SELECT APEX PROJECTS

Apex staff have worked on a diverse array of projects in the past several years.
A selection of some of our recent work is below:

Optimizing temperature for significant savings

ENERGY TRUST OF OREGON RESIDEO THERMOSTAT OPTIMIZATION PILOT 

Apex estimated the electric and natural gas savings associated with the "Connected Savings Pilot," which provided participants with the opportunity to optimize their thermostat setpoints and schedules for energy efficiency savings. 

Adapting to the "new normal"

REVIEW OF RESIDENTIAL VIRTUAL PRE-ASSESSMENT OPTIONS 

Apex researched virtual residential audit opportunities for delivering whole-home energy savings in response to COVID-19 restrictions for Connecticut utilities. This research categorized available options for virtual audits and recommended best practice approaches during this unprecedented time.

Measuring if the lights remain on

NORTHWEST RESIDENTIAL LIGHTING LONG-TERM MONITORING AND TRACKING STUDY

Apex Analytics, along with DNV GL, has conducted a retail lighting market characterization study since 2018. The study includes both shelf stocking and sales data analysis to track the market transition to LEDs in the Pacific Northwest. 

Looking at the whole picture

NATIONAL ENERGY SCREENING 

PROJECT ASSESSMENT OF BENEFIT-COST ASSESSMENT MODELS

NESP commissioned a report to review how common BCA models support application of the NSPM framework. Apex's paper reviews five BCA models and the extent to which they allow for discrete accounting of a wide range of utility and non-utility impacts.  

APEX PAPERS & PUBLICATIONS

Apex Analytics staff have authored numerous peer reviewed papers, publications, and has presented at all of the major conferences for the past two decades. Read some of our work below.

California IOU Evaluation

DNG VL, Itron, and Apex Analytics prepared an impact evaluation of the savings claimed by two programs – Multifamily Energy Efficiency Rebate (MFEER) and Multifamily Whole Building (MF-WB) programs during the 2015 program year, of which were implemented by the California Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) – Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) (June, 2017).

Heat Pumps and Smart Thermostats

Energy Trust and Apex Analytics published (April, 2015) a study using Nest Smart Thermostat as an alternative to existing heat pump controls.

Enabling a greener grid

STATE OF WASHINGTON DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES PLANNING

Apex, as a sub to Demand Side Analytics, supported the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission in developing recommendations on best practices and policies for electric utilities to develop distributed energy resource plans. 

Using past experiences to shape the future

FORTISBC SMART LEARNING THERMOSTAT PILOT EVALUATION

Apex led the evaluation of a FortisBC pilot that explored participant experience with smart thermostat use. This involved conducting two participant surveys and integrating findings from an electric and gas energy savings analysis. 

Its all about the bills

CALIFORNIA STATEWIDE MULTIFAMILY EVALUATION

Apex conducted an impact and process evaluation for the statewide Multifamily programs. This included calibrated engineering models, stakeholder interviews, and participant surveys across IOU and Regional Energy Network projects.

Squeezing Every Last Drop

ENERGY TRUST SEASONAL SAVERS

Apex led an evaluation that determined the winter and summer electric and natural gas impacts of the Nest Seasonal Savings Service. The impacts were determined via statistical billing analysis and participant surveys.

Transparency and Collaboration

ARKANSAS STATEWIDE EVALUATOR

Apex has been part of the statewide evaluator team since 2013. As part of this oversight advisory role, Apex has led the development of residential protocols for the Technical Reference Manual, while providing guidance of the annual evaluation research.

Not created equally

ENERGY TRUST SMART THERMOSTAT

Apex oversaw the impact and process evaluations for a Smart Thermostat Pilot. This pilot reviewed the natural gas impacts across the Nest and Honeywell Lyric Thermostats. The Apex Team assisted with the statistical billing analysis and conducted participant surveys.

EISA 2020

APEX'S PERSPECTIVE ON DOE'S FINAL RULE RELATED TO EISA 2020

On September 5th, 2019, DOE issued a final rule and a notice of proposed determination related to EISA which stated that the EISA 2020 backstop had not been triggered, which allows retailers and manufacturers to continue to sell and produce inefficient lighting products.  The legal challenges and uncertainty caused by this ruling are intensified by the ramifications that the COVID-19 pandemic has on the lighting market. Read more about the latest market trends for residential LEDs, LightTracker's update on the regulatory environment for lighting, and our assessment of the implications it all has on lighting programs in our white paper. 

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What is Data Science in Energy Efficiency: 3 Core Elements 

APEX ANALYTICS INFOGRAPHIC

As the Apex Analytics team welcomes aboard Dr. Jon Koliner we are excited to share our vision of data science in energy efficency in this infographic. 

"Tell Your Thermostat to Tell the Energy Efficiency Team that it's Doing Demand Response Today: Results from Digital iDSM," AESP 2020 National Conference, February 2020. Presentation 

"When to Turn the Lights Out: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Retail Lighting," SWEEP Energy Efficiency Workshop 2019, November 2019. Presentation

"Thriller in Asilomar," ACEEE Summer Study 2016, August 2016. Paper 

"The Impact of Upstream Lighting Incentives as Measured Through Sales Data," AESP 2016 National Conference, February 2016. Paper Presentation

"Just How Smart: A look at Energy Trust of Oregon Nest Thermostat Pilot Program," AESP 2015 National Conference, February 2015. Paper Presentation

"And in this Corner, the Reigning Champion Coming in at 800 Lumens," AESP 2015 National Conference, February 2015. Paper Presentation

"Point-of-Sale Data for Lighting and Beyond - A Game Changer is Here!" AESP 2015 National Conference, February 2015. Paper Presentation

"Effective Partnering Strategies for Small Utilities," AESP 2015 National Conference, February 2015. Paper Presentation

"Midterm Results from EISA 2007," ACEEE Summer Study 2014, May 2014. Paper Presentation

"Reducing Evaluation Uncertainty in Large Custom Projects," IEPEC 2014, September 2014. Paper Presentation

"Are Savings from Behavior Programs Ready for TRM Prime Time?" IEPEC 2013, September 2013. Paper Presentation

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