The energy efficiency industry is constantly discovering new ways to save energy, whether through new technologies, new types of services or new program designs. These emerging concepts or products often face serious challenges to market entry due to price, fuel switching barriers, consumer awareness, complexity and status quo inertia. MEEA frequently partners with its members and other regional stakeholders to devise and implement creative solutions that overcome these barriers, expedite market adoption and increase market share of important efficiency innovations leading to increased energy savings.
Examples of MEEA’s recent efforts include:
Commercial Midstream Incentive Pilot
In 2015, MEEA partnered with Argonne National Laboratory, AEP Ohio, Dayton Power & Light and several commercial equipment distributors to create and execute a successful market transformation pilot focused on cogged (or notched) v-belts. An alternative to less efficient smooth v-belts, which have a higher market share, cogged v-belts save energy, are more durable and reduce maintenance needs in many commercial and industrial motor applications. MEEA led a collaborative design process to create a novel midstream incentive pilot program, then recruited participating distributors, coordinated daily operations, collected appropriate data and completed the pilot in December 2015.
Waste Heat Recovery in Poultry Operations
In 2016, MEEA partnered with the University of Missouri College of Engineering to help increase market share of an updated waste heat recovery system adapted specially for poultry growing operations. This system captures waste heat in ventilated air and uses it to preheat replacement air, maintaining ventilation rates while reducing the need to use additional fuel to heat incoming air. This system may also offer a number of exciting non-energy benefits, including improved air quality and reduced bird mortality. Going forward, MEEA will work with rural utilities, industry associations, state agencies and private corporations to increase consumer awareness and secure financial assistance for demonstration projects.