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TCAAP Energy Integration Resiliency Framework Energy Efficiency Strategies 62 4.3. Leading Near-Term DSM Opportunities 4.3.1. Low-Load Residential Development Section 6.4.1.1 (p. 34-35) of the Policy White Paper outlined the concept of a residential development featuring low-energy, all electric homes, fed by the ground source heat for heating and cooling needs. A low-load home would not require the larger heating and cooling capacity of traditional systems, but instead could meet residents’ comfort needs with smaller capacity systems. A low-load home does not have to cost significantly more than a traditionally built home, and can be valued more in the marketplace.9 The Project Team estimates that low-load homes in Minnesota could obtain a maximum combined space heating and cooling load of less than 10 Btu/hour/square foot (conditioned floor area).10 The key technologies and strategies include high levels of building insulation and passive solar design, a tight building shell, and high efficiency appliances. These homes do not require significant insulation like a passive house, but are 40% to 50% more efficient than what is required by the new IECC 2012 code. The primary opportunity for implementing low-load homes at TCAAP is the integration of a low- temperature district energy system fed by the treated groundwater on-site. This energy source could be implemented in homes in the Creek, Hill and eastern Town residential developments, given their proximity to the treated ground water. This opportunity deserves significant consideration since the homes at TCAAP have the unique ability to tap the renewable resource of the pumped ground water through a district energy system combined with in-home water-to-air heat pumps. Incorporation of high-performance technologies that have little to no impact on the up-front costs, such as efficient appliances and low-flow plumbing, will help minimize hot water use and help maximize home efficiency. The following is a summary of the specific technologies and design elements that can be considered for a low-load, all electric home at TCAAP: 9 Multiple recent housing market studies have shown that homebuyers are willing to pay a 9-15% premium for homes that perform more efficiently. (CA Housing Study 2012; NHBA Market Study 2013) 10 http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy14osti/60712.pdf Recommendation: The JDA should consider all residential neighborhoods as eligible areas for development of low- load homes and utilization of a shared ground source water loop for retrieving low-cost heat.