The Residential Technology Campaigns newsletter is dedicated to sharing news about Department of Energy (DOE) residential building technology campaigns managed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL).
Keep reading to find out which organizations were recognized by the STEP and SWIP campaigns in 2023 for their innovative commitment to energy efficiency through support and advancement of underutilized technologies. You'll also find an update from the AIRS Field Study Project.
STEP Campaign
The STEP Campaign promotes quality HVAC installation by encouraging the use of smart diagnostic tools. These tools help HVAC technicians quickly install and commission new HVAC systems and diagnose and troubleshoot energy-wasting faults in existing systems. Learn more
Eight Organizations Recognized for Expanding Use of Smart Diagnostic Tools for Efficient Residential HVAC Performance
The 2023 STEP Campaign recognized eight organizations for impactful commitment to quality residential HVAC installation by using smart diagnostic tools and/or adopting these tools in HVAC workforce training programs. The organizations were recognized on September 26, 2023, during an Energy Efficient Building Association (EEBA) webinar highlighting the benefits of smart diagnostic tools for heat pump installations.
Eco Plumbers, Electricians and HVAC Technicians
Frontier Energy
Jackson Comfort Services
Johnstone Supply (Denver, Colorado)
Portage Lakes Career Center
Ray O. Cook Company
Simpson Salute Heating & Air
SMART Local 265
Learn more about these innovative organizations and why they were recognized.
STEP Case Studies
Simpson Salute Heating & Air
From Data to Decision-Making: Smart diagnostic tools linked to business growthRead case study
SMART Local 265
Smart Diagnostic Tools take SMART Training from Classroom to Customer Satisfaction Read case study
It Takes a Team
The STEP Campaign is led by PNNL with the support of DOE and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), Building Performance Association (BPA), Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), North American Technician Excellence (NATE), and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA). Learn more
SWIP Campaign
The SWIP Campaign aims to accelerate adoption of modern, high-performance storm windows and insulating window panels (sometimes called window inserts or secondary glazing), along with other energy efficient window attachments, to deliver energy savings and comfort at a fraction of the cost of full window replacement. Learn more
Ten Organizations Recognized for Storm Window and Window Attachment Offerings
The SWIP Campaign recognized 10 organizations for impactful and innovative commitment to energy efficiency in 2023, through their programs or incentive offerings to facilitate the adoption of storm windows and other window attachments. The organizations were recognized by Katie Cort of the SWIP Campaign team during an EEBA Summit session on high performance building envelopes.
Storm windows or secondary glazing:
Benton Rural Electric Association
Con Edison (commercial secondary window incentive)
Energy Resource Center
The Chelan County Public Utility District
Xcel Energy (Minnesota)
Other window attachments:
Baltimore Gas and Electric
Minnesota Technical Reference Manual
The Orlando Utilities Commission
United Cooperative Services
Xcel Energy (Colorado)
Learn more about these innovative organizations and why they were recognized.
Case Studies
Con Edison
Energy Efficient Window Inserts for New York View Read case study
(This case study demonstrates how products similar to storm windows are being used in commercial applications.)
The SWIP team is expanding the campaign's scope in 2024 to encompass a variety of affordable solutions to improve window performance, including insulated cellular shades, solar screens, and more—especially those that are rated by the Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC). The campaign will continue supporting adoption of these technologies in single-family homes, but will increase its focus in 2024 on building partnerships to also increase adoption in multi-family buildings. The campaign team is particularly interested in working with partners to help remove barriers for adoption of affordable window technologies in underserved communities.
Meet the SWIP Leadership Committee
The SWIP Campaign is led by PNNL on behalf of DOE with support from EPA ENERGY STAR, the Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC), Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), Efficiency Vermont, the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), and the DOE Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
AIRS Field Study Project
Re-siding projects provide rare access to a home's exterior, making window and insulation renovations a handy and cost-effective option. Your siding installer probably has the tools and know-how to add one or both of these options, with only a little extra time and money. Don’t miss this opportunity to lower your utility bills, significantly improve thermal comfort, and reduce unwanted exterior noise—none of which you’ll get with new siding alone.
The Adding Insulation when Re-Siding (AIRS) field study project is conducting field demonstrations right now to supplement all of the laboratory and simulation research we’ve already done that validates this approach. Results will inform a new technology campaign to provide stakeholders with useful resources. More than 50 million existing homes could benefit from this upgrade, reducing energy consumption and helping meet carbon reduction targets.
Stay tuned for updates as this effort develops! If you’re a contractor who wants more details about AIRS rationale, benefits, marketing, and installation, check out this detailed presentation about the project and contact the AIRS team with any questions.
And don't forget that the new federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding provides more rebates and incentives for energy upgrades than ever before! You can find details on PNNL's Home Energy Rebate Tools webpage and on the DOE website.
Contact Us
Interested in learning more about these campaigns and how you can support them or participate? Please reach out to us!
