance at the whole system level. The use of 15-minute interval data helps standardize the results and provide a comparison of event performance for smart thermostats and legacy one-way RF thermostats.

This session reviews a number of factors that impact DR performance results from smart thermostats and legacy thermostat technology.

Speakers:
Scott Jarman, Austin Energy
Beth Crouchet, Resideo
Leigh Holmes, CLEAResult