Energy efficiency is the most important and reliable energy resource we have.
Ecotope’s sustainable design practice thrives on the symbiotic relationship between our design and research teams. Decades of field studies, data analysis, and technology evaluation have shaped our understanding of how buildings perform in real-world conditions and across diverse climates. This knowledge allows our design team to apply proven, forward-thinking strategies that optimize energy and water use.
By continually integrating research with practice, we deliver practical, high-performance solutions that advance sustainability and respond to the evolving demands of the built environment.
Technology Innovation Model.
The Technology Innovation Model includes three phases to bring a new technology from an early product to a proven, documented, repeatable, and reliable system. This speeds the entry of new products into the market for ease of application by designers and installers, code compliance, standardization of utility incentives, and widespread market acceptance.
Technology transformation.
Ecotope’s Technology Transformation team works to bring new technologies from early prototypes to tested, proven, optimized, and documented full system solutions that are ready for market and inclusion in utility programs and codes. Ecotope operates at the intersection of innovative engineering and advanced analysis of new and emerging technologies and design strategies. We prioritize an integrated approach that focuses on how technologies and design strategies impact whole system performance and interaction with operations and maintenance strategies, occupants, and adjacent technologies to achieve holistic savings. Ecotope also develops design tools, specifications, and best practices design guidelines to support widespread market adoption of leading-edge technologies.
Energy codes, programs, and standards.
For nearly 50 years, Ecotope has supported utilities, policymakers, and program administrators in developing robust energy savings programs, specifications, and energy codes–starting with the first Seattle Energy Code in 1979. Since then, Ecotope has continued to provide research and technical assistance to most of the significant energy efficiency programs and energy code developments in the Pacific Northwest, including development of various state and local policy initiatives to support building performance and carbon reduction.
Beyond the Pacific Northwest, Ecotope provides technical expertise to policymakers in California and at the national level, particularly in emerging technologies researched by our Transformation Team. In California, we contribute to Title 24 updates and develop software tools that support utility incentive programs. Nationally, we help manufacturers of emerging technologies by offering clear guidance, reducing testing burdens, and improving access to high-quality materials for domestic manufacturing.
Building load shift and integration.
As the region transitions to carbon-free electrical generating resources, the electric grid is facing new supply challenges and time of use constraints that will impact electricity supply dependability and pricing. We are developing leading edge strategies to deploy load shift and energy storage strategies in buildings that allow projects to respond to newly adopted time of use rates and demand response programs to save energy, reduce utility costs, and support the grid transition. We are also leading efforts to identify and adopt resiliency strategies that provide reliable operation in the event of power outages.
Performance guidelines and verification.
We are committed to strategies on improving building performance outcomes. We have developed a wide range of tools and guidelines to support better design and operational outcomes and actively monitor dozens of projects to support long-term performance verification and improvement. Our tools allow us to diagnose and improve building performance issues in real time, and translate these learnings into improved strategies for design and operation. Our efforts to validate building performance outcomes is critical to the successful deployment of promising new technologies.
Services we offer:
Emerging Technology
- Feasibility studies and application testing
- Demonstration projects
- Technology development
Performance Evaluation
- Measurement and Verification (M&V)
- Data analysis
- Detailed research and evaluation studies
Program and Design Support
- Tools and software development
- Standards development
- Code and program design and evaluation
- Design guidance and training materials