Claire Cowan
Username
Claire Cowan
Proposer First Name
Claire
Proposer Email
ccowan@slipstreaminc.org
Proposer Last Name
Cowan
Proposer Phone
(608) 210-7117
Proposer Job Title
Director of Program Design & Delivery
Proposer Additional Info
Claire manages large-scale, complex projects that integrate technical, research and communications disciplines. She has fifteen years of professional consulting experience for government and utility clients, working on energy efficiency program development, market research and evaluation, demand-side management planning and clean energy policy analysis. Her current focus is on developing innovative new program offerings for government and utility clients, including efforts to advance integration of lighting and HVAC controls, all-electric residential new construction, and IoT applications for commercial buildings.
Proposed Session Description
Integrating networked lighting controls (NLC) with HVAC controls has the potential to significantly improve building energy performance and reduce the payback on NLC investments. Our DOE-funded field demonstration in Minnesota reduced lighting energy use by 67% and HVAC by 47% across three sites. We will share methodology and results from the Minnesota field study as well as results from supply chain market research in the Northeast. We will highlight emerging energy efficiency program strategies to advance broader adoption of this approach.
Why is this session important?
Attaining high performance in retrofits, build-outs and new construction requires thinking at the system level and beyond. Improving the efficiency of individual equipment is no longer enough. Expanding lighting controls projects to include integration with other building systems, such as HVAC and plug load controls, is one component of a systems approach.
Integration may also be the more economical approach. NLC systems come with a significant cost premium over a basic LED retrofit. Integrating NLC with HVAC controls has the potential to add significant value, enhance occupant comfort, and streamline operational management of building controls—without adding too much cost.
Learning Objectives
Understand the magnitude of the energy savings opportunity from NLC+HVAC integration.
Identify common technical challenges with integrating NLC systems with HVAC controls and best practices for addressing them.
Understand the value proposition of system integration from customer and supplier standpoints.
Identify strategies that energy efficiency program administrators can employ to promote wider adoption of NLC + HVAC integration.
Has this session been presented before?
No
Additional Comments
Will be presented at NEEA Efficiency Exchange conference in May 2021
NYC 2021 Areas of Focus
Target Audiences Level of Expertise
Level 1 - No prior knowledge needed.
Session Format
Interview or structured conversation among panelists
Recommended Length
60-minute session
Strongest Content Connection - NYC 2021
Reviewer 1
Hacker, Jon
Proposal #
109
Committee Decision
Rejected