Through the Communities Local Energy Action Program (LEAP), a coalition of local New Haven, Connecticut organizations partnered with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop energy modeling tools and processes that can support residents to pursue energy efficiency upgrades.
Partners included Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven (NHS), the City of New Haven’s Office of Climate and Sustainability (OCS), JUNTA for Progressive Action, and the Community Action Agency of New Haven. In collaboration with NREL, the group created OpenStudio™ HPXML Calibration, designed to improve residential energy models so home energy- and cost-saving upgrade opportunities can be recommended with more confidence.
The tool can automatically calibrate a home energy model with residential utility bills, refining its output utilizing a physics-based approach that incorporates measured utility data. This layered approach ensures reliability when identifying home energy and cost-savings upgrade opportunities based on the resident’s home energy profile. OpenStudio™ HPXML Calibration gives HomeEnergy ConneCT, a statewide home energy counseling program administered by NHS, the ability to serve more members of the community with the same tailored guidance, representing a step forward for the organization and the wider energy auditor field.
About Communities LEAP:
Communities LEAP is a technical assistance program that delivers customized support for communities to identify, analyze, and implement locally driven energy projects that create long-term economic opportunities and strengthen energy reliability.
