Rigorous measurement, testing, and verification of emerging technologies.
Technology and market assessment answers the question: what is out there, does it work, and is the market ready for it? Before a utility launches a new program, before a regulator adds a measure to a technical reference manual, and before a program administrator commits incentive dollars to an emerging technology, someone needs to evaluate the technology itself, understand how it performs in real-world conditions, and assess whether the market can support its adoption at scale.
This work sits at the intersection of engineering and market research. We evaluate individual technologies for their energy savings potential, reliability, cost-effectiveness, and deployment readiness. We assess markets to understand adoption barriers, contractor capacity and training needs, customer awareness and willingness to pay, and the competitive dynamics between incumbent and emerging technologies.
The energy efficiency landscape is changing faster than at any point in the past three decades. Heat pump technology is advancing rapidly, with new refrigerants, variable-speed compressors, and cold-climate designs pushing efficiency levels well beyond what was possible even five years ago. Building controls and automation systems are becoming more sophisticated and more affordable, enabling real-time optimization of HVAC, lighting, and plug loads. Advanced metering infrastructure and real-time energy monitoring are creating new opportunities for behavioral and operational savings that do not require capital investment.
Grid-interactive efficient buildings represent a convergence of efficiency and demand response, blurring the line between demand-side management and grid services. Energy storage, electric vehicle charging, and distributed generation add complexity to the building energy picture and create new opportunities for integrated approaches.
Each of these technology areas requires careful, independent assessment before programs can be built around them. What are the real-world savings, as installed, not just the manufacturer’s laboratory claims? What does installation look like in existing buildings with aging infrastructure and space constraints? What training do contractors need to install and maintain the equipment correctly? What will customers actually pay, and how does that compare to the alternatives? These are the questions technology assessment answers.
Technology and market assessment is not an academic exercise. It feeds directly into program design, measure development, and investment decisions:
Technology assessment does not end with a report. The value of assessment is in what happens next. When we complete a technology evaluation, the findings feed directly into actionable decisions: should this technology become a deemed measure? Is the market ready for a full-scale program, or does it need a pilot? What training do contractors need before we can deploy at scale? What customer segments are most likely to adopt, and what messaging will resonate?
We also track technologies longitudinally. A technology that was not ready two years ago may be ready now. Costs drop, performance improves, supply chains mature, and contractor familiarity increases. Our ongoing market monitoring identifies when the window opens for program investment, so our clients can move decisively rather than reactively.
The energy efficiency industry moves faster than it used to. New technologies emerge, reach commercial viability, and get incorporated into code requirements in compressed timelines. Having a technology assessment partner who monitors the landscape continuously means you are never caught off guard by a code change, a competitor’s program launch, or a shift in customer demand.
See examples of our technology and market assessment work:
Whether you need an emerging technology evaluated for program readiness, a market characterized for program planning, or a baseline study to support new measure development, we can help. Get in touch to talk about your technology and market assessment needs.