Getting Energy Efficiency Innovations off the Shelf

Karl Johnson, KFJ Energy Services
Robert Knight, Bevilacqua-Knight Inc.
Donald Aumann, California Energy Commission
Morton Blatt

Keywords

Abstract

This paper reviews current models for moving new energy efficiency products from lab to market and presents a new market connection approach for such public-sector technology development programs. The new approach is the latest step in the efforts of the California Energy Commission’s PIER (Public Interest Energy Research) program to emphasize market connections and encourage the integration of market connection activities into the research phase. In 2002 many of these activities were formalized and given additional structure under the Lighting Research Program (LRP). Beginning with the LRP, a separate consultant component for market connection is included in many PIER building technologies projects to increase the emphasis on issues such as economic viability and competitiveness, marketability, user needs, manufacturer business cases, and value-chain barriers. The PIER project teams have also increased their work with natural allies to reach key audiences. The LRP provides some initial results of this latest refinement of the PIER approach, and the paper assesses its operation and effects.