CalMTA’s Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions (CRAWS) market transformation (MT) idea offers a significant opportunity to improve building envelope thermal performance, reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) loads, and enable downsizing of HVAC systems in need of replacement.
Although windows on average comprise approximately 15% of a building’s exterior surface, they are responsible for HVAC losses of about 40%. That equates to roughly 12% of a typical building’s overall energy use.
Double-paned windows were not mandated in California’s new construction until the year 2000, which leaves a substantial number of older buildings across the state that have inefficient single-pane windows. Yet replacing those windows with double-pane windows is expensive, with a long-term return on investment. This MT idea will work to promote efficient alternatives to full window replacement in California’s many commercial buildings with single-pane windows and specifically targets the municipal, university, school, and hospital buildings (MUSH) market.
Vacuum Insulated Glass (VIG) and Commercial Secondary Window (CSW) technologies can enable an “envelope first” approach that helps building owners maximize the efficiency of their decarbonization efforts (such as installing a downsized HVAC for the updated windows) while saving money by eliminating the need for full window replacement. Depending on the application, VIG can be 50% less expensive and CSW can be as much as 90% less expensive than full window replacement. The non-energy benefits (NEBs) these technologies provide include increased thermal comfort, noise reduction, climate resilience during extreme weather events, and more comfortable participation in demand response (DR) events.
CalMTA is pursuing this potential market transformation (MT) idea to provide a lower cost option to traditional window replacement and transform the market for these more affordable, energy-saving technologies. Some barriers to that transformation include a general lack of awareness about VIG and CSW technologies, as well as a lack of policy and industry infrastructure to support an “envelope first” approach. Our strategic interventions to overcome these barriers include building marketing tools and resources that communicate the importance of taking an “envelope first” approach when working on existing commercial buildings as well as engaging with and building awareness of national energy rating mechanisms, such as Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC) for CSW and the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) for VIG.
This MT idea will target buildings from the MUSH markets in environmental and social justice (ESJ) communities with both CSW and VIG as they try to decarbonize. Because CSW are a more affordable product, CalMTA also sees a specific opportunity to target small commercial buildings, more commonly owned by ESJ community members, with CSW.
We envision a future in which over 25% of the existing commercial building sector square footage that currently have single-pane windows will utilize the window technologies of VIG or CSW by 2045 and commercial building owners will value the business benefits of taking an “envelope first” approach.
The CRAWS market transformation idea is currently in Phase II: Program Development.
This Advancement Plan summarizes available information and essential research activities for the proposed Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions Market Transformation Initiative (MTI). It represents the Phase I stage gate deliverable describing the scope of work for research, testing, and stakeholder engagement that will be needed during Phase II to
The Commercial Replacement and Attachment Window Solutions fact sheet describes the opportunity, technology, market transformation strategy and equity considerations for this initiative. Window upgrades in existing buildings offer a significant opportunity to improve building envelope thermal performance, reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) loads, and enable downsizing of HVAC
The California Market Transformation Administrator (CalMTA) develops and manages market transformation initiatives in the state to reduce energy use and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
CalMTA follows a rigorous process for reviewing, scoring, and then developing relevant, timely market transformation initiatives. The process supports market transformation initiative creation from concept to program development to market deployment, as well as the eventual exiting of the market.
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