Ridgeline to Support Efficiency Maine’s C&I Custom Program and Large Battery Initiative

April 2025 - Ridgeline has been awarded a three-year contract to provide support services for Efficiency Maine Trust’s Commercial and Industrial Custom Program and the Large Battery Initiative. The C&I Custom Program incentivizes tailored energy efficiency and distributed generation projects that require unique engineering analyses and energy conservation measures that are not covered by prescriptive incentives. The program is open to all C&I customers in Maine, including businesses, institutions, and multifamily property owners. Some of the commonly incentivized measures include process system improvements, compressed air system upgrades, distributed generation systems, HVAC upgrades and controls, and pumping or blower systems. The Large Battery Initiative, within Efficiency Maine Trust’s Demand Management Program, provides performance-based incentives for the installation and dispatch of both thermal and chemical batteries during summer peak demand conditions when anticipated peak demand is greater than 20 kW. Ridgeline is joined [on the project] by Nick Collins of CollinsCEA.

May 2024 - Ridgeline has been awarded a State of Vermont contract to evaluate heat pump technology usage in Vermont.  The study's purpose is to update the Vermont Public Service Department's 2017 Evaluation of Cold Climate Heat Pumps in Vermont, which focused on mini-splits, the prevailing technology installed in 2017. In addition to updating this report, the study will also examine the use of multi-head and central heat pump systems installed in residential applications and small businesses. Part of this study will include using advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) data to evaluate heat pumps and these data will be compared with metering results to evaluate the accuraacy of AMI analysis.

May 2024 - The Massachusetts Program Administrators (PAs) and the Connecticut Evaluation Administrator (EA) team commissioned this Heat Pump Metering Study to learn about current usage patterns for heat pumps and other heating equipment, electric peak demands for heat pumps, the performance and efficiency of heat pumps, and the ability of heatpumps to meet customers' full heating needs down to low outdoor air conditions. The study also assessed customers' overall experience with heat pumps and feedback on their use. Finally, the study quantified the impacts or savings associated with heat pump installation to update in the Massachusetts Technical Reference Manual (TRM) and the Connecticut Program Savings Document (PSD). Within the report, the team offers multiple scenarios of impact results based on anticipated program changes.

The study conducted research through several modes to address the research questions. For the first mode, heat pump usage data was collected at a total of 185 customer homes across Massachusetts and Connecticut and included metering ofcentral heat pumps (CHPs), mini-split heat pumps (MSHPs), and ground source heat pumps (GSHPs), for both fulldisplacement (FD) and partial displacement (PD) applications1. Additional metering to inform performance and efficiency calculations was conducted at a subset of 106 sites. The second mode of data collection included multiple customer surveys (1,399 total survey respondents) and a customer interview effort (13 responses).  The study found that heat pumpinstallations in 2021 and 2022 for FD displaced a large majority of the pre-existing heating delivered by electric resistance and fossil fuel-fired heating sources (approximately 85-90% for CHPs and MSHPs) and more than half of the heating load for PD installations.

March 2024 - Ridgeline Energy Analytics and Demand Side Analytics (subcontractor) report evaluated the impact of the Electric Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Program for National Grid’s Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. The Electric C&I Program provides technical services along with prescriptive, midstream and custom incentives to encourage the installation of a wide variety of energy efficient electric measures. The objective of the impact evaluation is to determine the Verified Gross Savings (VGS) totals for program years 2022-2023 and VGS Realization Rates (VGS RR) for annual electricity savings and electric demand savings in accordance with The New York State Evaluation, Measurement & Verification Guidance (CE-05)1 and Gross Savings Verification Guidance (CE-08). Three program components were evaluated: 1) prescriptive lighting that provides incentives and savings for lighting retrofits; 2) custom lighting (not covered by prescriptive lighting); and 3) midstream lighting offered in partnership with electrical supply houses and distributors. 

Mar 2024 - In late 2021, National Grid began implementing new residential and commercial/ multifamily weatherization programs in downstate New York territories. These programs were developed to help address a forecast gap between natural gas supply and demand in the downstate region and to meet other energy efficiency objectives.  National Grid’s residential Total Home Comfort program manages a partner installing contractor network to provide rebates for customers who complete weatherization measures.  The program goal is to increase customer’s home energy efficiency, safety, and comfort by identifying and repairing places where homes lose energy. Measures can include eliminating drafts by weather stripping and sealing around exterior penetrations, repairing doors, patching holes in walls and roofs, repairing damaged windows, and insulating attic, walls, floors, heater pipes, or furnace ducts.

This residential evaluation report focuses on both traditional energy efficiency (i.e., annual thermal savings) and peak gas demand reduction. The study objectives were to:

·  Characterize customer perceptions and understanding of the program

·  Identify barriers to program participation

·  Identify how National Grid can most cost-effectively address these barriers

·  Quantify accurate energy and peak demand savings by participant or measure group

·  Develop estimates of program performance, including Verified Gross Savings (VGS) realization rates (RR), where appropriate

·  Provide recommendations for program improvements to achieve program goals

Ridgeline served as the field contractor and engineering advisor to the evaluation, examining commercial and residential weatherization projects, using thermal cameras to scan work, and operating blower doors to check infiltration rates.

March 2024 – Ridgeline Energy Analytics and Demand Side Analytics (subcontractor) report evaluated the impact of the LED Street Lighting Program for National Grid’s Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. The Program provides incentives for replacing inefficient street lighting with high efficiency LED lamps/luminaires. The objective of the evaluation is to determine the Verified Gross Savings (VGS) totals for program years 2022 and 2023 and VGS Realization Rates (VGS RR) for annual electricity (kWh) savings in accordance with The New York State Evaluation, Measurement & Verification Guidance (CE-05) and Gross Savings Verification Guidance (CE-08). 

March 2024 - This evaluation report focuses on the installation of high efficiency heat pumps under the Efficiency Maine Trust Home Energy Savings Program (HESP) and Affordable Heat Initiative (AHI) for the period from December 2019 through June 30, 2021. The primary objectives of this study are to (1) quantify and verify electric energy and demand impacts (increases and decreases), (2) verify non-electric energy impacts (increases and decreases), and (3) analyze program cost-effectiveness.  The project metered 124 homes completing a study of residential heat pumps across all 16 counties in Maine, and in climate zones identified in the USDA plant hardiness zone map that experience temperatures below -25°F. The evaluation showed that heat pumps were popular, well-liked by their purchasers, and displaced large amounts of fossil fuel, even if used less than anticipated. 

Sept 14, 2023 - Making the Switch: The Imperative to Convert the Whole Home (or Whole Building) to Heat Pumps. Panel at Efficiency Maine Trust Annual Event.

Oct 1, 2022 - Ridgeline heat pump study for Efficiency Maine shows retrofitting mobile homes with heat pumps is economical and comfortable at subzero temperatures Pump it up: Can you keep warm in winter with a heat pump alone? Portland Press Herald, Tux Turkel  

July 2022 - Research done by Ridgeline Energy Analytics for Efficiency Maine demonstrates that replacing homes’ entire heating systems with heat pumps can deliver comfort and cost savings even in subzero temperatures.. Maine is well on its way to a goal of installing 100,000 heat pumps by 2025.  Energy News Network - In Maine, heat pumps are proving themselves even against extreme cold

June 2022 - Developing a Community-Led Certification Process for Facility Power Outage Resilience: Findings from a Massachusetts Pilot Study With an increase in the climate change-linked frequency and intensity of severe weather events that affect electric distribution infrastructure, there is an urgent need to define power outage resilience and identify methods to assess and certify whether and how planning actions and project implementations have made communities more resilient. Accordingly, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center initiated the Clean Energy and Resiliency (CLEAR) program to provide technical services to nine community sites in the commonwealth, which formed the basis of a convenience sample for this study. A RAND team—comprising Converge Strategies, XENDEE, and Ridgeline Energy Analytics—conducted stakeholder interviews and a literature review to articulate power outage resilience metrics, piloted a certification program, and used focus groups to assess pathways to the CLEAR program's operationalization and administration. The For more information on the CLEAR project visit, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.  

April 2022 - The Clean Energy and Resiliency (CLEAR) Report evaluated how to provide energy resilience for residential recovery services programs located on the Boston Public Health Commission’s Mattapan Campus to allow the programs’ clients to shelter in place during emergencies. The CLEAR Project Team —Converge Strategies, Ridgeline Energy Analytics, XENDEE Corporation, and RAND Corporation — presents the findings of the energy resilience survey and techno-economic analysis conducted on behalf of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), in partnership with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), the Mayor’s Office of Environment, Energy, and Open Space (EEOS), and the Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). It provides an overview of the City of Boston’s climate, energy and resilience strategy, and the energy resilience initiatives of the four municipal organizations supporting the CLEAR program.  It then reviews the findings of the energy resilience assessment conducted for BPHC’s Mattapan facilities, including their energy resilience requirements, their existing energy resilience capabilities, and new opportunities  For more information on the CLEAR project visit, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.  

November 2021  - The Clean Energy and Resiliency (CLEAR) Report summarizes the findings of the energy resilience analysis conducted for Brigham and Women’s Hospital. The CLEAR Project Team — Converge Strategies, Ridgeline Energy Analytics, XENDEE Corporation, and Rand Corporation — evaluated the energy resilience posture of Brigham and Women’s Hospital to ensure that its lifeline facilities and emergency services are positioned to serve its community when they are most in need.  The report reviews BWH compliance for maintaining reliable power and uninterrupted service in healthcare facilities. It found that BWH is not on track to meet the City of Boston’s zero emissions by 2050 decarbonization target through energy efficiency and building upgrades alone.  The report provides recommendations for BWH to partner with the neighboring residential and institutional partners in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area to make joint clean energy and resilience investments.  For more information on the CLEAR project visit, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.  

August 2021 - Ridgeline Energy Analytics and Advanced Building Analytics conducted a baseline energy efficiency study of residential new construction in Maine for the Efficiency Maine Trust.  The Trust sought to understand the level of building code compliance and savings opportunities in home construction. The study examined 127 homes across Maine, 29 of which were manufactured (mobile) homes. Home raters visited each home and recorded a detailed assessment of all home components that contribute to the energy use of the home, including the thermal envelope, heating equipment, lighting, and appliances. The on-site assessments were performed using Home Energy Rating System (HERS) inspections developed by RESNET, Inc. The study team modeled as-built energy use and potential energy savings through increased compliance with codes using REM/Rate and Ekotrope Rater4 software. The study team found that homes built between 2017 and 2020 are more energy efficient than the homes assessed for a 2008 study, showing improvement in code compliance and construction techniques. Many of the new homes had one or more components that did not meet code. According to Laura Martel, Research and Evaluation Manager at the Trust, “The findings of the study indicate that code compliance improves over time as builders become more familiar with the requirements and techniques required to meet them. The Trust sees an opportunity to accelerate that process, with the recent adoption of IECC 2015 statewide, by offering training to builders and code enforcement officers.  The Trust will continue to offer incentives for the most efficient heating equipment for which new homes are eligible. The Trust will focus on whole home space heating solutions for new construction and continue to offer incentives on the most efficient domestic water heating solutions.”

March 2021  - The Clean Energy and Resiliency (CLEAR) Report summarizes the findings of the energy resilience analysis conducted for the Town of West Tisbury and presents ideas for energy resilience upgrades that will support the Town's goals of being 100% renewable by 2040. As an island community, West Tisbury, MA is vulnerable to extreme weather events and the prolonged power outages that they bring. Residents of Martha’s Vineyard cannot easily evacuate during severe weather events. They must shelter in place, making it essential that the town has access to adequate services in times of emergency. Upon identifying possible risks, their most immediate focus is making the town’s buildings more resilient by adopting solar plus storage. Additionally, the island towns have a resolution of shifting to 100% Renewable Energy by 2040. The CLEAR Project Team —Converge Strategies, Ridgeline Energy Analytics, XENDEE Corporation, and RAND Corporation —outlined how the town of West Tisbury can strengthen its energy infrastructure against extreme weather and grid interruptions to ensure that its lifeline facilities and emergency services are positioned to serve its community when they are most in need.  For more information on the CLEAR project visit, the  Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.    

February 2021 - Demand Side Analytics and Ridgeline Energy Analytics performed an impact evaluation of Efficiency Maine Trust's Small Business Initiative lighting program. The program delivers LED lamps, fixture retrofit kits, new fixtures, and controls to small businesses in Maine.  The evaluation assessed projects completed in FY2019 and metered lighting from October 2019 through November 2020. The evaluation found that the program was cost effective under all considered cases. The SBI Program is very influential in transitioning small business lighting to LEDs with a net to gross ratio of 91.4%. Findings from the evaluation will be incorporated into the FY2022 Commercial/Industrial/Multifamily Technical Reference Manual (TRM). 

December 3, 2020 - A team of leading resilience experts — XENDEE Corporation, RAND Corporation, Converge Strategies, LLC, and Ridgeline Energy Analytics — will support the Town of West Tisbury and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in their planning and design of climate-resilient energy infrastructure.  This community-level project is funded by the Baker-Polito Administration through the Clean Energy and Resiliency (CLEAR) program, launched by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC).  Read more on Businesswire.com

Efficiency Valuation Organization releases a new IPMVP Application Guide, April 16, 2018

The Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO) is pleased to announce the release of a new application guide Uncertainty Assessment for IPMVP (EVO 10100: 1:2018). This document is a revised and expanded version of the Statistics and Uncertainty for IPMVP (EVO 10100 1:2014) application guide published in 2014. The new application guide includes examples for each of the four IPMVP options.

M&V efforts are designed to determine energy and demand savings with some reasonable accuracy. However, this objective can be affected by either systematic error (i.e., not occurring by chance, including measurement error) or random error (i.e., occurring by chance and often due to using a sample rather than a census to develop the measured value). More.  [Table of Contents]

Committee Chair: M. Sami Khawaja, Ph.D. – Cadmus 

Brian Ball, Ph.D. – National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Dakers Gowans, P.E. – Left Fork Energy, Inc. 

David Jump, Ph.D., CMVP – kW Engineering 

Bill Koran, P.E., CMVP – SBW 

Dave Korn, P.E. – Ridgeline Energy Analytics 

Steve Kromer, P.E. – SKEE 

Jesse Smith, M.Sc. – Demand Side Analytics 

Kevin Warren, P.E. – Warren Energy Engineering