The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) said it will fund $61 million for 10 pilot projects that will deploy new technology for thousands of homes and workplaces to accelerate renewable energy adoption and grid resilience.
The 10 connected communities will equip more than 7,000 buildings with smart controls, sensors, and analytics to reduce energy use, costs, and emissions. The technology will allow building systems to interact with the electrical grid to optimize energy consumption.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm said the projects will “help universalize the technology” and further efforts towards “a carbon-neutral, clean energy economy by 2050.” Connected communities of grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) use smart controls, sensors, and analytics to communicate with the electric grid, reducing the amount of energy they require during periods of peak demand.
A recent DOE study estimated that by 2030 GEBs could save up to $18 billion per year in power system costs and cut 80 million tons of carbon emissions each year. That is more than the annual emissions of 50 medium-sized coal plants or 17 million cars. DOE says its first two connected communities in Alabama and Georgia have already demonstrated this potential by using 42%-44% less energy than today’s average all-electric home.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Nov 13, 2019
Heat pumps, strategic energy management could be next major focuses for efficiency
After lighting, efficiency experts look to new opportunities to boost energy efficiency.
Codes and Standards | Nov 12, 2019
National Infrastructure Performance Council to address ‘national security crisis’
Coalition wants to double annual level of infrastructure investment.
Codes and Standards | Nov 11, 2019
Major cities are adopting new building performance standards
Initiatives can include multiple standards.
Codes and Standards | Nov 11, 2019
U.S. hotel construction pipeline continues its year-over-year growth
In its eighth consecutive quarter of growth, projects currently under construction stand at 1,729 projects/235,278 rooms.
Codes and Standards | Nov 11, 2019
New retrofit design guide for metal roofing published
Metal Construction Association document provides best practices for re-roofing with metal.
Codes and Standards | Nov 8, 2019
New York City among the top hotel construction pipelines in the United States
Hotels presently under construction are at 102 projects/17,504 rooms.
Codes and Standards | Nov 7, 2019
Group focused on using AI for construction safety gains key members
Major contractors join partnership to share data to predict hazards, incidents.
Codes and Standards | Nov 6, 2019
Undisclosed ICC agreement with NAHB alleged to thwart more stringent efficiency codes
Homebuilders’ seats on ICC made it easier to block new provisions, report alleges.
Codes and Standards | Nov 4, 2019
ASHRAE releases new version of energy efficiency standard for buildings
Standard 90.1 includes revisions of envelope, lighting, HVAC provisions.
Codes and Standards | Nov 1, 2019
Resiliency of a community’s housing stock can be measured according to new benchmark
Metric can help municipalities prepare for disasters.