As clean energy becomes cheaper and more popular, there will be a greater need to maximize load flexibility on the grid. Grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) change when they use energy to lower demand on the grid. By scheduling energy use not just when people need it, but also when it's best for the grid, GEBs allows building occupants to manage building comfort and productivity, save money, and enhance grid reliability and resilience.
Our work on GEBs
- ASHRAE Smart Grid Application Guide: We authored a guide for building professionals who design and operate buildings to interact with the grid.
- Connected Communities (U.S. DOE): We are piloting a connected community in a typical midwestern city, with the goal of mainstream scaling.
- Microgrid planning in Wisconsin. We supported two communities in Wisconsin to use microgrids to build community resilience.
- Load shifting study. We are conducting a study in Minnesota to determine the economics and emissions impacts of measures that shift load throughout the day.
- GEB test beds, targeting automated DR. We look at GEB solutions that enable commercial building automation systems to respond to automated demand response signals.
- Integrating multiple energy systems for maximum load flexibility. Our field tests integrate connected lighting, automated shades, and intelligent thermal energy storage systems for maximum load flexibility.
Thermal Storage
Thermal storage is an important GEB tool, and is significantly more cost-effective than popular battery storage. Our work includes:- Effective strategies for using thermal energy storage in refrigerated facilities. This study focuses on three different methods for harnessing thermal storage in refrigeration systems.
- Use of thermal storage to maximize renewable energy resources. Slipstream supported UW-Madison in analyzing how thermal energy storage for commercial comfort cooling could be used to support the increased penetration of renewable energy.