The Building Technologies Office research is helping make buildings become smarter about the amount and timing of energy use through the Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) Initiative. In addition to improving the energy efficiency of the overall building, this research focuses on making equipment more intelligent through next-generation sensors, controls, connectivity and communication. These capabilities give building occupants more control in managing building comfort and productivity while saving money on energy bills, plus they can benefit the electric grid by enhancing grid reliability and resilience, deferring capital expenditures, and helping balance the supply of renewable generation.
In direct support of the GEB Initiative and Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC), the Building Technologies Office is focused on thermal storage research, development and field validation, seeking to accelerate the commercialization and utilization of next-generation energy storage technologies and sustain American global leadership in energy storage.
Click here for R&D targets for Next Generation Thermal Storage Materials.
Technical Reports
- Overview of Research Challenges and Gaps GEB Technical Report
- Whole-Building Controls, Sensors, Modeling, and Analytics GEB Technical Report
- Windows and Opaque Envelope GEB Technical Report
- HVAC, Water Heating, Appliances and Refrigeration GEB Technical Report
- Lighting and Electronics GEB Technical Report
Other Publications
- A Conceptual Framework to Describe Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Interactions
- Connected Communities: A Multi-Building Energy Management Approach
- Challenges and Opportunities to Secure Buildings from Cyber Threats
- SEE Action: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: An Introduction for State and Local Governments
- SEE Action: Determining Utility System Value of Demand Flexibility from Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings
- Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs) Tri-Region Status Report
- End-Use Load Profiles for the U.S. Building Stock
- Time-Sensitive Valuation of Efficiency – Use Cases in Electricity Sector Planning and Programs Temporal Analysis and Use Cases
- Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Fact Sheet
Useful Resources
- ACEEE - Integrating Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs
- ACEEE - State of the Market: Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Utility Programs
- ASHRAE - Position Document on Resiliency in the Built Environment
- NASEO - Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: State Briefing Paper
- NASEO - Residential GEB Technology and Policy: Harnessing the Power of Homes for a Clean, Affordable, and Resilient Grid of the Future
- Rocky Mountain Institute - Value Potential for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings in the GSA Portfolio: A Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel Simmons visits grand opening of Alabama Power’s Smart Neighborhood – June 13, 2018 – U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute’s Energy Innovates initiative
- Annex 67 Building Flexibility Project – International Energy Agency’s Energy in Buildings and Communities Programme
- Testimony by Acting Assistant Secretary EERE Daniel Simmons - October 31, 2017 - U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Presentations
- Assessing the Potential for Energy Flexibility Alongside Energy Efficiency - June 19, 2020
- Connected Communities Examples: Spotlight on Reynolds Landing – May 4, 2020
- PLMA Load Management Dialogue – Future Connected Communities: Validating Buildings as a Grid Resource – April 2, 2020
- Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: IEA Modernising Energy Efficiency through Digitalisation Initiative - January 31, 2019
- Overview of R&D Related to Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings and Automated Demand Response - December 11, 2018
- Breaking Out the New Moves: How Resource Flexibility Benefits Utility Operations Panel – November 14, 2018
- Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings - Improving & Optimizing – September 24, 2018 – 2018 NASEO Annual Meeting
- Look Who’s Talking: Buildings and the Grid Roundtable – August 17, 2018 – 2018 Energy Exchange | Better Buildings Summit
- Time-Varying Value of Energy Efficiency – November 1, 2017 – 2017 ACEEE Energy Efficiency as a Resource Conference
GEB Blog Series and News Updates
GEB Technical Report Webinar Series: Sensors, Controls & Data Analytics
BTO will host webinars on its GEB tech reports to identify which state-of-the-art technologies could provide grid services most effectively in GEBs.
May 19, 2020
Grid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy Challenges
Grid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy Challenges
March 27, 2020
Department of Energy Releases Request for Information on Potential Funding for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings in Connected Communit...
DOE's EERE is seeking public input on a potential funding for grid-interactive buildings in Connected Communities
March 27, 2020
New Notice of Intent for a Funding Opportunity to Improve Energy Efficiency and Demand Flexibility of Buildings
EERE announced its intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled, Connected Communities.
February 13, 2020
Department of Energy Invests $74 Million in Building and Construction Technologies and Innovations
DOE announced $74 million for 63 selected projects to research, develop, and test energy-efficient and flexible building technologies.
February 10, 2020
Heat Pump Water Heaters Achieve Significant Peak Reduction and Energy Savings
Studying the load shifting and efficiency potential of heat pump water heaters relative to electric resistance water heaters in residential buildings.
December 11, 2019
Economic Dispatch of Combined Heat & Power System in Upstate New York
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently completed preliminary testing of its promising Economic Dispatch.
October 22, 2019
Georgia Power Unveils Atlanta's First Smart Neighborhood
DOE recently helped unveil a new community of 46 smart townhomes in Atlanta.
August 1, 2019
Buildings and the Grid 101: How Much Does Timing Matter?
Understanding when efficiency occurs, and its value at those times, is a central component of BTO’s efforts.
May 21, 2019
Buildings and the Grid 101: Why Timing Matters
We will dig deeper into why the timing of energy efficiency matters. To put it simply, it’s a matter of economics.
May 8, 2019
How Advanced Building Technologies in Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings Can Support the Grid
As part of its grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB) vision, BTO directs breakthrough research that will make building technologies smarter.
December 20, 2018
Buildings and the Grid 101: How Are Building Technologies Office Partners Researching and Validating in the Field?
With a rapidly changing energy industry, Southern Company recognizes that accelerating technology development is more important than ever.
May 1, 2018
ASHRAE, Buildings, the Grid, and Resources to Face the Challenges
Enabling smarter grids has the potential to create a revolution in the building sector that will save energy and costs.
April 25, 2018
Buildings and the Grid 101: Opportunities and Challenges from HVAC, Water Heating, and Appliances
HVAC, water heating, and other appliances represent more than half of the total energy used in U.S. residential and commercial buildings.
March 16, 2018
Buildings and the Grid: Helping Commercial Buildings Get Smarter
The intersection of occupant comfort, productivity, and energy reduction is no secret.
February 12, 2018
Buildings and the Grid 101: It Matters, But How Much?
It’s the last days of holiday shopping, and everyone is noticing all of the Internet-connected products out there.
December 21, 2017
Buildings and the Grid 101: Challenges
Buildings are becoming more responsive and dispatchable, reacting to grid needs while also helping American businesses and families to save energy.
October 19, 2017
Buildings and the Grid 101: Why Does it Matter for Energy Efficiency?
Every hour more than 200,000 new devices get connected to the Internet globally, and the U.S. market for these devices is the world’s biggest.
September 12, 2017
GEB Project Spotlight
Lead Performer: Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
Researchers are combining sub-metering with building stock modeling to create hourly electricity end-use profiles that match regional grid demands.
Lead Performer: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – Richland, Washington
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