FEI-FEVI 2010 EEC Report filed March 31, 2011 - FortisBC

FORTISBC ENERGY INC. AND FORTISBC ENERGY (VANCOUVER ISLAND) INC.
2010 ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION ANNUAL REPORT
Partners FortisBC Inc. and BC Hydro
Background
Description
Goals
Background
Promoting the most energy and water efficient appliances is an important part of
the EEC domestic hot water strategy. To do so most effectively, we are
partnering with electric utilities, BC Hydro and FortisBC Inc., to extend the reach
of the 2011 ENERGY STAR® appliance program to homes with natural gas
water heaters. Clothes washers consume as much as 5-7 GJs/yr, representing
22% of residential DHW use (CPR, 2010).
Qualifying ENERGY STAR® clothes washers use less energy and consume
35% to 50% less water than qualified washers made before January 1, 2007 37 .
To encourage the most energy and water efficient models, the ENERGY
STAR® brand has continuously improved their guidelines.
The Modified Energy Factor (“MEF”) is the current energy efficiency measure
for all clothes washers, while the Water Factor (“WF”) measures the water
efficiency in gallons. The most energy and water efficient models will have the
highest MEF value and the lowest WF rating. As a result of the 2011 ENERGY
STAR® requirements, the majority of qualifying models will be front loading,
which use less hot water, less mechanical energy, and result in dryer energy
savings due to faster spin cycle speeds (CPR, 2010). Tier 4 is the Consortium
of Energy Efficiency’s highest energy efficiency designation for the most energy
and water efficient models available in the marketplace. Qualifying Tier 4
clothes washers must have a minimum MEF > 2.4 and a maximum WF < 4.0.
Tier 4 models far exceed the 2011 ENERGY STAR® guidelines. Federal
regulations do not require maximum WF ratings for appliances. By effectively
educating consumers about the advantages of ENERGY STAR® appliances,
the program will provide an opportunity to transform the market and encourage
manufacturers to produce energy and water efficient clothes washers that meet
or exceed the 2011 ENERGY STAR® requirements. In partnership with the
electric utilities, the Companies are able to provide an increased incentive for
Tier 4 ENERGY STAR® clothes washers while sharing marketing and
administration costs to provide a cost effective program.
In 2009 and 2010 FEI partnered with FortisBC Inc. to provide incentives for Tier
3 ENERGY STAR® clothes washers to extend the reach of their program to
homes with natural gas water heaters. As the washing machine market is
transforming and ENERGY STAR® base levels are increasing, the 2011
program provides rebates for an elite selection of Tier 4 models with a MEF >
2.4 and a maximum WF < 4.0, to continue to positively impact efficiency
standards with manufacturers. In 2011, FEI will partner with FortisBC Inc. and
BC Hydro in their respective territories to provide a $75 consumer rebate. FEI
and FEVI will provide $50 of this rebate for all residents with natural gas water
heating.
• Capture the energy savings associated with promoting the most energy and
water efficient ENERGY STAR® clothes washers.
• Through utility collaboration, provide a province-wide program for 2011.
37
2010 EnerGuide Appliance Directory, NRCan Office of Energy Efficiency as part of ecoENERGY, an ecoACTION
initiative.
SECTION 7: JOINT INITIATIVES Page 137