Project Report
Pacific Gas and Electric Heat Pump Efficiency
and Super Weatherization
Prepared for: Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Report Dated: May l, 1990
By: John Proctor, P.E.
Executive Summary
The Heat Pump Efficiency and Super Weatherization Pilot Project was initiated to address the problem of a high level of complaints from homeowners with heat pumps in PG&E's Drum Division (near Auburn, California).
There were two major components of the project. These were to:
- Identify the major problems with existing residential heat pump installations
- Design a system to correct those problems
The objective of the identification component was to determine the range and frequency of problems at selected heat pump sites. These sites were selected from a pool made up of customers who had complained to PG&E about high electricity bills.
The objectives of the design component were to create a program that would:
- Result in improved homeowner comfort, increased efficiency of mechanical systems, and enhanced customer satisfaction;
- Save ten to twenty percent of the space heating energy for the selected customers;
- Be able to be implemented at a cost to PG&E of less than $400 per site; and
- Facilitate increased customer acceptance of high efficiency heat pumps in both retrofit and new construction.
Summary
The Heat Pump Efficiency and Super Weatherization Pilot Project has resulted in the design of a program that can reduce selected heat pump customers' energy use by over 20%. This program has the potential to significantly improve customer satisfaction with heat pump performance, resulting in increased electric heating customer retention.
Information developed in this project has implications for the approximately 50,000 heat pumps in PG&E's service territory. It may also have implications for residential air conditioning units. The extent to which the findings of this project can be applied to other PG&E districts must be determined through further studies.
Also see Program Design and Energy Efficiency Research
Bound copies of this entire report are available for $30 each.
For details about obtaining a copy see How To Order Project Reports
