An AGA-sponsored competition highlights innovations that are energy efficient and easy to use
T
he 2021–2023 Integrated Home Competition, a first-of-its-kind contest showcasing how technologies can combine energy efficiency and consumer friendliness, recently recognized 17 innovative designs.
The American Gas Association and more than 30 industry stakeholders supported the Consortium for Energy Efficiency by sponsoring the competition, which included natural gas products for the first time in 2021.
“This competition brings fuel-neutral, interactive and efficient integrated home innovations to the forefront of the market—and in 2021 showcased and enhanced the natural gas industry’s development of advanced technologies for integrated demand-side management and efficiency improvements,” Sapna Gheewala, AGA’s manager of energy efficiency, told American Gas.
Judges evaluated 39 entries in residential connected lighting, lighting controls, ceiling fans, plug load controls, space heating and cooling, thermostats, water heaters, pool pumps, window attachments and other connected home devices that successfully deliver a positive consumer experience, energy management and grid benefits.
Products awarded the highest marks exemplify the four tenets of the CEE Integrated Home: energy efficiency, demand flexibility, consumer amenity and security.
The Rheem Prestige Series EcoNet Enabled Modulating 98% AFUE gas furnace earned an honorable mention, as did the Rheem EcoNet Enabled Prestige Series RP20 variable speed heat pump. This heat pump communicates with the EcoNet Enabled Prestige Series R98V modulating gas furnace to adjust the speed of the compressor, outdoor fan motor and indoor blower motor on demand, to perfectly match the heating or cooling requirements of the home. When running in gas heating mode, the R98V adjusts burner operation with its modulating gas valve as well as airflow to provide comfort and energy efficiency.
A Special Recognition for Innovation in Design and Engineering was awarded to the iFLOW HVAC Inc. iFLOW Hydronic Furnace, designed for centrally ducted homes. The iFLOW is Wi-Fi enabled, has a smartphone app, can communicate with Navien tankless water heaters to optimize the system performance, and has on-board switching between gas and heat pump.
The judges also designated the Connected Life Labs SmartDry as a winner and awarded a Special Recognition for Resiliency to the Savant Power inCharge.
“This competition provides a national platform for technological developers to showcase their innovative, efficient products and a wonderful opportunity to highlight leveraging the natural gas infrastructure for renewable gases such as RNG and hydrogen,” Gheewala said. “It’s also a great opportunity for AGA to help support awareness of the latest innovations in end-user technology.”
The competition’s grand prize winner was Sinopé Technologies Home Energy Management Ecosystems. A complete list of winners is available at www.integratedhome.org.