DEER2019 and June 2017 updates

Database for Energy-Efficient Resources

DEER2019 and June 2017 DEER Updates

Commission staff has developed, with the assistance of its DEER contractor team, a proposed set of updates to DEER2017 and DEER2018 as well as a DEER2019 update in compliance with D.15-10-028, D.16-08-019, and Resolution E-4818. The updates are proposed for adoption by the Commission via Resolution E-4867, issued on Energy Division’s own motion pursuant to Decision D.15-10-028. A summary of each of the proposed changes can be found in the Attachment of Resolution E-4867. This web page provides general information about the updates and links to more detailed documentation and supporting materials. Parties may submit comments on the proposed updates on or before July 31, 2017 per the Resolution E-4867 Comment Letter. The proposed update was first described in a Scoping Memo issued by Commission staff 1 May 2017. The scoping memo solicited comments from parties which were filed later in May 2017. The commission staff and its DEER contractor has provided responses to the comments as well as incorporated appropriate changes to the update scope as reflected in the Draft Resolution.

This update includes these categories of proposed changes:

• Correction: Previous measure values are changed due to errors identified in the existing DEER measure assumptions, methods or values.
• Addition: New measures are added in response to Program Administrator requests or due to the proposal to move non-DEER workpaper measure into DEER.
• Baseline Update: Pre-existing equipment efficiency levels are added or updated to allow the use of the accelerated replacement option as authorized by D.16-08-019 and Resolution E-4818.
• Code Update: Measure code baselines are updated in response to adopted state or federal code changes becoming effective.
• Evaluation Update: Measure assumptions or analysis methods are update as a result of recent evaluation data.

Accessing the Updated DEER data

During the review and comment period, all of the updated DEER values can be found in the "Preliminary Ex Ante Review" (PEAR) database, accessible via READI. After the resolution is adopted the data will be moved to the Ex Ante database, accessible using the same database interface tool.

• To view the updated DEER2017, DEER2018 and DEER2019 measures and energy impacts, select the “Preliminary Ex Ante Review” (PEAR) database when starting the latest version of READI (version 2.4.7 released on 31 August 2016).
• On the Measures tab, filter the measure list for SourceDesc = “June 2017 DEER Update”.
• Download the Ex-Ante Workbook created from READI for all measures in this update.  A workbook with the "Measure Energy Impact" data format is also available.
• Notices of changes and updates to the DEER values that occur while in the review and comment period are posted to the PEAR change log.

Residential Baseline

Pursuant to Commission direction in E-4818 Commission staff investigated available data sources for updates to existing condition baselines for DEER measures. For residential measures, the source for baseline data review was the 2012 California Lighting and Appliance Saturation Study (CLASS). The CLASS database contains building characteristics and appliance efficiency data collected in on-site surveys of 2,000 residences. For this DEER update, values from the database were averaged to estimate existing baseline conditions. For appliance measures, equipment less than four years old at the time of the surveys was excluded from the averages. Since the surveys were conducted in 2012, this translates to current day averages that are based on equipment 9 years old or older. It was found that trends in appliance efficiency versus building vintage were weak, reflecting the fact that original appliances have been replaced in all but the most recent building vintages. Thus, a single baseline was established representing all building vintages. Workbooks used in the development of the new pre-existing values from the CLASS data are provided in DEER2017 Update supporting materials.

Residential Clothes Washer

The residential clothes washer measures were last updated for DEER2016. Impacts in the Ex-Ante database include values for both pre-existing and standard baselines.

For all DEER2016 clothes washer measures, the pre-existing baseline used a Modified Energy Factor (MEF) value of 1.29, regardless of building vintage, however, the average efficiency for existing top loading washers from the CLASS database was found to be 1.50 MEF, and the average for front loading washers was 2.14 MEF. Development of clothes washer baselines is included in the CLASS Clothes Washer Baseline workbook. Additionally, the DEER2016 pre-existing baseline for front loading washers was based on typical efficiency values of top loading machines. This represented a technology switch, which is not allowed in DEER and is not consistent with the new federal standard, which rates front loading units separately. Details of the clothes washer measure development are included in the DEER Update Clothes Washer workbook. The clothes washer comparison workbook provides details on how each measures definition has changed and the associated change in energy impacts. Refer to Section 1.1 of the DEER update documentation for more information on clothes washer measure updates.

Residential Refrigerators and Freezers

Residential refrigerator and freezer measures were revised in for the DEER2017 update to consider building prototype revisions. However, measure definitions did not include pre-existing efficiency levels and all above pre-existing energy impacts were reported as zero. For this update, a pre-existing technology is established based on CLASS data for refrigerators and freezers four years old or older at the time of the survey (these units would be at least nine years old in 2017). Development of refrigerator and freezer baselines is included in the CLASS Refrigerator Baseline workbook and the CLASS Freezer Baseline workbook. Refer to Section 1.2 of the DEER update documentation for more information on refrigerator and freezer measure updates

Residential Water Heaters

Residential small storage, instantaneous and heat pump water heater measures were last updated in DEER2015. The CLASS database shows only minor differences in water heater efficiencies relative to building vintage, whereas the DEER2015 pre-existing baselines were significantly worse for older vintages than for newer vintages. For this update, the DEER pre-existing baseline for each residential water heater type is updated using CLASS data averaged across the building vintages. Development of refrigerator and freezer baselines is included in the CLASS Water Heater Baseline workbook.

Heat pump water heater measures were last updated for DEER2015. Since then, the Energy Factor (EF) of available water heaters has increased dramatically, and lower efficiency units are no longer available. At this time, all heat pump water heaters available from major California retailers have EF values greater than 3.0. Therefore, the Code/Standard baseline of all heat pump water heaters has been revised to be a standard practice baseline of 3.0 EF. Measure efficiency levels are also revised to be representative of the most efficient products currently available based on examination of manufacturers' literature. Information on the market analysis of available heat pump water heaters is found in the DEER2017 Update Heat Pump Water Heaters workbook.

The energy impacts for all residential hot water heater measures are re-calculated using the Updated DEER DHW Calculator workbook. Refer to Section 1.3 of the DEER update documentation for more information on water heater measure updates.

Residential Gas Furnace

Residential gas furnace measures were included in the DEER2017 update to consider building prototype revisions. The pre-existing baseline efficiency for DEER2017 was 78% for vintages through 2014, and 80% thereafter. Review of the CLASS database revealed an average furnace efficiency of 80% for existing systems, which is the same as the code value that has been in place since 2015. Development of gas furnace baselines is included in the CLASS Furnace Baseline workbook. Therefore, to-code savings for the DEER2017 Update will be zero for residential gas furnaces. PAs may propose alternative existing baseline values, however, claims must be supported by workpapers for accelerated replacement that specify how the proof of pre-existing equipment efficiency will be collected and stored with project files and supplied to support accelerated replacement savings claims. Refer to Section 1.4 of the DEER update documentation for more information on residential furnace measure updates.

Residential Air Conditioners

Cooling efficiency measures were updated in DEER2017 to consider prototype revisions, code changes and performance map improvements. Pre-existing efficiency values for DEER2017 were SEER 10 for older vintages through 2005, SEER 13 from 2006 through 2014, and SEER 14 for 2015 and later. The average efficiency for pre-existing systems calculated from the CLASS database is SEER 11.4. Residential Air Conditioning (AC) measure technologies were not affected by the baseline update. Since only the pre-existing baselines were affected, above code impacts have not changed. Development of air conditioner baselines is included in the CLASS Cooling Baseline workbook. Energy impacts for the affected measures were determined by weighting the existing above pre-existing energy impacts with the above-code/std energy impacts based on the target efficiency level. The scaled impacts workbook develops the new impacts and compares the measure savings to the previous version. Refer to Section 1.5 of the DEER update documentation for more information on residential air conditioner measure updates.

Net-to-Gross Updates to Address Direction in E-4818

For this DEER update, Commission staff adds an adjustment factor to the DEER NTG table designed to provide an appropriate adjustment to the normal replacement NTG values for use with the measure when given an accelerated replacement measure type designation. The adjustment factor provides an incremental free ridership fraction for the to-code portion (RUL period) of the accelerated replacement savings calculation. The normal replacement NTG provides the net of free ridership for the above code portion of the saving while the new "accelerated replacement NTG adjustment factor" (AFAR) provides an increment to the free ridership for the below code portion of the savings. The adjustment will reduce the net-to-gross value for the to-code savings to account for customers who were not influenced by a program to replace the existing equipment or systems prior to the end of the useful life. More information on the development of values for AFAR are included in the DEER2017 Update To-Code NTG workbook.

Commercial Variable Refrigerant Flow HVAC Systems

In March 2017 Commission staff issued a Phase 1 disposition covering VRF measures. The disposition includes direction for updates to energy savings values for a limited number of DEER building types. For the current update the VRF efficiency measure assessment has been expanded to include additional building types and system capacity ranges, and the results have been added to the official Ex-Ante Database for DEER2017. Measure tiers for VRF systems have been established by a review of data from the product database published by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). A limitation was placed on lowest efficiency tier that these units must be at least 15% higher than the code EER. Refer to Section 2.2 of the DEER update documentation for more information on revisions to VRF measures. Documentation of the March 2017 assessment and the updated VRF modeling tools are posted in the file [VRF_Reports_And_Modeling_Tools.zip].

Commercial Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Systems

The last significant update for commercial unitary air conditioners and heat pumps was in DEER2015. This update included all AC and heat pump (HP) units below 65 kBtu/hr, and all AC units 65 kBtu/hr and greater. The pre-existing baselines in DEER2015 were based on historic code requirements. For buildings built before 2002, it was assumed that the air conditioners had been updated to the efficiency level of the 2002 to 2005 vintage. A review of the California Commercial Saturation Survey (CSS) shows efficiency levels that are significantly above the DEER2015 pre-existing baselines for most equipment size categories. Since CSS was completed in 2012, the supporting data represents equipment that, today, would be at least 5 years or old. A survey of claims from the SCE Packaged HVAC Early Retirement Program shows that there are relatively few claims where the replaced system is less than 9 years old. For this update, existing baselines were updated to reflect efficiencies in CSS. In cases where limited or no data existed, the existing baseline was set to the applicable code value. Development of air conditioner baselines is included in the CSS Air Conditioner Baseline workbook. PAs may claim existing baseline efficiencies, however, claims must be supported by workpapers for accelerated replacement that specify how the proof of pre-existing equipment efficiency will be collected and stored with project files and supplied to support accelerated replacement savings claims.

A review of SCE Packaged HVAC Early Retirement Program shows that most equipment larger than 20 tons are variable volume systems. Based on this data, constant volume systems in the largest size range have been removed from DEER in order to prevent accidental claims of VAV systems as if they were constant volume. For the 240 to 760 kBtu/hr size range, a single weighed measure has been implemented in DEER based on the population data from the claims. The constant volume and VAV measures are retained in the database as component-type measures for reference. Claims analysis of SCE’s early retirement program are included in the SCE Early Retirement workbook.

Refer to Section 1.5 of the DEER update documentation for more information on non-residential air conditioner measure updates.

In the process of reviewing baseline updates two errors were discovered in the DEER2015 analysis of SEER rated air conditioning and heat pump systems for commercial buildings. The first error was applicable to all one-speed split air conditioners less than 65 kBtu/hr, as well as all one-speed split and packaged heat pump systems less than 65 kBtu/hr. This error was due to an incorrect minimum threshold for the cycling loss performance curve, and the result was an underestimation of energy use for the affected simulations, which were always either pre-existing or code level models. Thus, correction of the error will result in slight increases in impacts for those measures.

The second error was applicable to all split and packaged air conditioning and heat pump systems in the 55 to 65 kBtu/hr capacity range. For these situations, the code level system was incorrectly set up as a two-speed unit instead of a one-speed unit. This resulted in underestimation of the code model energy use, so correcting the error will increase to-code impacts. In accordance with this correction, the SEER 15 measure was also changed from a two-speed unit to a single speed unit. This correction results in significant increases in savings for cases where the code changes to constant speed while the measure remains at two-speed.

The scaled impacts workbook develops the new impacts and compares the measure savings to the previous version. Refer to Section 3.1 of the DEER update documentation for more information on measure corrections for non-residential SEER rated HVAC systems.

Commercial Chillers

The 2017DEER included updates to water chiller measures that included both minimum full-load efficiency (kW/ton for water-cooled machines or EER for air-cooled machines) and minimum integrated part-load efficiency (IPLV) values. Program administrators (PAs) have voiced concerns that the minimum IPLV requirements were set at efficiency levels that are better than nearly all equipment currently available in the marketplace. The DEER2017 update addresses this problem by setting minimum measure requirements for both full-load and integrated part-load efficiency to be at least 10% better than Title 24 minimum requirements. PAs also were concerned that DEER did not include measures for variable speed positive displacement machines, which are becoming more common. This update also includes new measures for variable speed screw chillers, which are the most common types of positive displacement chillers.

For more information see Section 3.3 of the DEER2017/2018/2019 update documentation. More details on revised measure definitions, including details on screw chiller performance characteristics, can be found in the DEER2017 Update Chiller Measures workbook. The complete set of simulation files for the new screw chiller measures can be found in the DEER2017 Update Chiller Models Archive.

(Updated September 28, 2018) DEER2017 chiller measures included peak demand savings based on an out-of-date demand period. New Additionally, the performance map for the variable speed screw chiller included an error in the development of the performance curve that sets the chiller power input as a function of part-load-ratio, entering condenser temperature and leaving chilled water temperature.  The DEER2019 update corrects these errors. More details on revised measure definitions, including details on screw chiller performance characteristics, can be found in the DEER2017 Update Chiller Measures workbook. The complete set of simulation files for the new screw chiller measures can be found in the DEER2017 Update Chiller Models Archive.

Residential Clothes Washer Code Update

The new federal standard for top loading clothes washers goes into effect on 1/1/2018. This code update changes the IMEF for standard capacity top loading clothes washers from the DEER2017 code value of 1.50 to the new federal standard value of 1.57.

For the DEER Top-loading clothes washers, the savings based on the pre-existing technology will not change from the DEER2017 results. Measure energy impacts above the code/standard technology will decrease by approximately 12% starting in 2018 compared to the DEER2017 energy impacts. Refer to Section 4.1 of the DEER Update Documentation for more information on clothes washer measure code updates.

Residential Refrigerant Charge

During the development of the updates for the non-residential refrigerant change adjustment (RCA) measure described below, the DEER team discovered a mistake in the calculation methodology. The previous measure modeling was done using measure assumption parameters developed by weighting together model input parameters for systems with thermal expansion valves (TXV) and those with non-TXV devices rather than weighting together the modeling results for TXV and non-TXV devices. Measures are now differentiated between systems with and without TXV devices. For systems with non-TXV control, the change from the original DEER2018 results is minimal, since this was weighted heavily in the measure inputs. However, systems with TXV control have much lower savings for undercharged systems, and effectively zero savings for overcharged systems. Development of RCA is covered in the Residential Refrigerant Charge workbook. Refer to Section 3.2 of the DEER update documentation for more information on residential RCA measures.

Net-to-Gross Review

The DEER team reviewed recent EM&V findings and updated net-to-gross (NTG) values where EM&V findings indicate a substantial difference from current DEER values. The DEER team opinion is that evaluation results moving up or down less than five percent annually should not result in a shift in the DEER ex ante values unless there is evidence from two or more consecutive evaluations that the change represents a directional shift that is expected to persist into the future rather than simply a normal year-to-year change in participation or measure mix that can move NTG values either up or down. When an upward or downward trend is observed the DEER team also considered that these values will be applied four years later than the program year for which the evaluation was performed and thus additional adjustments may be warranted. Therefore, Commission staff recommends only the limited NTG adjustments. Refer to Section 5.1 of the DEER update documentation for more information on NTG updates.

Commercial Refrigerant Charge

Commercial refrigerant charge adjustment (RCA) measures were last revised in DEER2014. The DEER team used data from recent laboratory investigations of RCA to develop adjustments to cooling capacity and efficiency of package HVAC systems. Adjustments are different for systems with thermal expansion valves (TXVs) and systems without TXVs. Data show that improvement in electric input ratio (EIR) is much lower than was assumed for DEER2014 values, especially for overcharged systems. Additionally, difficulty in precise measurements and diagnosis in the field for these small off-charge states makes it difficult to establish that small charge adjustments will result in any improved system state or performance. For these reasons the DEER savings values are only to be utilized for charge adjustments of four percent or greater and shall only be allowed if the technicians are utilizing approved methods and tools and have undergone approved training by a qualified professional. In order to use the DEER savings values, the implementation activities must include a continuous verification element that ensures that the approved system fault diagnosis and correction protocols are being followed and that any charge adjustments are necessary and correct. RCA data analysis is included in the Commercial RCA Data workbook. Development of refrigerant charge measures is covered in the Commercial Refrigerant Charge workbook. Refer to Section 5.2 of the DEER update documentation for more information on nonresidential RCA measures.

Additional Resources

Building energy modeling supporting the residential refrigerant charge and clothes washer measures was conducted using an update to the MASControl for DEER2017 software. An updated database file is used in conjunction with the previously published software.

Documentation regarding creating new measures in the MASControl for DEER2017 software and post-processing the simulation results into the ex ante format are presented by a group of documents, workbooks and SQL support files.  An example window measure for the mobile home building type is included.

Commercial HVAC measures were simulated using an update to the MASControl for DEER2016 software. A number of updated files are installed over the MASControl software. See the ReadMe.txt file in the update for instructions on extracting the files to the proper directories.