Communities Data Analysis

Lead Performer: National Renewable Energy Laboratory – Golden, CO
FY17 DOE Funding: $250,000
Project Term: October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017
Funding Type: Lab Award

Project Objective

Due to advances in technology, markets, and policies, buildings are producing more data now than ever before, including data on energy consumption and physical attributes. Even though these data are collected, however, they are often stored in decentralized locations and in many different formats, making the data difficult to aggregate, analyze, and exchange. If decision makers were able to access and use these data more effectively—for example, to better understand how buildings use energy and predict the savings that would result from energy upgrades—these actors could make smarter investments, design better policies, and implement more effective energy efficiency programs.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) seeks to (1) improve the ability of local governments to use building data to solve problems and design effective energy efficiency and clean energy programs, and (2) make such uses of data transferrable and replicable among local governments.

Project Impact

NREL’s data analysis assistance will enable local governments to generate a solid evidence base to support the development of the following:

• Targeted efficiency policies according to building types and sizes
• Targeted transportation policies based on vehicle type and distances traveled
• Electrification policies that seek to reduce onsite combustion of natural gas

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Andrew Burr
Lead Performer: Bill Livingood, National Renewable Energy Laboratory