Artificial intelligence could help U.S. buildings to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, according to a paper by researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
AI-driven energy use and carbon emission reductions could grow to 40% and 90% in 2050, respectively, compared with a business-as-usual scenario, the paper says. Absent energy efficiency improvements or policy support, building energy consumption would keep increasing. AI could be applied in four key categories: equipment, occupancy influence, control and operation, and design and construction.
The research focused on medium-sized office buildings in the U.S. It forecasts AI’s potential to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions through six scenarios. These include a setting that uses current building efficiency as a baseline, as well as two business-as-usual scenarios with and without AI, and three policy-driven scenarios.
In a separate study, the International WELL Building Institute examined AI’s potential impact on building energy consumption earlier this year. IWBI said that by implementing digital twins and AI, operators could use live data feeds to automatically open or close doors and windows, or increase or decrease the strength of fans throughout a building to achieve efficiency gains.
Related Stories
Green | Feb 1, 2016
Supreme Court ruling on demand response expected to benefit smart grid
Ruling allows PV owners and other small energy generators to continue to be paid wholesale rates for power they generate.
Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2016
State Savings Calculator analyzes savings associated with energy codes
The calculator breaks down the cost-effectiveness of energy codes on a state-by-state basis.
Green | Nov 17, 2015
DOE launches new data collaborative to help cities and states boost building efficiency
The SEED Standard will help manage, standardize, share performance data.
Energy Efficiency | Nov 16, 2015
Amazon will heat its new Seattle campus with waste heat from next-door data centers
Up to 4 million kilowatt-hours of energy will be saved each year.
Energy Efficiency | Nov 6, 2015
DOE’s Energy Asset Score diagnostic tool gets upgrade
The tool is used to assess energy efficiency of commercial and multifamily buildings.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 30, 2015
Boston’s energy reporting law shows older buildings more efficient than post-1950 structures
First year of reporting tracks 45% of commercial building space.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 28, 2015
San Francisco energy consumption benchmarking ordinance bears fruit
Efficiency has improved since 2011 law initiated.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 12, 2015
Renewables surging in mix of U.S. energy generation
‘Tectonic Shift’ as coal use plummets; wind and solar rise.
Energy Efficiency | Oct 2, 2015
New York City launches accelerator program for energy efficiency retrofits
Goal is 1,000 buildings a year.
Sponsored | Energy Efficiency | Sep 28, 2015
Nation’s first zero energy retail store features metal roof, composite panels
The building, a Walgreens made with metal and composite material from Petersen Aluminum Corp., includes enough sustainable features to attempt to earn LEED Platinum status.