Technology Reports

May 14, 2020

Challenges and Opportunities to Secure Buildings from Cyber Threats

Paper provides an overview of commercial control systems and potential cybersecurity risks to them, and discusses efforts underway to protect them.

April 30, 2020

SEE Action: Determining Utility System Value of Demand Flexibility from Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings

Describes how utility’s current methods and practices of investment can be enhanced to determine the value of grid services from demand flexibility.

April 30, 2020

SEE Action: Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings: An Introduction for State and Local Governments

This report describes grid-interactive efficient buildings in the context of state and local government interests.

April 15, 2020

Critical Material Supply Chain Analysis: Magnetocalorics

This report provides insights into the market, regulatory, technology, and cost drivers that most impact the adoption of MCR systems in the U.S.

March 26, 2020

Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Technical Report Series: Whole-Building Controls, Sensors, Modeling, and Analytics

This report explores the benefits and challenges of building-level grid service integration and identifies the gaps in building-level integration tech

March 26, 2020

Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Technical Report Series: Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC); Water Heating; Appliance...

This report focuses on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); water heating; appliances; and refrigeration.

March 26, 2020

Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Technical Report Series: Lighting and Electronics

This report analyzes connected lighting systems and consumer electronics/IT equipment technologies.

March 26, 2020

Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Technical Report Series: Windows and Opaque Envelope

This report focuses on dynamic window and opaque envelope technologies.

March 26, 2020

Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings Technical Report Series: Overview of Research Challenges and Gaps

This overview report provides background on core concepts of GEBs and serves as an introduction to these technical reports.

February 14, 2020

Refrigerants: Market Trends and Supply Chain Assessment, February 2020

This report assessed the current state of existing and low-GWP refrigerants for major end-use applications and incorporates a market overview.

December 21, 2017

Energy Savings Potential and RD&D Opportunities for Commercial Building HVAC Systems

BTO commissioned this characterization and technology assessment of HVAC systems for commercial buildings.

November 28, 2017

R&D Opportunities for Membranes and Separation Technologies in Building Applications

This report recommends innovative membrane and separation technologies that can assist the Building Technologies Office in achieving its 2030 goal.

September 11, 2017

Benefit-Cost Evaluation of U.S. Department of Energy Investment in HVAC, Water Heating, and Appliance Technology

This study conducted a benefit-cost impact evaluation of the research and development activities of the Building Technologies Office on investments in

June 19, 2017

Impacts of Commercial Building Controls on Energy Savings and Peak Load Reduction

This study investigated the potential energy savings from implementation of 34 basic and advanced controls measures and eliminating common faults...

April 18, 2017

R&D to Market Success: BTO-Supported Technologies Commercialized from 2010-2015

The BTO Technology Commercialization report is an annual publication offering the latest information on successfully commercialized technologies.

December 16, 2016

Overview of Existing and Future Residential Use Cases for Connected Thermostats

This joint Emerging Technologies and Residential Buildings Integration report is intended to help inform future technology deployment ...

November 17, 2016

Decision Science and Market Transformation Pathways: Workshop Report and Recommendations

This report is a result of the Decision Science and Market Transformation Pathways Workshop, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the...

September 19, 2016

Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation for High-Ambient-Temperature Environments: R-22 and R-410A Alternatives for Rooftop Air Conditioners

The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) High-Ambient-Temperature Evaluation Program for Low-Global Warming Potential (Low-GWP) Refrigerants aimed...

July 7, 2016

The Future of Air Conditioning for Buildings Report

This report characterizes the current landscape and trends in the global air conditioning (A/C) market, including discussion of both direct and...

June 21, 2016

Energy Savings Potential and RD&D Opportunities for Commercial Building Appliances Report (2015 Update)

The Department of Energy commissioned a technology characterization and assessment of appliances used in commercial buildings for cooking, cleaning...

October 15, 2015

Alternative Refrigerant Evaluation for High-Ambient-Temperature Environments: R-22 and R-410A Alternatives for Mini-Split Air Conditioners

This publication is a final report for Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s High-Ambient-Temperature Evaluation Program for Low Global Warming Potential...

October 9, 2015

Pump and Fan Technology Characterization and R&D Assessment

This report provides the Building Technologies Office (BTO) and the research and development (R&D) community with a technical and market analysis ...

October 2, 2015

Research & Development Opportunities for Joining Technologies in HVAC&R

This report identifies and characterizes R&D opportunities with HVAC&R joining technologies for the Building Technologies Office (BTO) to...

July 27, 2015

Development and Evaluation of a Sandia Cooler-based Refrigerator Condenser

This report describes the first design of a refrigerator condenser using the Sandia Cooler – an air-bearing supported rotating heat-sink impeller.

March 28, 2014

Buildings-to-Grid Technical Opportunities: Introduction and Vision

This report outlines the technical opportunities for building assets to seamlessly integrate and transact with grid operations.