This report was prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute (ERPI) and published in September 2020. The authors evaluate of the electrical demand response (DR) potential of variable capacity (VC) heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment in light commercial building applications through demonstrations at two field sites in Southern California. Variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems and packaged rooftop units (RTUs) were considered. The findings for the VRF system suggest that capacity limit control can reduce electrical demand with minimal impact on indoor temperatures. For the RTU system, it was not possible to implement advanced demand-response controls.
Keywords: Association, Communications, Controls/Sensors, Energy Management, HVAC, Cybersecurity/Privacy