Resource Innovations Awarded Minnesota Commerce Grant to Advance Cold-Climate Electrification Research

The project will evaluate room heat pumps in multifamily buildings to help inform future utility programs and accelerate practical decarbonization strategies.

CHICAGO, IL (Aug. 12, 2026) — Resource Innovations (RI), a trusted partner helping utilities deliver clean energy programs, was awarded a grant of more than $400,000 through the Minnesota Department of Commerce’s Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) Grant Program to evaluate the performance of room heat pumps (RHPs) in cold-climate, gas-heated multifamily buildings. Through the CARD Grant Program, the Minnesota Department of Commerce is supporting research that advances innovative energy solutions and builds a stronger foundation for electrification in Minnesota’s cold and demanding climate.

The project, Field Validation of RHPs in Cold-Climate Multifamily Buildings, will begin with Phase One, focused on recruitment and readiness. If participating buildings and tenants are successfully recruited, the project will advance to a full-year measurement and verification (M&V) study examining the technology’s ability to reduce natural gas consumption, lower carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency, and maintain occupant comfort across Minnesota’s seasons. The findings are expected to inform future utility program design and measure development while advancing practical pathways to building electrification in one of the nation’s most challenging climates.

“Minnesota’s multifamily residences present a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and improve comfort through thoughtful electrification,” said Ron Shaw, Advisory Services Vice President at Resource Innovations. “This research will help utilities, regulators, and building owners better understand where room heat pumps deliver the greatest value, providing the data needed to design programs that are practical, reliable, and ready to scale.”

Resource Innovations will bring its expertise in research and measurement, emerging technologies and optimization, analytics, and strategic consulting to every stage of the study—from recruiting participating buildings and deploying field equipment to analyzing results and sharing findings. Project work began in late July and will continue through 2028.

The study will prioritize gas-heated multifamily buildings across Minnesota with an emphasis on income-eligible and underserved communities where affordable practical electrification solutions are especially important. In addition to evaluating energy and carbon savings, the research will assess customer experience and identify the conditions under which RHPs can provide viable, scalable decarbonization strategies.

The project reflects growing industry interest in validating emerging electrification technologies through field-based research before expanding utility incentives and large-scale deployment. Results are intended to inform Minnesota’s Energy Conservation and Optimization (ECO) programs, including future cost-effectiveness analyses, incentive development, and potential inclusion of room heat pumps in the state’s Technical Reference Manual.

By combining rigorous field validation with practical program expertise, Resource Innovations continues to help utilities and government agencies accelerate the adoption of innovative clean energy solutions that are equitable, scalable, and built for real-world impact.

 About Resource Innovations

Resource Innovations (RI) is a women-led energy transformation firm focused on powering a clean energy future. Working with utilities, governments, and businesses across North America, the company develops and delivers market-leading energy efficiency, electrification, distributed energy resource, and grid modernization solutions that reduce emissions, improve affordability, and make clean energy more accessible for all. Resource Innovations is a portfolio company of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners.

Visit resource-innovations.com to learn more about how Resource Innovations is accelerating the clean energy transition and leading the charge to power change.

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