Technology Procurement
Energy Policy & Economics (EP&E) technology procurement expertise is highly regarded within DOE. DOE refers to our technology procurement methods as being among the most effective and successful technology commercialization tools at its disposal. We have developed and implemented more technology procurement projects for energy-efficient products than any other organization in the United States.
Using technology procurement — a method that harnesses the buying power of large volume buyers to speed early commercialization of new technologies — we have transformed markets for several appliance and energy end-use products. Cooperating with key market players such as manufacturers, builders, engineering firms, utilities, nonprofit organizations, retailers, wholesalers, housing agencies, federal and state agencies, and other private-sector businesses, we have spearheaded projects leading to the successful creation, commercialization, and large volume sales of several new energy-efficient products.
As an example technology procurement project, we worked with three partners to develop a new energy-efficient refrigerator for multifamily housing. Over a 2-year period, more than 100,000 of these refrigerators were sold to targeted public housing authorities, including the New York City Housing Authority. The units are now sold throughout the United States.
Building on that success and others, we have developed several technology procurement projects in cooperation with dozens of organizations and utilities, including the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and Northeast Utilities. We have enjoyed several significant project successes in this area. The technology procurement approach encourages late-stage technology development and product refinement before products are introduced to the market.
Our laboratory and field testing of products is often a key part of technology procurement. For example, we worked closely with two manufacturers who were proposing new-to-the-market recessed downlights. Our testing revealed critical product weaknesses that manufacturers then addressed. The modified units are now undergoing additional laboratory and field testing before they are introduced to the market.
Partners have enthusiastically offered their financial and staff assistance because of our past technology procurement successes and the notorious inefficiency of the current generation of recessed downlight technology.
EP&E was instrumental in DOE's subcompact fluorescent lamp (sub-CFL) program. In this project we identified the market need and performance requirements for the technology, supervised a testing program, and developed a volume purchase program, which resulted in 16 new sub-CFL models being commercialized and over 3.5 million lamps being sold. These sub-CFLs use 75% less energy than the incandescent bulbs they replace and last 8 to 10 times longer and fit most fixtures. Sub-CFLs have now entered the commercial marketplace at competitive prices.
In another project, we proposed that air conditioner manufacturers bring more competitively priced energy-efficient rooftop air conditioners to market. Small footprint, rooftop air conditioners are used to cool two-thirds of all U.S. commercial space including stores, restaurants, offices, motels, barracks, and warehouses. We are partnering with large-volume consumers such as the Defense Logistics Agency, McDonald's and Wal-Mart to promote sales of the energy-efficient models.
For further information on the Technology Procurement, contact Linda Sandahl, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), at (509) 375-2609.