Performance System Development receives $1M from the DOE to create the OpenEfficiency Initiative™

ITHACA, N.Y. - May 12, 2015 - PRLog -- Performance Systems Development (PSD) and its partners, the National Renewable Energy Lab and Cadmus will receive $1M to design, develop, and deploy the open source technology platform OpenEfficiency Initiative™. During the initial pilot the integrated platform will provide cost-effective, energy savings of at least 20% in more than 300 commercial buildings. The OpenEfficiency Initiative™ will increase the types of buildings served, the energy savings per building, and accelerate the adoption of whole-building programs in the marketplace.  Program administrator partners providing co-funding support include Xcel Energy, the Southern California Renewable Energy Network and the Energy Coalition.

To date PSD has supported a number of DOE initiatives with work in energy codes, data standards, energy modeling, and automated M&V. “The Department of Energy has made key investments in infrastructure and standards to support whole building approaches to implementing energy efficiency,” said Greg Thomas, CEO of Performance Systems Development, “and PSD is very excited to be able to help bring these innovations into the delivery of energy efficiency programs.”

As part of its efforts to meet efficiency goals and further engage customers, Xcel Energy is partnering with Performance Systems Development and other progressive entities to provide cutting-edge tools and solutions to customers.  “Xcel Energy is a leader in sustainability, helping customers manage their energy through one of the largest utility program portfolios in the United States,” said Lee Gabler, Director Demand-Side Management and Renewable Operations, Xcel Energy. “By leveraging the Department of Energy’s million-dollar grant through the OpenEfficiency Initiative, we expect to significantly accelerate the delivery of more comprehensive, whole-building solutions for our customers.”

The DOE funding will allow administrator partners to integrate their efforts through the open source platform. "The OpenEfficiency Initiative™ has the potential to revolutionize how energy efficiency is applied in commercial buildings by making efficiency measurement more productive, consistent, and cost-effective for users," said Hossein Haeri, senior vice president of energy services at Cadmus. "We are very proud to be part of the PSD team."

The OpenEfficiency Initiative™ is part of a greater $6M effort from the DOE to lower energy waste in buildings and accelerate energy efficiency programs across the county. The current administration has a goal to cut energy waste in the nation’s buildings and double future energy productivity.  Learn more about how the Energy Department Invests $6 Million to Increase Energy Efficiency of Schools, Offices, Stores and other U.S. Buildings (http://energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-department-invests...) from the DOE.

About PSD: At Performance Systems Development, we translate building science expertise into innovative energy efficiency program services and powerful software tools.

About Cadmus: Cadmus provides a variety of energy services that cover the full spectrum of energy-efficiency planning, design, evaluation, and market transformation.

About Xcel: Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electric and natural gas company, with regulated operations in eight Midwestern and Western states. We provide a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to approximately 3.5 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through four operating companies.