Consumer Outreach
Pilot Programs Show Energy Savings
A Minnesota electric cooperative is reporting early favorable results from two pilot programs in which members tested the energy and cost savings of heat pump water heaters and various swimming pool pump strategies.
A Minnesota co-op is reporting early favorable results from a pilot program involving swimming pool pumps. (Photo By: oday222)
In the heat pump water heater pilot at Connexus Energy, Ramsey, Minn., energy use dropped about 67 percent compared to straight electric resistance heaters. Participants in the swimming pool pilots saved about 2,000 kilowatt-hours this summer, and peak demand was reduced by 1.4-1.8 kw per pool.
The goal of the heat pump water heater test was “to determine how well they perform in northern climates and determine if they could play a role in promoting electric technology strategies,” said Bruce Sayler, regulatory and government affairs manager at the co-op.
Feedback from participants was “overwhelmingly positive,” Sayler said. Members said they ran their dehumidifiers less, and while room temperatures dropped, people were still comfortable.
That last part is the key, Sayler said. He recounted one member commenting, “This reason alone is why I would recommend it. My wife has not complained once about the quality of the hot water.”
Under the second pilot, swimming pool owners tested whether digital timers or high efficiency pool pumps saved energy without compromising water quality. Of the 6,000-10,000 co-op members who own swimming pools, “the majority operate pool pumps 24/7, when they don’t really need to,” Sayler said, adding that pumps can add 6-12 megawatts to the system’s peak load.
Connexus Energy deployed the two pilots in addition to its ongoing partnership with Opower, an energy software company based in Arlington, Va.
In 2009, the co-op was Opower’s first electric cooperative client to take part in a pilot of “Home Energy Reports” that allowed consumers to track and compare energy usage to that of neighbors. In that program, participants reported savings of 3 percent.
Sayler said the co-op will continue working with Opower next year and looking for innovative pilots to demonstrate new electric technologies. It’s also looking at three additional pilots with Opower and Honeywell, but he couldn’t divulge details.