Webinars The Emerging Technologies Showcase series features timely, in-depth information about promising energy efficiency technologies and practices that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is considering for future research or evaluation. Knowledge-sharing tools and recently implemented technologies are occasionally highlighted. Produced monthly in a webinar format with live presentations by energy experts, each concludes with a question and answer session.. This page displays recently produced webinars as well as upcoming Showcase webinars for which you can register. You can find the entire Showcase series on the Webinar Archive page. They are also available on the Conduit website.
Upcoming events
Recent webinars
Webinar Archives
Lessons Learned from BPA’s DER Benchmarking Study (#65)
March 14, 2018
BPA’s Distributed Energy Resources (DER) team met with 12 entities from around the country to better understand how they are using and enabling DERs within their organizations and service territories. Our DER team learned a great deal about the types of DERs utilities are working with, how they are integrating them, programs available to customers, enabling technologies and future plans for each of the entities. This information has been documented in BPA’s 2017 DER Benchmarking Report that is publicly available on the bpa.gov website. This presentation will focus on an overview of the information in the report and key learnings that BPA took away from discussions with each of the entities.
Download the webinar presentation.
Top of page
Residential Lighting – Controls (#64)
December 7, 2017
This webinar is the last of two coming out of the BPA Emerging Technologies Residential Lighting Technical Advisory Group. Presentations focus on lighting controls in the residential sector, including connected lighting controls, fixture-integrated controls, and exterior residential lighting controls.
Residential Lighting – Lamps (#63)
November 29, 2017
This webinar is the first of two coming out of the BPA Emerging Technologies Residential Lighting Technical Advisory Group. Presentations focus on lamps in the residential sector and include raising lamp efficacy and decorative or specialty lamps.
Demystifying the Refrigerant Landscape (#62)
September 28, 2017
Learn about the changing refrigerant market and how it may impact your work and your customers. Presentations at this webinar discuss national and international changes in regulations, and explore the potential use of emerging alternatives to replace existing refrigerants. Discussion also includes ongoing and future research, future policy and technological developments, as well as new incentives at some utilities aimed at developing and promoting new natural refrigerant technologies.
Residential Window Coverings: Energy Efficient or Just Nice Looking? (#61)
September 20, 2017
Window coverings and attachments have traditionally been thought of as decorative features in a home, yet new shading materials and control strategies are demonstrating significant energy savings. This webinar presentation features some of the latest research related to energy-efficient window coverings and attachments, including control strategies for operable shading devices to ensure persistent energy savings, and opportunities to increase market acceptance. Information will also be presented on the newly launched Attachment Energy Rating Council (AERC) and its work to develop energy ratings, certifications, and labels for energy-efficient window attachment products.
Super-Efficient Dryers – Field and Lab Test Results (#60)
September 7, 2017
Lab and field research on heat pump clothes dryers conducted by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) from 2013 through 2016 resulted in 1) a multi-tiered dryer efficiency specification that is the basis of utility energy savings estimates 2) a qualified products list used to promote high efficiency dryers sold in the Pacific Northwest and 3) recommendations on how a future test protocols can be improved. Attend the webinar to hear Christopher Dymond, Senior Product Manager at NEEA, present these findings, as well as results from a non-energy benefits comparison study of heat pump clothes dryers with conventional clothes dryers.
Working Together on Emerging Technologies (#59)
August 30, 2017
How can we improve collaboration around emerging technologies in the Pacific Northwest? The Regional Emerging Technology Advisory Committee (RETAC) is doing just that. Mark Rehley, Senior Manager for Emerging Technology at the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), and Dave Kresta, Senior Product Manager at NEEA will share a vision for collaboration and discuss the current state of the emerging technology pipeline. You will learn how to use the new Emerging Technologies database that is available on ConduitNW.org. We will also be looking for your input on priorities for emerging technology for 2018!
CO2 Refrigerant Heat Pumps Today (#58)
August 16, 2017
Carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigerant heat pumps have come a long way from research through four BPA Technology Innovation Projects to BPA’s successful effort to bring the technology to market. Janice Peterson with BPA provides an overview of the commercialization effort at this webinar. Ken Eklund with WSU discusses what has been learned about optimizing performance of these heat pumps whether used as water heaters or combined space and water heaters.
Applying Strategic Energy Management in Manufacturing Facilities (#57)
August 1, 2017
Strategic Energy Management (SEM), a system of practices and policies that supports achievement of persistent energy savings by integrating energy efficiency as a core business practice, continues to excite interest nationwide. Attend this webinar to learn about the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s (NEEA) SEM website and regional SEM Infrastructure, and Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) Energy Smart Industrial (ESI) Program. NEEA’s website, www.semhub.com, launched in early 2017, puts tools and resources into the hands of program administrators and utilities in order to bring SEM to their customers. A BPA ESI Program case study demonstrates how an industrial customer is able to apply principles of continuous improvement to energy management to reduce energy costs.
BPA’s Multifamily New Construction Measure (#56)
June 28, 2017
A new Bonneville Power Administration measure beginning in October 2017 will provide incentives for new multifamily construction exceeding Washington 2015 Residential Energy Code by at least 10%, with additional incentives for buildings exceeding 25%. This measure was developed in response to the energy goals of western states, advice and input from customers, and the recommendations from our 2016 Multifamily Technology Advisory Group. Robert Weber and Jess Kincaid of BPA will discuss the potential for this measure, the technical development of the measure, the pre-qualification process, and how this measure will facilitate development of emerging technologies in the region.
Line Voltage Connected Thermostats: Better Control of Baseboard Heaters (#55)
June 14, 2017
Electric resistance is an inefficient way to heat homes, and yet electric heaters are fairly common and often paired with simple bimetallic thermostats that compound their inefficiency. Finally, new thermostats are available that provide tight dead bands, remote control, programmability, reporting, and other useful and energy-saving features. Come learn about this new opportunity for efficiency improvement.
Stem the Loss: Hot Water Systems in Multifamily Buildings (#54)
May 17, 2017
Central hot water heating systems are popular for multifamily housing projects as they free up rentable space, centralize maintenance, and mitigate costly repairs. However, heat loss associated with systems that are in modern buildings with low flow plumbing fixtures has been measured at 35-70%! This presentation highlights a pilot study by Ecotope, with support from Bonneville Power Administration, which compares the performance of three recirculation technologies in different apartment buildings, with the goal of minimizing energy loss. Also featured is the metered performance data for the heat pump water heating system installed in each building.
Pay for Performance (#53)
March 28, 2017
Pay for Performance (P4P) programs track and reward energy savings as they occur, usually by examining data from a building’s energy meters – as opposed to the more common approach of estimating savings in advance of installation and offering upfront rebates or incentives in a lump-sum payment. The P4P approach has the potential to measure savings more accurately, increase energy savings, and stimulate innovation in efficiency programs, yet there are some key limitations. Presentations include an overview of the P4P approach, a quick look at programs across the country, and finally a deeper exploration of a commercial P4P project in Portland, Oregon.
Download the webinar presentation by Emily Levin at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.
Download the webinar presentation by Kathleen Belkhayat at Energy Trust of Oregon.
More webinars in the archives. Click Here! to view the complete list of available webinars.
Please feel free to subscribe to our e-list for upcoming ET Showcase webinars and other E3T-related news. If you have other concerns or questions, please use the Contact Us page.