Lerman D
Year:
1998
Bibliographic info:
USA, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), 1998, in: proceedings of "Energy Efficiency in a Competitive Environment", the 1998 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, CD format, pp 2.115-2.126

In 1995 Tacoma Power initiated a test of residential duct sealing to determine the feasibility of a full-scale program to improve the duct system in customer homes with central system electric heat. The Residential Duct Sealing Pilot Program was designed with six main goals: 1) determine the typical reduction in heating energy use attributable to eliminating or reducing duct leakage in residential customer central heating systems; 2) determine the cost-effectiveness of the program, including the cost of administration of the program and measure installation; 3) determine if local contractors were able to install duct sealing measures; 4) assess the level of customer acceptance of the program; 5) establish the relationship between reduction in duct leakage and heating energy use reduction; and 7) determine if there is a difference between weatherized and non-weatherized homes in their heating energy use reduction under the program. Energy Services staff at Tacoma Power performed an evaluation of heating energy use reduction patterns for program participants and a comparable group of non-participants. Weather-adjusted changes in consumption between pre- and post-participation periods were calculated using the Princeton Scorekeeping Method (PRISM). Staff also conducted an analysis of program costs from program records. Finally, Energy Services commissioned a telephone survey of program participants by a local market contractor to obtain participant ratings of the program. Integrated results of these three studies form the basis of the present report.