Project: Active Integrated Perimeter Building Systems

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Integrated systems require seamless data exchange between controlled demand side end uses and supply side resources for optimal energy cost/ carbon minimization, comfort, and indoor environmental quality.
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Exterior view of the new FLEXLAB Advanced Building Efficiency Test Bed (http://flexlab.lbl.gov/) in which integrated, interoperable systems can be evaluated in a realistic outdoor full scale environment.
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Interior view of the new FLEXLAB Advanced Building Efficiency Test Bed where a full scale test of dimmable, digitally controllable LED lighting, automated shades, and an overhead VAV system is being conducted prior to installation in a new Genentech building to work out systems integration issues.
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Lead Performer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory - Berkeley, California
DOE Funding: $700K (Year 1), $1000K (Year 2), $1000K (Year 3)
Project Term: October 1, 2014 – September 30, 2017
Funding Opportunity: Emerging Technologies / Commercial Buildings Integration Lab Call

Project Objective

Integrated, dynamic façade and lighting systems are difficult and expensive to implement in buildings yet offer significant benefits over conventional piecemeal solutions in terms of increased energy efficiency, comfort, amenity, and resilience at lower cost.  Integrated systems require coordinated control and data exchange between end uses in order to achieve more optimal performance.  Lighting controls have occupancy sensor data, but sharing the data with façade and HVAC control systems to implement load reduction or demand-side ventilation strategies is difficult because the data are stored in different and inconsistent formats, with ill-defined descriptors.  Coordinating a nighttime radiant cooling strategy with the following day’s operation of motorized shades and dimmable lighting could keep afternoon temperatures within comfortable limits without the need for additional cooling, but to do so, the HVAC controller needs to know the potential loads ahead of time.

Integrated control of energy and comfort at the perimeter zone of buildings, linking to microgrids, could provide enormous added value and increased demand for innovative envelope and lighting component technologies and systems. This project is designed to collaborate with industry to take the next steps in data exchange and systems integration toward this goal.

Project Impact

Rapid changes in market adoption of emerging technologies will be driven by a collaboration of key market stakeholders committed to creating innovative technologies that work together using open protocols and transparent data exchange.  With the momentum toward Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, demand in the commercial buildings sector for open solutions is accelerating.  Leading architects and engineers are developing and promoting innovative zero net energy solutions as codes and standards become increasingly more restrictive.  Owners are demanding reliable smart building technologies that can support efficient, productive, healthy and resilient work environments over the life of the building.  Utilities and state regulators are advocating for demand-side management solutions that enable greater grid stability with an influx of renewable energy sources and an aging electric infrastructure.

This project will bring together technology developers, systems integrators, architects, engineers, utilities, and owners to define, select, and verify the performance of pre-commercial smart, active integrated envelope, lighting and daylighting systems, driving this high impact technology from R&D to market readiness.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Karma Sawyer
Lead Performers: Eleanor Lee and Stephen Selkowitz - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory