The Database for Energy Efficient Resources (DEER)

The Database for Energy Efficiency Resources (DEER) provides estimates of the energy savings potential for energy efficient technologies in residential and nonresidential applications. The database contains information on measures commonly installed in the marketplace as well as data on the costs and benefits of more energy efficient measures. The 2004-05 DEER update was commissioned jointly by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the California Energy Commission (CEC). The purpose of the project was to update the energy impact estimates from the original 1994 DEER study (conducted by the NEOS Corporation) and the subsequent 2001 DEER update (conducted by Xenergy). Additionally, the 2004-05 DEER update sought to review and expand on the residential single family and multifamily measures, add mobile homes to the set of building types, add additional nonresidential measures and building types, and add data for the agricultural segment. A separate project updated the measure costs within DEER and this cost information was merged with the energy impact estimates developed by this project. The energy impact estimates were developed by a team led by Itron and supported by three energy consulting firms: James J. Hirsch & Associates, Synergy Consulting, and Quantum Consulting. The team conducted the project in two phases. The first phase was managed by San Diego Gas & Electric and included the development of estimates for non-weather-sensitive data, creation of an interactive website for accessing DEER data, and software for estimating impacts from weather-sensitive demand-side management programs. Managed by Southern California Edison, phase two began in late 2004. It expanded on the non-weather-sensitive measure analysis, created estimates of demand-side management potential from both weather-sensitive and non-weather-sensitive measures, and populated the DEER website with both weather and non-weather sensitive data. The measure cost portion of DEER was updated by a team led by Summit Blue Consulting and supported by the Heschong Mahone Group.