As a test proven and cost effective energy efficiency measure, demand controlled pumps offer owners and managers of multifamily buildings a smarter alternative to conventional circulation pumps and help them to permanently reduce building operating costs. Water heating now accounts for about 45% of total gas usage in an average household and is one of the major operating expenses incurred by a multifamily building owner. By reducing heat losses through demand controlled pumping, natural gas usage can be cut down by 10-30%, saving owners thousands of dollars on an annual basis and also saving wear and tear on their distribution pipes. But as attractive as demand controlled pumping systems are to multifamily building owners, they are also an equally attractive energy efficiency measure in a much larger picture: Helping California meet its ambitious energy reduction goals by 2020.
California's Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan
California's Long Term EE Strategic Plan, or the "Plan", created by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2008, is a framework for integrating energy efficiency into the fabric of California, thereby helping the State to meet its goals for reducing carbon emissions by 2020. The focus of the plan is to create a roadmap for addressing the overarching strategy as defined in the CA Energy Action Plan II, which states:
“[The] goal is for California’s energy to be adequate,
affordable, technologically advanced, and
environmentally-sound…[C]ost effective energy
efficiency is the resource of first choice for meeting
California’s energy needs. Energy efficiency is the
least cost, most reliable, and most environmentally sensitive
resource, and minimizes our contribution to
climate change.”
affordable, technologically advanced, and
environmentally-sound…[C]ost effective energy
efficiency is the resource of first choice for meeting
California’s energy needs. Energy efficiency is the
least cost, most reliable, and most environmentally sensitive
resource, and minimizes our contribution to
climate change.”
California's Plan calls for market transformation through the adoption of technologically advanced products that will make the most efficient use of energy. There is no doubt that centering an energy plan around energy efficiency, as opposed to renewables (solar, wind turbine, etc.) or biofuels, makes the most sense and gives you the best value for your money. Unlocking the energy efficiency potential of California remains the best chance to realize the goal of reducing energy in existing homes by 40% by the year 2020.
How do demand controls fit into the CA Long Term EE Plan?
It is noted in the Plan that there are no specific strategies to upgrade efficiencies in multifamily buildings, even though approximately one-third of all households in California live in multifamily buildings. Part of this is due the challenge of having a limited menu of cost effective measures for these types of buildings. The CPUC recognizes this shortcoming and it is mentioned in the plan that this must be addressed in greater detail in the next iteration. In the meantime, demand controlled pumps present CA with a legitimate energy efficiency measure for this under served segment of the market. It has a quick payback (most often under 2 years), persistence of energy savings (15-20 year product life) and saves water, gas and electricity. Given the proven energy savings and product reliability, demand pumps are regarded by many as being in the same "low-hanging fruit" category as compact fluorescent lighting retrofits and weatherization improvements.
By the numbers:
44%- is the percent of total gas used for water heating per household
1/3- Approximate number of households in California that live in a multifamily building
10-30%- Reduction in gas use by a central water heater when using a demand controlled pump
40%- Is the goal of California to reduce energy use per household by 2020.
How do demand controls fit into the CA Long Term EE Plan?
It is noted in the Plan that there are no specific strategies to upgrade efficiencies in multifamily buildings, even though approximately one-third of all households in California live in multifamily buildings. Part of this is due the challenge of having a limited menu of cost effective measures for these types of buildings. The CPUC recognizes this shortcoming and it is mentioned in the plan that this must be addressed in greater detail in the next iteration. In the meantime, demand controlled pumps present CA with a legitimate energy efficiency measure for this under served segment of the market. It has a quick payback (most often under 2 years), persistence of energy savings (15-20 year product life) and saves water, gas and electricity. Given the proven energy savings and product reliability, demand pumps are regarded by many as being in the same "low-hanging fruit" category as compact fluorescent lighting retrofits and weatherization improvements.
By the numbers:
44%- is the percent of total gas used for water heating per household
1/3- Approximate number of households in California that live in a multifamily building
10-30%- Reduction in gas use by a central water heater when using a demand controlled pump
40%- Is the goal of California to reduce energy use per household by 2020.
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