Phase Change Material-Enhanced Insulation for Residential Exterior Wall Retrofits - REVISED
Summary
SCH Number
2020060645
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Phase Change Material-Enhanced Insulation for Residential Exterior Wall Retrofits - REVISED
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/29/2020
Document Description
This project will develop, test, and measure the benefits of a retrofit insulation solution that combines the technical and practical benefits of sealing, blown-in insulation, and phase change materials (PCMs). The best performing PCM-enhanced insulation solution will be field tested in one lab facility and three homes in three different climate zones across California to verify real world achievable natural gas savings and thermal comfort improvement. The benefits of this project, as related to the California Investor-Owned Utility natural gas ratepayers, are to increase grid resiliency, reduce financial burden for natural gas services, and improved safety by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Contact Information
Name
Abigail Jacob
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Name
Agency Name
Regents of University of California, Davis
Contact Types
Project Applicant
Location
Cities
Davis, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Vallejo
Counties
Los Angeles, Sacramento, Solano, Yolo
Other Location Info
833 Capitol St Vallejo 94590 Solano,
2536 Dale Ave Sacramento 95815 Sacramento,
3940 Westside Ave Los Angeles 90008 Los Angeles,
215 Sage St Ste 100 Davis 95616 Yolo
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15301, 15306
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., Title 14, section 15301 This project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing private structures, facilities, or mechanical equipment, and involves negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing. Specifically, the project will involve two phases. First, insulation solutions will be developed and laboratory-tested at an existing 2,000-square-foot laboratory facility on the UC Davis campus, using equipment which already exists in the laboratory. Second, insulation solutions will be installed in three existing single-family homes in Vallejo, Sacramento, and Los Angeles. The three single-family homes (807, 1110 1769, and 1500 sq. ft.) will have their exterior walls retrofitted to seal and insulate the wall cavities with loose-fill insulation. Phase change material will be added either to the insulation material or applied to the interior wall surface. The interior walls will be repaired/painted.