Project Report


Pacific Gas and Electric
Appliance Doctor Pilot Project- Summer 1990 Activity

Prepared for: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Report Dated: January 8, 1991
By: John Proctor, P.E.

Executive Summary

The 1990 Fresno Appliance Doctor Pilot Project was created to investigate the potential energy and peak savings in residential air conditioners and gas forced air furnaces. The Fresno study was targeted at Pacific Gas and Electric's high bill complaint customers (Energy Cost Inquiry's or ECI's).

In the winter of 1989/90 a pilot project investigating the cause of high bill complaints among heat pump customers was initiated in PG&E's Drum Division in the area of Auburn, California.

The results of the Auburn study (Pacific Gas and Electric Heat Pump Efficiency and Super Weatherization Pilot Project) indicated that substantial energy savings and peak electrical load reduction was possible from a well controlled program aimed at these heat pumps. The results indicated that a similar program directed at air conditioners was promising. The Fresno Appliance Doctor Pilot was created to examine the potential for air conditioners.

Objectives

The objectives of the Fresno Appliance Doctor Pilot were to:
  1. Identify the major problems with existing residential air conditioning installations
  2. Identify the major problems with existing furnace installations
  3. Determine what actions could be taken to correct those problems
  4. Estimate the potential savings from those actions

Summary

The PG&E Appliance Doctor Pilot Project has identified a significant source of untapped electrical and gas savings. This potential savings resides in bringing the existing cooling and heating equipment up to its designed efficiency. Field testing has proven that these repairs are economically feasible. In addition these repairs have the potential to improve customer satisfaction.

A 24.4% cooling energy savings and 12% heating savings can be accomplished by a program that diagnoses and repairs duct leakage, airflow, and overcharge on residential central air conditioners similar to those in the study. Information developed in this project has implications for all residential air conditioners and gas forced air furnaces in PG&E's service territory. It has special significance for high bill complaint customers systemwide. In Fresno alone there were 11,856 ECI's in 1990.

Also see Pilot Programs and Energy Efficiency Research

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