Fact Sheets, Guides & Tools / Minnesota Department of Commerce

"The information tabs below contain links to ECO-related resources intended either to help utilities develop or expand program offerings, or to provide utility customers and program implementers with information useful to the application of measures recommended in utility programs. To get the resource, click its title. To read the research report on which the resource is based, click the project number at the end of the title.

Note: These resources were created as part of the Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) program. To find out more about CARD, go to the Applied Research and Development webpage.

Fact Sheets

Emerging Technologies from Publicly-Funded Research (CARD 138930)
Series of fact sheets highlighting energy-saving technologies being developed and tested using public R&D funding in California. This fact sheet package addresses five topic areas: Commercial HVAC; Wastewater Treatment; Food Services and Grocery; Other Commercial Building Technologies; and Program Adoption Insights from Consumer Studies.

Next Generation of Plug Load Control – Tier 2 Advanced Power Strips (CARD 136863)
Summarizes performance and savings from field test of Tier 2 advanced power strip in commercial buildings, including tips on how to successfully implement the strategy.

Electric Utility Infrastructure Fact Sheet (CARD 121576)
Recaps findings from a potential study conducted to quantify conservation opportunity in Electric Utility Infrastructure (EUI) assets owned and operated by unities serving Minnesota customers.

Examining Potential for Prepay as an Energy Efficiency Measure in Minnesota (CARD 137135)
Reviews elements of prepaid plans that may lead to reductions in electricity usage, and examines potential benefits and drawbacks for utilities and customers.

Adjusting Lighting Levels in Commercial Buildings (Task Tuning) Fact Sheet (CARD 72743)
Reviews performance and economics of task tuning, the system characteristics which correspond to the greatest potential for savings, and examples of program offerings.

Small Commercial Characterization Fact Sheet (CARD 104450)
Summarizes field performance from commissioning demand control ventilation systems, and suggests four significant opportunities to expand and improve utility programs promoting this technology.

Commissioning Demand Control Ventilation Fact Sheet (CARD 72625)
Summarizes field performance from commissioning demand control ventilation systems, and suggests four significant opportunities to expand and improve utility programs promoting this technology.

Manufactured Housing Characterization Infographic (CARD 87861)
Overviews characteristics of manufactured housing in Minnesota, highlights seven cost-effective energy savings opportunities in the sector, and makes recommendations for utility programs.
Guides

Energy Recovery Ventilation in Minnesota: Practical Guide to ERV Operations (CARD 72920)
Guides the operator/owner through the practical details of the operation of common exhaust air-to-air energy recovery systems found in institutional and commercial buildings in Minnesota.

Quick Guide to Validate Air-to-Air Exhaust Energy Recovery (CARD 72920)
Outlines procedures for validating energy recovery performance and identifying lost recovery or ineffective operation so that when needed, appropriate steps can be taken to improve ERV effectiveness.

Public Pool Optimization Recommissioning Guide (CARD 73813)
Outlines the most important energy saving measures that should be investigated for every indoor public pool facility, including 17 operational checks that identify no cost, low cost, and moderate cost recommissioning opportunities that can be made without major equipment upgrades.

Public Pool Optimization Operators Guide (CARD 73813)
Outlines the most important steps that a pool technician or operator can take to optimize energy use in a pool facility, including 15 operational checks that identify no-cost and moderate-cost changes that can be made without major equipment upgrades.

How to get Top Performance from your Furnace, Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Video (CARD 72623)
Addresses the most important steps homeowners can take to get top performance and superior comfort from their systems. Includes both what to talk with your installer or service providers about as well as pointers on what you can do on your own.

Measuring Airflow for Residential Forced Air Systems for HVAC Professionals Video (CARD 72623)
Talks to HVAC system professionals about why proper air flow is important, how it affects system efficiency in the upper Midwest, and the pros and cons of different ways to measure air flow on residential air conditioners and heat pumps.

Multifamily Ventilation Assessment and Retrofit Guide (CARD 55802 no separate final report)
Identifies the most common multifamily central ventilation deficiencies and the most cost-effective remedies for these deficiencies. The standardized protocols for screening, diagnosing and retrofitting systems that is outlined in the guide can be used by utility energy conservation programs as well as weatherization programs.

Calibrating and Commissioning Daylighting for Energy Savings Guide (CARD 34558)
Provides guidance for contractors and building professionals on important commissioning tasks related to the startup, calibration and functional testing of daylighting controls.

How-To Manual for Selection of LED Roadway Luminaires (CARD 36352)
Provides cities and municipalities with a simplified 10-step process for properly requesting and selecting roadway luminaires from manufacturers. Two tools intended for use with this manual, the LED Roadway Lighting Economics Calculator and the LED Roadway Lighting Specification Form, are included in link.
Tools

Note: Some tools are housed on the websites of the grantees who created them.

Emerging Technology Research Database (CARD 138930)
Database of publically-funded research from California’s EPIC program created to screen technologies and strategies for applicability in Minnesota. The database can be downloaded from the project website which also has links to other project deliverables: a package of fact sheets, the White Paper, and a recorded webinar.

Minnesota Potential Study Utility Reporting Tool (CARD 121430)
Utility-specific reporting tool that enables results of the Minnesota Energy Efficiency Potential Study to be examined in more granular detail, including by individual utility (both electric and natural gas), building segment, end use, and measure. The utility reporting tool is useful for anyone looking to translate the results of the study into utility specific potential estimates, or dive into the full list of measures that contribute to those estimates.

Electric Utility Infrastructure (EUI) High Level Screening Tools (CARD 121576)
Excel spreadsheet containing several screening tools to help determine the conservation value of EUI projects (estimated savings and cost-effectiveness). These are high level screening tools (NOT design tools) intended to reduce the effort required by utilities to consider EUI projects in their CIPs.

Interval Data Screening Tool for Agricultural Sites (CARD 105478)
This Excel-based screening tool is designed to analyze electric energy consumption interval data to identify anomalies that may indicate opportunities for energy efficiency and conservation in the agricultural sector. Though designed for agriculture sites, the tool can be used at any type of site where interval data is collected.

Homeowner Heat Pump Water Heater Calculator Tool (CARD 55640)
Using several simple inputs, this application will help homeowners determine the savings and payback period for installing a heat pump water heater as a replacement for a standard electric resistance water heater in a specific situation.

Utility Heat Pump Water Heater Impact Tool (CARD 55640)
Using several simple inputs, this application will assist utilities to forecast the effects on utility load profiles resulting from increased implementation of heat pump water heaters in their service territories.

Pneumatic to Electric Tool Cost Calculator (CARD 105129)
Using basic inputs, this spreadsheet will assist businesses to calculate their savings potential and simple payback period for switching from pneumatic to electric hand tools.

Fact Sheets, Guides, & Tools