Davis Energy Efficiency Project (DEEP)

Mission:

The Davis Energy Efficiency Project (DEEP) is a pilot model energy efficiency program targeting hard-to-reach markets in the City of Davis and is tailored to serve the climate of the Sacramento Valley. The mission of DEEP is to encompass several major innovations in order to expand and extend the scope of State-sponsored energy efficiency programs. There are four primary goals of the Project: 1) to achieve lasting energy savings; 2) to develop the local infrastructure and networks necessary to facilitate the delivery of energy efficiency services and information; 3) to provide information and education to residents, businesses, and institutions in the City of Davis; and 4) to develop innovative program delivery methods, procedures, and marketing methods that can be adopted by future programs. DEEP is both an energy-saving program with quantified goals and an educational program. The program attempts to reach every citizen and business in the City of Davis through a combination of special events, canvasses, mailings, tabling events, presentations, workshops, and a local energy center. In addition, to improve the local delivery of energy efficient infrastructure and technology, DEEP will train and qualify contractors.

History:

Planning for DEEP began in December, 2001, and the program was later accepted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in April, 2002. With an initial work plan in place by October of 2002, the first DEEP event and opening of the Davis Energy Center occurred in December, 2002. Funded by a $1.9 million grant under the auspices of the CPUC, DEEP was implemented and staffed by the Valley Energy Efficiency Corporation (VEEC), a local non-profit, and administered by the City of Davis.

With the primary purpose of saving energy and increasing local awareness and knowledge of energy efficiency, DEEP used several innovative techniques to achieve its goals. First, DEEP was a local program, tailored to the Sacramento Valley climate, which is characterized by hotter summers and cooler winters than California's Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego population centers. Second, the program made use of specific local institutions and networks to aid in program marketing and delivery. Third, DEEP focused primarily on hard-to-reach residential markets (multi-family, low-income, and owner-tenant "split incentive" situations), and underserved commercial markets (small and very small businesses, retail, groceries, and restaurants). Fourth, DEEP was a comprehensive program for single-family residential, multi-family residential and commercial market sectors. Fifth, the program reached virtually all Davis residents with energy efficiency information. Finally, DEEP trained local contractors and technicians and developed and implemented installation standards to create stronger local energy efficiency infrastructure.

To achieve DEEP's energy saving goals, the program implemented 16 Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs). These 16 EEMs included single-family residential, multi-family residential, and commercial rebates and free measures and included the following: 1) Single-Family Shadescreens, 2) Multi-Family Shadescreens, 3) Single-Family Duct-Repair, 4) Multi-Family Duct Repair, 5) Small Commercial Exit Signs, 6) Commercial Compact Fluorescent Lamps, 7) Residential Compact Fluorescent Lamps, 8) Single-Family Window-Mount Evaporative Coolers, 9) Commercial Retrofit Project, 10) Multi-Family Swimming Pool Retrofit Project, 11) Single-Family Swimming Pool Retrofit Project, 12) Multi-Family Cool Roof Project, 13) Multi-Family Laundry Retrofit Project, 14) Torchiere Swap, 15) Single-Family HVAC Charge and Airflow, and 16) Multi-Family HVAC Charge and Airflow.

DEEP was a 15-month program, ending on December 31, 2003, with several additional months of program wrap-up and data analysis. Very successful in meeting its goals, DEEP concluded 13% under budget and reached 112% of its net kWh savings goal. While some EEMs were more successful than others, the overall program success laid the groundwork for its successor project, the Yolo Energy Efficiency Project (YEEP), which expanded to serve all of Yolo County. To learn more about DEEP, please download the DEEP Final Report and EM&V document for a more in depth description of the program's achievements.